27 Mar

Posted at 23:18h in Birth Defects, Down Syndrome by

1/700 babies are born with Down Syndrome in the United States.²

March 21st was World Down Syndrome Day; a special day marked to bring awareness to the joys and unique challenges of raising a child with Down Syndrome. The date of the 21st is chosen because the genetic disorder is characterized by an extra copy of chromosome 21; also called Trisomy 21.

18 Jan

Posted at 15:33h in Baby, Birth Defects, Health, Medical Concerns, Medical Concerns, Medical Concerns, Pregnancy by
3% of infants in the U.S. are born with birth defects.¹ If you’re thinking about becoming pregnant or just found out that you’re pregnant, you may also be thinking about birth defects. January is Birth Defects Awareness Month so it’s a good time to discuss the basics and learn how they occur. Knowing the risk factors can help reduce your baby’s risk of developing a birth defect in the womb.

01 Nov

Posted at 11:04h in Baby, Birth Defects, Delivery, Gestational Diabetes, Health, Medical Concerns, Medical Concerns, Medical Concerns, Pregnancy by
High blood sugar around the time of conception and throughout pregnancy increases risks of:  birth defects, still birth, preterm birth, c-sections, and the baby developing obesity and diabetes later in life.¹

What is Gestational Diabetes?

November is American Diabetes Month and a great time to put a spotlight on diabetes during pregnancy, which is a rising trend in the United States. In the United States, gestational diabetes (diabetes developed during pregnancy) has increased by 56% from 2000-2010.¹

28 Jun

Posted at 17:47h in Baby, Birth Defects, Cleft Lip, Medical Concerns by
Around the world, 1 out of 700 babies are born with cleft lip and/or cleft palate.² July is National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month, a time to bring focus on the special challenges and treatment of babies born with orofacial malformations like cleft lip or palate. Around the world, 1 out of 700 babies are born with cleft.²

23 Dec

Posted at 08:05h in Birth Defects, Cleft Lip, Congenital Heart Defects, Delivery, Medical Concerns, Medical Concerns by

Birth defects affect babies all over the world.   A birth defect is a structural change to a baby’s body part, inside or outside the body. 

What Causes Birth Defects?

Birth defects happen as a result of: genetics, infection, exposure to an environmental toxin like radiation, or exposure to an internal toxin, like drugs, medication, alcohol, or smoking. They can also happen as a result of poor diet (low in folic acid) or uncontrolled blood sugar (Diabetes diagnosis or chronic high blood sugar).  

Every woman carries the risk of having a baby with a birth defect. This is called a background risk. The background risk for every woman is 3-5%. Yet, every woman can be proactive in reducing additional risk to her baby.