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Birth Defects Prevention
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Give your baby the best chance at being born strong and healthy. Start by gathering vital information before you get pregnant. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful.
- Take vitamins in advance
To help prevent neural tube and other birth defects, start taking a daily multivitamin months before getting pregnant and continue through your pregnancy; look for brands with at least 400 mcg of folic acid and 15 mg of zinc
- Don’t drink alcohol
Protect your baby from a variety of serious birth defects and developmental disorders by avoiding alcohol while you’re pregnant
- Keep an eye on vitamin A
Check with your healthcare practitioner before taking supplements that contain more than 10,000 IU of vitamin A
- Cut the caffeine
Reduce the risk of miscarriage by avoiding caffeinated coffee, tea, and soft drinks
- Avoid too much noise
Stay away from noisy workplace environments, loud music, and airport jet traffic to protect your baby’s fragile ears and hearing
Also indexed as:
- alcohol birth defects,
- alcohol-related birth defects,
- birth defect,
- birth defects,
- congenital anomaly,
- congenital defect,
- FAS,
- FASD,
- fetal alcohol abuse syndrome,
- fetal alcohol spectrum disorder,
- fetal alcohol syndrome,
- genetic defect,
- prenatal care,
- prenatal support
About this treatment
About This Condition
Birth defects affect about 120,000 babies born in the United States each year. Birth defects account for more than 20% of infant deaths and contribute substantially to life-long disabilities.
The causes of about 70% of all birth defects are unknown. Various occupational hazards, dietary factors, medications, personal habits, and environmental exposures may contribute to birth defects, but many questions remain about the exact nature of their influence.
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are one of the most common birth defects. NTDs result when the neural tube (which includes the spinal cord and brain) fails to close during the first month of embryonic development. NTDs include several disorders ranging from spina bifida (incomplete closure of the bones around the spinal cord that can lead to paralysis) to a lack of a cranium (the bones of the head) and its contents, called anencephaly. Approximately 4,000 pregnancies in the United States are affected by NTDs each year.
Last Review: 05-11-2011
Copyright © 2011 Aisle7. All rights reserved. www.Aisle7.net
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The information presented in Aisle7 is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. Self-treatment is not recommended for life-threatening conditions that require medical treatment under a doctor's care. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires June 2011.
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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