Transcript 1BirthDefects

Section 1- Birth Defects
Can It Happen to My Baby?
Define Birth Defects
• Working with your table group, develop a
definition for the term birth defects.
• Your definition should answer two
questions– What is a birth defect?
– How often do they occur?
• Select a group leader to share your teams
definition.
How Common Are Birth Defects?
• 33 of every 1,000 babies have a birth defect
that is identified at birth.
• Another 33 of every 1,000 children will have
a birth defect diagnosed by age 5.
• Birth defects are the leading cause of infant
mortality.
• Every couple faces a 4-6% chance of having
a childe with a birth defect.
• Certain ethnic groups are at a higher risk of
having certain birth defects.
What Causes Birth Defects?
1. GENETIC
– Humans have approximately 35,000 genes.
– When an individual gene is altered, it may not
be able to function normally.
– Birth defects can be hereditary.
2. CHROMOSOMAL:
– Chromosome abnormalities can involve
abnormal number or structure.
– The normal human chromosome number is 46.
– When a chromosome abnormality occurs,
physical differences as well as learning
problems result.
What Causes Birth Defects?
3. TERATOGEN
– Teratogens are agents that cause harm to the
developing baby.
– They include drugs, maternal infections and
environmental factors.
– In order to definitively diagnose teratogenic
causes of birth defects, both genetic and
chromosomal causes need to be ruled out.
What Causes Birth Defects?
4. MULTIFACTORIAL
– Genetic and environmental factors that, when
combined, result in a birth defect.
5. OTHER
– Some birth defects occur even when the
underlying developmental process is
proceeding normally.
Developmental Periods
of Pregnancy
• PREIMPLANTATION PERIOD (Period of the
Zygote)
•
– Ovulation and fertilization occurs during this twoweek period.
– Developmental errors or harmful exposure
during this period is likely to cause an early
miscarriage.
Developmental Periods
of Pregnancy
• EMBRYONIC PERIOD (Period of the
embryo)
•
– This period extends from the third through the
eighth weeks post-conception.
– It correlates with the 1st trimester.
– Most major birth defects occur during this time
and are present by day 50 of the pregnancy.
Developmental Periods
of Pregnancy
• FETAL PERIOD (Period of the fetus)
•
– This period correlates with the second and third
trimesters.
– Rapid body growth occurs during this time.
– Developmental errors and teratogenic effects
can still occur during this time.
– The central nervous system is continuing to
develop and remains vulnerable.
Impact of Birth Defects
• Medical– Many structural birth defects can be repaired.
– However, some birth defects that are a simple
to repair from a medical standpoint, may require
multiple surgeries. For example- cleft palate.
– Multiple visits and visits to specialists are
typically required.
– Frequent visits are typical during early
childhood and taper off as the child ages and
corrective work is done.
Impact of Birth Defects
• Emotional– When a baby is born with a birth defect it is
usually a frightening, stressful, and sad time for
the family.
– Many families react with grief. There may also
be feelings of guilt.
– When families do not understand why the birth
defect occurred they may try to invent their own
explanations or play the “what if” game.
– May cause delayed bonding with baby.
Impact of Birth Defects
• Family– A child with a birth defect demands a lot of
resources and attention.
– Dr. appointments, therapy visits, prosthetics all
require time and money that can increase stress
on families.
– Not to be forgotten are the siblings, they may
feel jealous of the attention and time being
spent on the affected child.
Impact of Birth Defects
• Financial/ Economic
– Not only is their an economic burden on the
family, but also a burden on society.
– Time must be missed from work, medical costs
etc.
– For example, in 1992 in Missouri a child born
with spina bifida would have incurred a lifetime
costs of $8,524,348.
An Ounce of Prevention
 2000, 2005 The Curators of the University of Missouri
Discussion
•
You will develop and write your response to
the following situation on a piece of
notebook paper.
• Tomorrow some of you will be selected to
share your responses aloud- be prepared!
Do you think that families who have hereditary
birth defects/ genetic conditions should
have children? Whose decision is it- the
family’s, government, insurance company?