Influences on Birth Defects

FACTS

About 150,000 babies are born each year with birth defects.

The parents of one out of every 28 babies receive the frightening news that their baby has a birth defect

There are over 4,000 known birth defects Birth defects are the leading cause of

death in the first year of life.

What is a Birth Defect?

A Birth defect is an abnormality that is present at birth that affects the structure or function of the body and may threaten a baby’s health.

Environmental Influences on Birth Defects

Inadequate nutrition of motherStunted brain development of babyLeads to being intellectually disabledIncreased risk of multiple birth defects and low birth weight

Environmental Influences on Birth Defects

Exposure to diseases or infections during pregnancy

Rubella, or German Measles, is a virus that can complicate pregnancy, causing miscarriage, stillbirth, or congenital disorders

Toxoplasmosis, a parasite, can cause hearing loss, learning disabilities and death; found in cat litter and some raw meats. Can cause extremely high blood pressure.

Chicken pox, scarring of babies’ skin, limb defects, eye problems, and miscarriage

STDs can be passed to unborn child and lead to serious illness, physical disabilities, or death

Environmental Influences on Birth Defects

Nicotine from smoking tobacco or secondhand smoke

Smaller babies Miscarriages and premature births Respiratory infections or allergies

Alcohol-Related Birth Alcohol-Related Birth Defects Include:Defects Include:

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

which is characterized bywhich is characterized by

1.1. Facial deformities, delayed physical growth, heart Facial deformities, delayed physical growth, heart defects, and hyperactivity.defects, and hyperactivity.

2.2. Mental retardation or disabilitiesMental retardation or disabilities

3.3. Poor coordinationPoor coordination

4.4. Difficulty controlling behaviorDifficulty controlling behavior Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE) which result from maternal Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE) which result from maternal

alcohol abuse but are found in the absence of the full-alcohol abuse but are found in the absence of the full-blown syndromeblown syndrome

Environmental Influences on Birth Defects

Accidental injuries Cerebral palsy caused by damage to

brain before, during, or shortly after birth

Falls lead to a variety of complications

Hereditary Influences on Birth Defects

Dominant genes?

Recessive genes?

Can you explain the difference?

Hereditary Influences on Birth Defects

1. Defective recessive genes inherited from both parents

• Cystic fibrosis • Tay-Sachs disease• Sickle cell anemia

2. Defective dominant gene inherited from one parent• Hemophilia• Huntington’s disease• Duchenne muscular dystrophy• Color blindness

3. Errors in chromosomes• Down syndrome

Combined Influence of Heredity and Environment Birth Defects

Drugs + virus = heart defect Cleft lip/cleft palate Spina Bifida – reduce risk by taking

folic acid

What potentially causes birth defects?

While the potential causes of most birth defects are not known, there are a number of steps a woman can take to reduce her risk of having a baby with a birth defect.

Can birth defects be prevented?

Factors that contribute to Birth Defects:

• Overweight

• Underweight

• Jewish descent

• African-American

Brainstorm

Visit a health care provider for a pre-pregnancy check up, especially if a woman has health problems

When pregnant take daily multivitamins containing 400 mg of the B-vitamin folic acid

Avoid alcohol, drugs, smoking, prescription or over-the-counter medication unless approved by a health care provider

More factors that contribute to birth defects

Drinks alcohol Uses prescription drugs Has used street drugs Takes vitamins Drinks caffeine Has had exposure to chemicals

More factors that contribute to birth defects

Lives in a home built before 1955 (lead paint)

Constant exposure to cats Has had x-rays during pregnancy High blood pressure Diabetes Sickle cell anemia

More factors that contribute to birth defects

Health problems Genital herpes Gonorrhea Syphilis No immunizations against rubella Miscarriage

Can some birth defects be diagnosed before birth?

Can birth defects be treated before birth?

Preventing Birth Defects

•Avoid…

Review

How do you define birth defect?What factors contribute to birth

defects?Can some birth defects be diagnosed

before birth?Can birth defects be prevented?