1. Birth Defects

2.  An abnormality present at birth that affects the structure or function of the body

3.  About 150,000 babies are born each year with birth defects.  One out of 28 babies has a birth defect  Over 4,000 known birth defects  Birth defects are the leading cause of death in the first year of life.

4. 1. Malformations present at birth Spina bifida (open spine) Cleft lip/palate 2. Inborn errors of metabolism PKU Tay-Sacs disease 3. Blood Disorders Sickle cell anemia

5. 4. Chromosomal Abnormalities - Down’s Syndrome 5. Prenatal damage caused by:  infections  drugs  maternal disorders such as diabetes, high blood pressure, Rh disease  umbilical cord accidents  difficult labor or delivery  premature birth.

6.  The cause is not know for 60% of Birth Defects.

7.  Defective recessive genes from both parents  Cystic Fibrosis  Tay-Sachs disease (Jewish)  Sickle cell anemia (African-American  Defective dominant gene from 1 parent  Hemophilis  Huntington’s disease  Duchenne muscular dystrophy  Color blindness  Errors in chromosomes  Down syndrome

8.  Poor nutrition of mother (over or under weight)  Rubella (German measles)  Toxoplasmosis (parasite from cat litter and some raw meat)  Varicella (Chicken Pox)  STD’s  Drugs (street and legal)

9.  Caffeine  Alcohol  Chemicals – paints (houses built before 1955), pesticides, carbon monoxide  X-rays  Accidental injuries

10. Health problems of mother  High blood pressure  Diabetes  Sickle anemia  Epilepsy

11.  Inherited tendency to develop a heart defect combined with the use of drugs or a virus during pregnancy  Cleft-lip or cleft palate  Spina bifida and hydrocephalus  Multiple births  Hyper-ovulation (genetic)  Twin to twin syndrome (TTTS) 1 twin taking nourishment from the other caused by fertility drugs.

12.  Steps can be taken to reduce the risk

13.  Getting a pre-pregnancy check up  When pregnant take 400 mg of the B-vitamin folic acid  Avoid known risks

14.  Ultrasound  Amniocentesis  Chronic villus sampling

15. Sonogram Chorionic Villi Sampling Amniocentesis

16. Prenatal surgery can be used for:  Urinary-tract blockages  Rare tumors in the lungs  Spina bifida