Try these steps to decrease the risks
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
One in every 33 babies born in the US will have some degree of birth defect. Some can be corrected through surgery or other treatments. Others will experience lifelong effects that impact quality of life.
“We don’t know the reason for most birth defects,” said Darcy Dreyer, director of maternal-infant health with March of Dimes in New York state.
She encourages women who want to want to become pregnant to schedule a pre conception check-up with a care provider. This can help identify any present risk factors.
Women can do plenty of other things to help reduce the risk of birth defects.
“Start taking folic acid as many as six months prior to conception to prevent neural tube defects,” Dreyer said.
Taking folic acid supplements to prevent neural tube defects is especially important in the first six weeks of pregnancy. Since pregnancy is typically detected between six and eight weeks’ gestation, it is vital to take them beforehand.
In addition, women need to “manage any chronic health conditions,” Dreyer said. “Diabetes is linked to birth defects.”
Update any vaccinations that have been neglected.
Managing weight before pregnancy can also help women get in a better state of health for a better delivery and recovery experience.
“Get to a healthy weight before becoming pregnant,” Dreyer advised.
Where you travel matters. Dreyer said to avoid going to locales where Zika virus is spreading, as that can cause birth defects, as can cytomegalovirus (CMV), which can cause minor illness in healthy adults but can be devastating for babies.
Dreyer also warned to avoid direct contact with used cat litter, as it raises the risk for toxoplasmosis. That doesn’t mean rehoming Whiskers. Wearing gloves or delegating litter changing duty to someone else solves the problem.
“You can also get toxoplasmosis from unwashed vegetables or uncooked meat” Dreyer added.
Some OBGYNs warn about eating deli meat that has not been heated, raw eggs or sushi.
“Avoid eating fish with high amounts of mercury,” Dreyer said.
No amount of alcohol while pregnant is safe. Developing babies are tiny, so small amounts of alcohol will affect them more profoundly, not only while the alcohol is in their systems but with possible lifelong repercussions.
“Avoid things like smoking, drinking and recreational drugs,” said Jennifer MacBlane, midwife with St. Joseph’s Health.
The same principle would apply to supplements and any over-the-counter preparations. Some of these can harm babies. Clear them all with an OB-GYN.
Talking with an OB-GYN can help moms get a referral to a genetic counselor for screening so that they can know her chances of passing on genetic conditions to her baby. Even for moms who would never terminate a pregnancy, genetic screening can help women mentally prepare for a possible outcome and to learn about resources that can help.
“Know your genetic history,” MacBlane said. “Find out what runs in your family. It’s a question we ask at a prenatal visit, but you might want to know before you get pregnant. Do certain illnesses run in your family? That involves you and your partner.”
It’s also vital to get any pre-existing health conditions under control. Some of these can affect baby’s health and some conditions in mom can worsen while pregnant.
“As OB-GYNs, we don’t manage thyroid conditions or diabetes until you’re pregnant,” MacBlane said. “Talk with your other providers to get those levels regulated.”
Some women may feel embarrassed about talking about their lifestyle or health habits with a provider, especially if they have let a few health concerns go by the wayside for a few years. Sunny Jones, coordinator of Syracuse Healthy Start program with Onondaga County Health Department, encourages moms-to-be to have “open and honest communication with your healthcare provider. We encourage those who want to grow their family to talk about what they should do before getting pregnant.”