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?
Environmental Influences on Birth Defects
Inadequate nutrition of mother Exposure to diseases or infections
during pregnancy Harmful substances consumed during
pregnancy
Environmental Influences on Birth Defects
Inadequate nutrition of motherStunted brain development of babyLeads to mental retardation
Environmental Influences on Birth Defects
Exposure to diseases or infections during pregnancy
Rubella, or German Measles, can cause blindness, deafness, heart disease, and mental retardation
Toxoplasmosis, can cause hearing loss, learning disabilities and death; found in cat litter and some raw meats
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
Harmful substances consumed during pregnancy Nicotine from smoking tobacco or secondhand
smoke Smaller babies Miscarriages and premature births Respiratory infections or allergies
Environmental Influences on Birth Defects
Harmful substances consumed during pregnancy
Alcohol can cause fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)
20% of infants die Facial deformities, delayed physical growth, heart
defects, and hyperactivity Mental retardation or disabilities Poor coordination Difficulty controlling behavior
Environment Influences of Birth Defects
Harmful substances consumed while pregnant Drugs
Over-the-the counter drugs Drug addiction Long-term learning and behavioral problems Risk of miscarriages Congenital heart problems
Environmental Influences on Birth Defects
Exposure to hazards during pregnancy Chemicals X-rays Toxoplasmosis – extreme high blood
pressure
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?