1. Complications During Pregnancy

2. Premature Death
Sometimes a pregnancy begins, but a baby doesn’t develop normally
If the baby dies before the 20th week it is called a miscarriage
If the baby dies after that time, it is called a stillbirth.
15-20% of recognized pregnancies end in miscarriage
2% ends in stillbirth
Due to bonds that are formed way before the child is born, parents (especially the woman) may go through grieving if this occurs.

3. Birth Defects
While still in the womb, some babies have problems with how their organs and body parts form, how they work, or how their bodies turn food into energy – these problems are called Birth Defects.
About 150,000 babies are born each year with birth defects – 1 in 33 births.
There are over 4,000 known birth defects.
Birth defects are the leading cause of death in the first year of life.

4. Structural Birth Defect
If a baby is born with a part of the body that is missing or malformed, it is called a structural birth defect.
Heart defects are the most common type of structural defect.
Other examples: spina bifida, cleft palate, clubfoot, and congenital dislocated hip.

5. Metabolic Birth Defect
When there is a problem with a baby's body chemistry, it is called a metabolic birth defect.
Metabolism - chemical reactions that your body uses to break down food or certain chemicals so your body can use them right away for fuel or store them.

6. What Causes Birth Defects?
Both genetic and environmental factors can cause birth defect.
However, the causes of about 60% of birth defects are currently unknown.
Genetic - An error during meiosis can cause a baby to be born with too few or too many chromosomes, or with a damaged chromosome.
Environmental -anything the mother is exposed to in the environment affects the fetus. Food, sickness, teratogens, stress, liquids…
A teratogen is any substance or agent in the environment that can have a detrimental effect on a developing fetus. Various teratogens include drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and other environmental agents.

7. Alcohol while Pregnant
When an adult drinks alcohol during pregnancy, so does their baby.
The same amount of alcohol that is in their blood is also in their baby's blood.
The alcohol in your blood quickly passes through the placenta and to your baby through the umbilical cord.
Although an adult body is able to manage alcohol in their blood, the baby's little body isn't.
Your liver works hard to break down the alcohol in your blood. But the baby's liver is too small to do the same and alcohol can hurt the baby's development.

8. 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.
Plan your pregnancy.
Take a daily multivitamin containing 400 mg of the B-vitamin folic Acid.
Avoid alcohol, drugs, smoking, prescription or over-the-counter medication with out checking with her health care provider.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Folic Acid - if a woman has enough folic acid in her body at least one month before and during pregnancy, it can help prevent major birth defects of the baby’s brain and spine

9. Diagnosis Before Birth
Some birth defects can be diagnosed before birth.
Some prenatal tests that can be taken are:
Ultrasound
Amniocentesis
Chronic villus sampling

10. Ultrasound
A technique that uses sound waves to show a picture of a baby (fetus) in the womb.
Ultrasound works by bouncing sound waves off the developing fetus. Echoes from the waves are converted into an image, called a sonogram, on a monitor.

11. Amniocentesis
A thin, hollow needle inserted through the woman’s belly and uterus and some of the amniotic fluid is removed and examined to detect certain birth defects.
This is done in the second trimester

12. Chorionic Villus Sampling
CVS requires taking a small piece of the chorionic villi, which are wisps of tissue that attach the pregnancy sac to the wall of the uterus. The villi contain the same tissue makeup as the fetus.
First, the vagina and cervix are thoroughly cleansed with an antiseptic.
Then, using ultrasound as a guide, a physician inserts a thin tube through a woman’s vagina and cervix to the villi, and uses gentle suction to remove a small sample.

13. What Do You Think?
What is your opinion on knowing if a child has a birth defect before they are born?
What would you do if you and your partner were pregnant?
What do you think about parents who want this information only to determine whether to abort the baby or not?