According to statistics, about 6 percent of children in the whole world are born with different birth defects. Let’s try to understand birth defects causes and see if anything can be done to prevent them.

Birth defects are the abnormalities with which a child can be born. Over 4,000 kinds of defects are known to exist; some of them can be cured, some can lead to physical or mental disabilities, and others may become the reason of the child’s death.

So where do these defects come from? In ancient times people believed that the abnormalities are some kind of punishment from the gods above. Modern science tries to find scientific explanations to these phenomenons.

Several causes of birth defects were found. Genetics have a role. The environment and the child’s parents’ lifestyle also plays a big part, while the causes of other defects have not been discovered yet.

*Genetics. The root of many birth defects is heredity. If one or both parents are carriers of some disease, the child can also be born with that disease. For example, color blindness, deafness, or the extra fingers on the hands or feet can be transmitted genetically. Sometimes the parents can be just carriers of the “ill” gene and transmit it to their child, while not having the disease themselves.

Chromosomal abnormalities (for example, a faulty or an extra chromosome or a missing one) can also be causes of birth defects. Chromosomal abnormalities aren’t usually transmitted genetically and occur by error during the development of the ovule or the spermatozoon. Chromosomal abnormalities are the reason of such illnesses as Down syndrome, Patau syndrome or Edwards syndrome.

*The lifestyle of the parents is very important for their future child’s health. It is known that every second child of a smoking woman dies immediately after birth or in the first week of life. Nicotine passes from the smoking mother to the child via the blood, damaging the child’s heart and respiratory system. A reduction in the amount of oxygen as well as the presence of nicotine slows the child’s growth. Smoking can also be a cause for miscarriage or infertility.

Every year thousands of children are born with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). FAS includes a number of mental and physical birth defects (like a disproportionate, weak and light body with retarded physical growth, heart defects, bad coordination and so forth) of children whose mothers were drinking alcohol during pregnancy. While some health problems of newborn children can be cured, these cannot be. FAS symptoms aren’t reversible and will remain with the child forever.

Illegal drugs will also  harm your child badly. Even legal, prescription drugs and medicines can sometimes do harm. That’s why it’s important to be very careful with what you eat, drink and smoke. And don’t forget to ask your doctor if the medicine you take won’t harm your future child.

Several kinds of infections, illnesses (for example, if a pregnant woman has rubella, it can cause detrimental health problems to her child) and sexually transmitted infections of a pregnant woman can also be a cause of birth defects. Radiation, of course, is also very dangerous for your child and can cause a number of birth defects.

Though there is nothing you can do about your genes, your lifestyle is always up to you. Take care of yourself, eat healthy food and avoid alcohol, drugs and cigarettes. Your future child’s health depends on you.

Photo © davhor

Related posts:

1. Take Care Of Your Unborn Child
2. Ensuring That Your Baby’s Born Healthy
3. Primordial Dwarfism Can’t Be Cured

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