January 18, 2013
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January: National Birth Defects Prevention Month
- Follow updates from NCBDDD Director Dr. Coleen Boyle.
- Help increase awareness of birth defects with these social media buttons.
- Educational and promotional materials available via the National Birth Defects Prevention Network.
Guidance for Preventing Birth Defects
Not all birth defects can be prevented. But, a woman can increase her own chances of having a healthy baby, by managing health conditions and adopting healthy behaviors before becoming pregnant. This is important because many birth defects happen very early during pregnancy, sometimes before a woman even knows she is pregnant.
Here are some steps a woman can take to get ready for a healthy pregnancy:
Take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day.
Folic acid is a B vitamin. If a woman has enough folic acid in her body at least 1 month before and during pregnancy, it can help prevent major birth defects of the baby’s brain and spine (anencephaly and spina bifida).
Learn more about folic acid »- Don't drink alcohol at any time during pregnancy.
When a woman drinks alcohol, so does her unborn baby. Alcohol in the woman’s blood passes through the placenta to her baby through the umbilical cord. There is no known safe amount of alcohol to drink while pregnant. There also is no safe time during pregnancy to drink and no safe kind of alcohol. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause a baby to be born with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
Learn more about alcohol and pregnancy » - Don’t smoke.
The dangers of smoking during pregnancy include premature birth, certain birth defects (cleft lip or cleft palate), and infant death. Even being around cigarette smoke puts a woman and her unborn baby at risk for problems. Quitting smoking before getting pregnant is best. But for a woman who is already pregnant, quitting as early as possible can still help protect against some health problems for the baby, such as low birth weight.
It’s never too late to quit smoking.
Learn more about smoking during pregnancy » - Don’t use “street” drugs.
A woman who uses illegal—or “street”—drugs during pregnancy can have a baby who is born premature; is low birth weight; or has other health problems, such as birth defects. A woman who uses cocaine while pregnant is more likely to have a baby with birth defects of the arms, legs, urinary system, and heart. Other drugs, such as marijuana and ecstasy, also can cause birth defects among babies.
It also is important that a woman not use "street" drugs after she gives birth, because such drugs can be passed through breast milk to her baby and can affect the baby’s growth and development. If you use "street" drugs, talk with your doctor about quitting before you get pregnant. - Talk to a health care provider about taking any medications.
Taking certain medications during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects, but the safety of many medications taken by pregnant women has been difficult to determine. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, you should not stop taking medications you need or begin taking new medications without first talking with your doctor. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medications and dietary or herbal products.
Learn more about medication and pregnancy » - Prevent infections.
Some infections that a woman can get during pregnancy can be harmful to the unborn baby. Learn how to help prevent infections.
Learn simple steps to prevent infections » - Talk to your doctor about vaccinations (shots).
Many vaccinations are safe and recommended during pregnancy, but some are not. Having the right vaccinations at the right time can help keep a woman and her baby healthy.
Learn about vaccinations during pregnancy »
Learn more about flu and pregnancy » - Keep diabetes under control.
Poor control of diabetes during pregnancy increases the chances for birth defects and other problems for the baby. It can also cause serious complications for the woman. Proper healthcare before and during pregnancy can help prevent birth defects and other poor outcomes.
Learn more about diabetes and pregnancy » - Reach and maintain a healthy weight.
A woman who is obese (a body mass index of 30 or higher) before pregnancy is at a higher risk for complications during pregnancy. Obesity in the woman also increases the risk of several serious birth defects for the baby.
If you are overweight or obese, talk with your doctor about ways to reach a healthy weight before you get pregnant.
Learn more about healthy weight » - See a health care professional regularly.
A woman should be sure to see her doctor when planning a pregnancy and start prenatal care as soon as she thinks that she is pregnant. It is important to see the doctor regularly throughout pregnancy, so a woman should keep all her prenatal care appointments.
Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it also can be stressful. Knowing that you are doing all that you can to get ready for pregnancy, staying healthy during pregnancy, and giving your baby a healthy start in life will help you to have peace of mind.
To learn about CDC’s work in preventing birth defects, visit our Research and Tracking page.
Related Pages
- Healthy Pregnancy
- Planning for Pregnancy
- Pediatric Genetics
- Developmental Disabilities
- CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
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Birth Defects Prevention Month 2013
Birth defects are common, costly, and critical
January 2013 is National Birth Defects Prevention Month! The theme is "Birth defects are common, costly, and critical.” The National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN) is pleased to provide you with the following resource materials to promote birth defects awareness and prevention.
- Poster: Every 4 1/2 minutes a baby is born with birth defects (English
, English version 2
)
- Poster: One in every 33 babies... (English
- Poster: January is Birth Defects Prevention Month (English/Spanish
- Poster: Birth defects affect us all... (English
- Poster: Prevention birth defects, now is the time (English/Spanish
- Brochure: Birth defects prevention (English
- Templates for Birth Defects Prevention Month
- Greetings letter (pdf
- Packet use ideas (word
, pdf
- Sample proclamation (word
- Sample news release (word
- Sample letter to health care providers (word
- Greetings letter (pdf
- Resources on the internet (word
- Resources for parents and families (word
- Birth defects and risk factor factsheets and preconception health: available on the NBDPN prevention month general webpage.
- Congratulations, Mom. You Have a Beautiful Baby Postpartum Brochure (English, Spanish)
- Free NTD/folic acid materials from CDC
- Free FAS materials from CDC
- March of Dimes NTD/folic acid and Healthy Pregnancy materials
Birth defects affect 1 in every 33 babies born in the United States and are a leading cause of infant mortality. Babies who survive and live with birth defects are at increased risk for developing many lifelong physical, cognitive, and social challenges. Medical care and support services only scrape the surface of the financial and emotional impact of living with birth defects.
The good news is awareness efforts offer hope for reducing the number of birth defects in the future. The following prevention strategies can be promoted. Please encourage all pregnant women and those who may become pregnant to:
• consume 400 micrograms of folic acid daily
• manage chronic maternal illnesses such as diabetes, seizure disorders, or phenylketonuria (PKU)
• reach and maintain a healthy weight
• talk to a health care provider about taking any medications, both prescription and over-the-counter
• avoid alcohol, smoking, and illicit drugs
• see a health care provider regularly
• avoid toxic substances at work or at home
• ensure protection against domestic violence
• know their family history and seek reproductive genetic counseling, if appropriate
Please take the time to become familiar with the materials and complete the Evaluation Form. We hope you find them useful for the education, outreach, and prevention activities that you conduct in your community. Materials developed by NBDPN are available on the NBDPN website and can be tailored to your specific agency's mission, needs and capacity. Materials from the other organizations featured can be obtained directly from the organizations themselves.
If you should have questions about National Birth Defects Prevention Month, please contact Mary Knapp (Mary.Knapp@doh.state.nj.us) or Cara Mai (cmai@cdc.gov). We hope you find these materials helpful in providing information about birth defects to families, colleagues, and policy makers. Thank you in advance for your support in promoting January as National Birth Defects Prevention Month.
Sincerely,
Mary Knapp
LaShunda Williams
NBDPN Education & Outreach Committee Co-chairs
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