All mother's or women who are planning on becoming pregnant
have been concerned at some point with the baby having some
sort of problem and or birth defect. Worrying about a
birth defect is a common occurrence among women. This
article touches upon what the definition of a birth defect,
how many types there are, risk factors and a few ways to
prevent them.
What Is A Birth Defect?
A birth defect is something abnormal that is present at
birth. Another name for it is a congenital disorder. As a
whole most birth defects occur during the first 3 months of
pregnancy. Birth defects can be mild or serious. A birth
defect can be found before birth, at birth, or any time
after birth. Some of these defects are easy to see right
away others may need special tests in order to see them,
such as hearing and or heart problems. Some problems may
not surface until later on in life.
A birth defect is a problem that results from an error in
the way the heart, brain, and spinal cord, kidney, bone,
muscle, skin or other body organ has developed. Babies
with these birth defects may need medical treatments and
even surgery. Moreover, a birth defect may affect how the
body works, looks or both.
Studies show that one out of 33 babies born each year in
the United States has a birth defect. In addition, about
70% of babies are born with a birth defect and there isn't
any known cause to the problem.
What Are The Types Of Birth Defects?
There are more than 3,000 different types of birth defects
known. They can be divided into 3 types, which are
structural, genetic and caused by exposure to a chemical
agent or infectious disease.
Structural - A structural birth defect occurs when some
part of the baby's body is not formed right or missing. A
defect like this can be internal such as a heart defect or
external like a clubfoot. A structural defect doesn't have
just one cause. Heart defects are the most common type of
defect. Nearly one in 125 babies are born with a birth
defect. Neural tube defects are also a common structural
defect. These are defects that occur when the spinal cord
or brain aren't covered correctly. Examples of neural tube
defects are anencephaly and spina bifida.
Genetics - Genetic defects are caused by errors in one or
more genes passed on by the parents (inherited defects), by
a damaged, missing, or extra chromosome (chromosomal
disorders) or by a mixture of factors (multifactorial
defects). A few examples of inherited disorders are
cysctic fibrosis, tay sachs disease, sickle cell disease.
Chromosomal disorders are an example of a problem that
occurred when the egg and sperm were joining. The older
the women are the greater the chance of birthing a child
with a chromosomal disorder.
Down syndrome - Multifacterial defects are a result of the
interaction of the parents genes with the environment of
the developing fetus. Both abdominal wall defects and
cleft palate are examples of multifacterial defects.
Exposure to infections and harmful chemical agents. Some
birth defects can occur when the fetus is exposed to
maternal infections or by the consumption of alcohol or
certain medicines.
What Are The Risk Factors?
Certain risk factors can increase your chances of having a
baby with birth defects. Here are a few below.
Had diabetes before pregnancy
Have a family or personal history of birth defects
Are aged 35 years or older when the baby is due
Have a family or personal history of birth defects
Have previously had a child with a birth defect
Used certain medicines around the time you became pregnant
How Do You Prevent Birth Defects?
There are some birth defects that cannot be prevented. At
the same time, by taking care of you and avoiding harmful
substances will decrease the risks of a birth defect.
Birth defects can be a serious problem, but if the woman
takes good care of herself can drastically decrease her
chances of a birth defect.
DISCLAIMER
The information provided herein should not be construed as
a health-care diagnosis, treatment regimen or any other
prescribed health-care advice or instruction. The
information is provided with the understanding that the
publisher is not engaged in the practice of medicine or any
other health-care profession and does not enter into a
health-care practioner/ patient relationship with its
readers
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The author is a dedicated health researcher and degree
holder in Biology. To find the newest and most credible
information on birth defects check out
http://www.born-again-health-and-fitness.com
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