Raising Awareness: Birth Defects Prevention Month
January is Birth Defects Prevention month and according to the CDC, birth defects affect 1 in every 33 babies in the US. This statistic may come as a surprise, it suggests how often birth defects commonly occur in births around the nation. A birth defect is determined by the structural changes that can be presented before, after, or anytime after birth. These changes affect any part or parts of the body that may be visible such as a cleft lip or a non-visible heart defect. It is important to note that we do not know all the causes of birth defects, but we do know that they can develop at various stages in pregnancy.
Let’s join together to raise awareness about birth defects and support those individuals, families, and parents who are impacted.
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Update on Overall Prevalence of Major Birth Defects–Atlanta, Georgia, 1978-2005. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2008;57(1):1-5.
