Birth Defects: A tricky subject
Birth defects are the abnormalities of structure, function, or body metabolism that are present at birth. When you are pregnant knowingly or unknowingly few of your behavior and lifestyle can be a threat to your baby and they may have birth defects. Most of the birth defects are treatable, often immediately after birth or even before birth. It's especially important to know the risk factors involved and how to prevent birth defects. As only by taking precautions you can give birth to a healthy baby.
Causes of birth defects:
- Genetic problems caused when one or more genes don't work properly or part of a gene is missing.
- Having an extra chromosome or some missing part of a chromosome
- Exposure of the mother to chemicals such as mercury or to radiation during the first three months of pregnancy
- Less nutritional food diet of pregnant mother
- Prenatal development of the fetus may also be affected by disease that the mother contracts, especially during the first 3 months of pregnancy
- Smoking, intake of alcohol, or drugs during pregnancy
- Some therapeutic drugs taken by pregnant women have also been shown to produce birth defects.
Types of Birth defects:
- Physical problems like cleft lip or cleft palate, heart defects, such as missing or misshaped valves, and abnormal limbs, such as a club foot
- Nervous system or brain problems
- Sensory problems - such as blindness, cataracts and other visual problems, deafness or hearing loss
- Metabolic disorders like phenylketonuria (PKU) and hypothyroidism.
- Degenerative disorders, X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD), Rett syndrome, muscular dystrophy, and lysosomal disorders are examples of degenerative disorders.
Prevention of birth defects:
- Immunizations of the mother against certain infections, such as rubella, can prevent infection.
- Don't take alcohol during pregnancy.
- Avoid smoking during pregnancy.
- Taking a vitamin containing sufficient folic acid before conception and in early pregnancy can often help prevent many serious defects.
- Take a proper balanced diet.
- Women who are planning to become pregnant should make sure their vaccinations are up to date, that they don't have any sexually transmitted diseases
- Avoid unnecessary medications during pregnancy
- If you or your partner have a history of any kind of birth defects in your family, consider consulting a genetic counselor before you get pregnant,
Many birth defects can be diagnosed before birth with special tests (prenatal diagnosis). Different treatments are available for all types of birth defects. Consult your doctor for the right kind of treatment required for your child and remember there is always hope.
