Birth Defects

per cdc.gov

Birth defects are structural changes present at birth that can affect almost any part of the body, such as the heart, brain, or foot. They may affect how the body looks, works, or both.

Affects 1 in every 33 babies born in the US each year. Accounting for 20% of all infant deaths, 1 in 5.

For most birth defects, we don’t know what causes them. However, we have learned that some things might increase the chances of having a baby with a birth defect, such as:

• smoking, drinking alcohol, or taking certain drugs during pregnancy

• having certain medical conditions, such as uncontrolled diabetes

• taking certain medications, such as isotretinoin (used to treat acne)

• having someone in your family with a birth defect

• getting certain infections during pregnancy, such as cytomegalovirus or Zika

• having fever greater than 101 degrees F or having elevated body temperature

The age at which you have a child can also influence the risk for birth defects. Some defects are seen more among young mothers whereas the risk for chromosomal malformation defects increases with age. You can still have a baby with a birth defect even if you don’t have any of these known risks, and having one of these risks doesn’t mean that your baby will have a birth defect.

Prenatal screening tests can identify whether your baby is more or less likely to have certain birth defects.