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Test your knowledge of birth defects and what you can do to minimize the risk.
What percentage of U.S. infants are born with birth defects annually?
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When is an unborn baby most at risk of developing abnormalities?
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Which of these is one of the most common birth defects?
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Spina bifida is generally divided into two broad categories, spina bifida oculta and spina bifida with meningocele or myelomeningocoele. Spina bifida oculta, the most common type, generally has no neurological symptoms and is often discovered during a routine x-ray of the lower abdomen or spine. The more serious form of spina bifida with myelomeningocele is frequently associated with urinary problems and paralysis. Fortunately the incidence of this form is less than 1/1000 live births. Alpha feto-protein is a test done on amniotic fluid that can help diagnose neural tube defects such as spina bifida. When alpha feto-protein is positive further studies such as fetal ultrasound are effective diagnostic procedures.
Which of these maternal habits can be harmful to the fetus?
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Smoking increases the risk of miscarriage or damage to developing fetal organs. Alcohol and illegal drugs can increase the risk of fetal abnormalities and miscarriage.
A woman who is pregnant or considering pregnancy should get a medical checkup. Which of these immunizations should be current before conception?
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If a woman is not immune to rubella, infection during pregnancy can result in a group of birth defects called the congenital rubella syndrome. Defects include decreased growth, mental retardation, small head, congenital cataracts or cloudiness of the cornea, deafness, and heart defects.
Doctors advise women to take 400 mcg. of folic acid daily before conception and during pregnancy. What will this prevent in the baby?
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Taking folic-acid supplements may reduces the risk of a group of conditions called neural tube defects by 50 percent. These defects include spina bifida, meningocele and myelomeningocele.
Pregnant women should avoid handling cat litter to decrease the risk of becoming infected with which of these?
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This parasitic infection can be transmitted to humans via cat feces, seriously harming an unborn baby. Infection during pregnancy causes congenital toxoplasmosis and can result in premature delivery, low birth weight, mental and motor retardation, small head, small eyes and blindness, seizures, hydrocephalus and damage to the liver and blood forming organs.
Which of these kinds of medications can cause birth defects if taken when pregnant?
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Many prescription and over-the-counter medications aren't safe for pregnant women to take. An expectant mother should check with her doctor before taking any medication or supplement.
During prenatal care, a physician may conduct genetic screening tests for certain disorders. What does an amniocentesis test for?
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Amniocentesis usually is done between the 13th and 15th week of pregnancy. Downs is one of the most common genetic chromosomal abnormalities tested for. However, the number of conditions that can be diagnosed by amniocentesis increases yearly. Amniocentesis can be used to diagnose many chromosomal abnormalities, DNA-gene abnormalities, enzyme and amino acid abnormalities (inborn errors of metabolism). Amniocentesis can even help determine how developed the fetal lungs are in the event that a delivery must be induced early.
Extra or missing chromosomes trigger genetic birth defects. What factor greatly increases the risk of an abnormal number of chromosomes in the fetus?
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Women 35 and older have a greater risk of having a child with chromosomal abnormalities, in particular trisomy 21, also known as Down Syndrome.
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