Pregnancy

How to prevent congenital birth defects

Not all congenital birth defects can be prevented, but we can increase the chances of having a healthy baby, and that’s a big deal.

Every year in Italy about 25,000 newborns are born with a malformation, 480 children every week .

A very large number which, however, can be countered with some important precautions, such as adopting healthy behaviors before becoming pregnant. The preconceptional phase is essential for the future health of the child as are the very first weeks of pregnancy, when all the main organs of the baby are formed.

When pregnancy is discovered, embryogenesis is in full swing. This is a very delicate and fundamental phase for the future health of the child. For this reason, even before trying to have a baby, it is advisable to avoid harmful substances, choosing a healthy lifestyle, with the help of your doctor to resolve any doubts.

Planning the pregnancy

Even before you start trying to have a baby one to two months earlier, you need to start taking folic acid, 400 micrograms (mcg) every day. Folic acid is a B vitamin. If a woman has sufficient levels of folate in her body at least one month before and during pregnancy, this can help prevent serious neural tube defects such as anencephaly and spina bifida. Folic acid is obtained from specific supplements and from a varied diet rich in folate. See: All about folic acid

Before trying to have a baby it is important to have a pre-conception gynecological check-up . The gynecologist can prescribe some pre-conception tests (free of charge) to see if the thyroid values ​​are fine, if the woman is immune to toxoplasmosis or rubella or hepatitis B. If she is not immune to rubella, it is generally recommended to get the vaccine .

Once pregnancy is discovered, it is important to immediately notify the doctor and plan all prenatal check-ups and examinations.

Whether you’re trying to have a baby or it’s still an abstract idea, it’s never too early to start preparing for pregnancy.

Avoid harmful substances

Avoid alcohol at all times and in any amount during pregnancy. The alcohol in a woman’s bloodstream passes to the developing baby via the umbilical cord. The safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy or during immediate conception is not known.

All types of alcohol are equally harmful , including wine and beer. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, and a variety of physical, behavioral, and cognitive disabilities to the baby.

These disabilities in the baby, which occur because the mother drank alcohol during pregnancy, are known as   fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) . The best advice for women is to stop drinking alcohol completely when trying to get pregnant.

Avoid cigarette smoke : The dangers of smoking during pregnancy include preterm birth, certain birth defects (cleft lip or palate), and infant death. Passive smoking also has important risks on the health of women and children.

The best choice for a smoker would be to give up smoking a few months before trying for a baby. For a woman who is already pregnant, stopping as soon as possible can still help protect against some baby health problems, such as low birth weight. It’s never too late to quit smoking.

Avoid marijuana and other drugs. A woman who smokes marijuana or takes other drugs during pregnancy may have a baby who is premature, has a low birth weight, or has other health problems. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit substance during pregnancy. Since no safe level of marijuana use during pregnancy is known, women who are pregnant, or planning to become pregnant, should not use marijuana.

Prevent infections

Some infections that a woman can get during pregnancy can be harmful to the developing baby and can even cause birth defects.

Among these we mention:

  • Cytomegalovirus
  • Listeria
  • Toxoplasmosis
  • Rubella
  • Chicken pox

For rubella and chickenpox there are vaccinations that should always be done before pregnancy if you are not immune. To know your immunity to certain diseases, you just need to take a blood sample to search for antibodies.

For Cytomegalovirus (CMV) it would be important to reduce contact with the saliva and urine of infants and young children. Especially for those who have other children or work for example in schools in contact with children. Therefore, sharing food and utensils with babies and small children should be avoided. It is very important to always wash your hands after changing diapers. These actions cannot eliminate the risk of getting CMV, but they can reduce the chances.
As for Listeria it is good to avoid unpasteurized milk and all unpasteurized cheeses (such as feta, brie…, unless they have labels that say they have been pasteurized).
You must not touch or change the cat’s dirty litter without gloves: in any case, it is better to have another family member do it to avoid the contagion of Toxoplasmosis.

Choose a healthy lifestyle

To do that you have to

Keep your blood sugar under control with regular tests.

Achieve and maintain a healthy weight . A woman who is obese (a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater) or very overweight before pregnancy is at increased risk of complications during pregnancy. Obesity also increases a pregnant woman’s risk of having a child with serious birth defects as well as increasing the risks to a woman’s overall health.

A pregnancy should always start in a normal weight condition , so before trying to have a baby it would be very important to be able to reach your ideal weight.

Beware of medications

We know that some medications can cause serious birth defects when taken during pregnancy. If you are planning a pregnancy or find out you are pregnant, it is very important to talk to your doctor about any medications you are taking or would like to take. This applies to prescription and over-the-counter medicines, and to herbal or dietary products.

Discuss vaccinations with your doctor before pregnancy . Most vaccinations are safe during pregnancy, and some vaccinations, such as the flu vaccine and the Acellular Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTPa) vaccine, are specifically recommended during pregnancy .

Some vaccines protect women from infections that can cause birth defects such as rubella .

Pregnant women are more prone to complications from the flu. The flu vaccination is the first and most important step in protecting yourself against the flu. The flu vaccine given during pregnancy has been shown to protect both mother and baby (up to 6 months after delivery) from the flu.

Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it can also be stressful. Knowing that you are doing all you can to prepare for motherhood, stay healthy during your pregnancy and give your baby a healthy start in life will help you continue to live with more peace of mind.

Dr Kathryn Barlow

Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.

Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.

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