Transcript Problem Pregnancies

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?
 an abnormality that affects the structure or
function of the body that is present at birth
 almost everyone is born with some type of
imperfection
 some are minor – a birth mark
 some can result in physical or mental
disabilities or be fatal
What causes birth defects?
 both genetic and environmental factors can
cause birth defect
 the causes of about 60% of birth defects are
currently unknown
 a single abnormal gene can cause birth
defects - every human being has about
100,000 genes
Can birth defects be prevented?

While the 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.
 Visit a health care provider for a pre-pregnancy check
up. Especially if a woman has health problems.
 When pregnant take daily multivitamin containing 400
mg of the B-vitamin folic Acid.
 Avoid alcohol, drugs, smoking, prescription or over-thecounter medication with out checking with her health
care provider.
Can some birth defects be diagnosed
before birth?
 Some birth defects can be diagnosed before
birth
 Some prenatal tests that can be taken are:
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Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)
Ultrasound
Amniocentesis
Chronic Villi sampling
Prenatal tests

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)
 Blood test done at 15-20 weeks
 AFT is a protein produced in the fetus’ liver
 Abnormal levels indicate a possible birth defect

Ultrasound
 Uses sound waves to create a picture (sonogram)
 Problems with skeletal, circulatory or nervous system
may be detected
 Helps confirm due date and presence of one fetus
 Completed at 20 weeks
 No threat to unborn child or mother

Amniocentesis
 Withdraw a sample of amniotic fluid
 Often used to detect Down syndrome
 Involves some risk to the fetus
 Only performed when medical reason to do so

Chorionic villi sampling
 Uses a sample of the tissue from the membrane that
encases the fetus
 Tissue is snipped or suctioned off and analyzed
 Similar use as amniocentesis but used less often as it
poses more risks
Can birth defects be treated before birth?
 Advances in prenatal therapy now make it
possible to treat some birth defects before
birth.
 Prenatal surgery has saved babies with
urinary-tract blockages and rare tumors of the
lung.
 More than 100 babies have undergone
experimental prenatal surgery to repair spina
bifida before birth.
Types of Birth Defects
 There are two main types of birth
defects:
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structural
functional/developmental.
 Structural birth defects are related to a problem
with body parts.
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heart defects, such as missing or misshaped
valves, and abnormal limbs, such as a club foot
also includes neural tube defects, such as spina
bifida, problems that are related to the growth and
development of the brain and spinal cord.
 Functional birth defects are related to a problem with
how a body part or body system works. These
problems often lead to developmental disabilities
and can include things such as:
 Nervous system or brain problems - learning
disabilities and movement trouble.
 Sensory problems - blindness and hearing loss.
 Metabolic disorders - involves a body process
 Degenerative disorders--are conditions that might not
be obvious at birth, but cause one or more aspects of
health to steadily get worse
 In some cases, birth defects are caused by a
combination of factors.
 Some recognized patterns of birth defects
affect many parts or processes in the body,
leading to both structural and functional
problems.