Prenatal Vitamins

Folic acid can reduce your risk of having a baby with a serious birth defect of the brain and spinal cord

Calcium during pregnancy can prevent a new mother from losing her own bone density to the fetus as it uses the mineral for bone growth

Iron helps both the mother and baby's blood carry oxygen

Vitamin A is important for a baby's embryonic development; cell growth; eye, heart, limb, and ear development; healthy skin and mucous membranes; infection resistance; bone growth; and fat metabolism. It is also particularly essential for pregnant women because it helps in maintaining normal vision and fighting off infections

Vitamin C helps with healthy gums, teeth and bones. It also improves iron absorption

Vitamin D helps absorb calcium and helps your baby have strong bones and good dental health

Vitamin E Helps with lung and immune system development

Zinc helps prevent low birth weights and decreases the time it takes mothers to heal

Copper stimulates the growth of cells and tissues, hair growth, and general metabolism

Niacin helps in the production of hormones like testosterone, estrogen and progesterone. It also helps in fat production and the proper functioning of organs in the nervous and digestive systems.

Riboflavin promotes your baby's bone, muscle and nerve development

Thiamine is essential for your baby's brain development

The Don'ts of Pregnancy

-Don't Smoke During Pregnancy
-Don't Drink Alcohol During Pregnancy
-Don't Use Illegal Drugs During Pregnancy
-Don't Have Optional X-rays During Pregnancy
-Don't Touch Soiled Cat Litter During Pregnancy
-Don't Eat Fish with High Mercury Content During Pregnancy
-Don't Use Hot Tubs or Take Really Hot Baths During Pregnancy
-Don't Use Pesticides, Paints or Aerosol Sprays During Pregnancy

Functional vs Structural Defects

Functional defects affect 1 in 3,500 babies and usually involve a missing or incorrectly formed enzyme (a protein necessary for processing chemical substances in the body). This type of defect can be harmful or even fatal. Functional defects include Tay-Sachs disease, and phenylketonuria (PKU).

Structural defects are those that result when a specific body part is missing or formed incorrectly or when there is an inborn problem in body chemistry. The most common type of major structural defects are heart defects, which affect 1 in 100 babies in the United States.

Causes

Most babies with birth defects are born to two parents with no obvious health problems or risk factors. A woman can do everything her doctor recommends to deliver a healthy child and still have a baby with a birth defect because over 60% of birth defects have no known causes. The other 40% are caused by genetics and environmental factors.

Environmental causes of birth defects have more to do with the mother's health and her exposure to chemicals or diseases. When a mother has certain infections or ingests certain substances it can cause birth defects.

Genetics are also a major influence of birth defects. The number or structure of chromosomes the baby is given will effect if it has a defect. Boys are more likely to gain genetic birth defects because they have only the one X chromosome they receive from their mothers (females have two X chromosomes — one from each parent), a faulty gene on the X chromosome they receive will cause problems because they don't have another X chromosome that females have to correct it.

What is a birth defect?

Birth defects are defined as abnormalities of structure, function, or body metabolism that are present at birth. These abnormalities lead to mental or physical disabilities or are fatal. There are more than 4,000 different known birth defects, ranging from minor to serious, and although many can be treated or cured, they're the leading cause of death in the first year of life.

Did You Know?

• Most Birth Defects Occur Within the First 3 Months of Pregnancy
• One out of Every 33 Babies is Born With a Birth Defect