Birth Defects and the Fight to Prevent Them
Women need to make good lifestyle choices when it comes to sexual partners and preventing unwanted pregnancies so that pregnancies can be planned, ensuring that there is the ability to make preparations for a healthy conception and pregnancy.
There is much that can be done to help prevent birth defects. No one likes to see babies suffer or die from birth defects that could have been prevented. Education is one key to helping moms prepare before becoming pregnant and also to do what ever is necessary during pregnancy to have a healthy baby. There are many books, Websites and organizations available to help moms and moms-to-be to prepare for a healthy baby free of birth defects. Another key to fighting birth defects is proper prenatal care, this means providing medical care for all pregnant women and providing the means to receive proper nutrition during pregnancy and during breastfeeding.
Education begins with young girls and teaching them about sexual diseases that could affect their future children. Women need to be educated about the need to have preconception planning appointments so that they can do all they can to assure a healthy pregnancy and baby. There are lifestyle choices that are made preconception and during the pregnancy that can have an affect on the health of the baby including smoking, drinking alcohol, nutrition and hot tub usage.
Healthcare is the concern of all involved in the process including legislative bodies of our government those who govern them and those who vote for issues concerning healthcare. Those making decisions regarding healthcare issues like which policies to offer employees should take into considerations the needs of women in their reproductive years and the unborn children that may be affected by their decision to provide healthcare or not.
Women need to make good lifestyle choices when it comes to sexual partners and preventing unwanted pregnancies so that pregnancies can be planned, ensuring that there is the ability to make preparations for a healthy conception and pregnancy.
Books:
Protecting Your Baby-To-Be: Preventing Birth Defects in the First Trimester by Margie Profet
The Healthy Baby Book, A Parent's Guide to Preventing Birth Defects and Other Long-Term Medical Problems Before, During and After Pregnancy by Carolyn Reuben
Preventing two of the most common and severe birth defect: An article from: Humpty Dumpty's Magazine by Cory SerVaas (Digital - June 1, 2005)
Smoking and Pregnancy: The Politics of Fetal Protection by Laury Oaks
Preventing Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and other alcohol-related birth defects by Elizabeth Howard
Radiation Birth DefectsSpina Bifida:
This is a anatomical abnormality which occurs in 1 out of 2,000 births, and usually happens in caucasian or in those of European background. There is a malformation of the neural tube in the first few weeks of embryonic life and effects the spine and the brain.
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Websites:
The March of Dimes has a Website where viewers can find information about pregnancy, babies and prematurity including how to reduce infant mortality and birth defects. The Website can be found at:
http://www.marchofdimes.com/
The National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities has a Website that can be found at:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/
Kidshealth.org also has a section of their site devoted to preventing birth defects. It can be found at:
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/system/ill/birth_defects.html
The American Pregnancy Association also has birth defect prevention tips that can be found on:
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/birthdefects/index.htm
There are many organizations set up to help educate and assist in the fight against birth defects. They are:
March of Dimes
ECLAMC (the Latin American Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations)
IBIS (International Birth Defects Information System)
The International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Monitoring Systems
World Alliance of Organizations for the Prevention of Birth Defects
FPBD (Families Preventing Birth Defects) Today's News About Birth Defects
07/04/2008
Birth defect is linked to STDs and infection (Deseret Morning News)
Young women who have both a sexually transmitted disease and a urinary tract infection just before or early in their pregnancy are four times more likely to have a baby born with intestines and other organs outside the abdomen, according to a study by University of Utah researchers.
Birth defect is linked to STDs and infection (Deseret Morning News)
07/02/2008
Who's saying what about gay and lesbian issues (Metro Weekly)
"She had a birth defect, and we call it that. I can't think of a worse birth defect, as a woman, than to have a penis ."
Who's saying what about gay and lesbian issues (Metro Weekly)
07/02/2008
Who's saying what about gay and lesbian issues (Metro Weekly)
"She had a birth defect, and we call it that. I can't think of a worse birth defect, as a woman, than to have a penis ."
Who's saying what about gay and lesbian issues (Metro Weekly)
07/02/2008
Boy born with heart outside chest (The Arizona Republic)
A toddler from Trinidad with a rare birth defect has come to Miami in the hope of finding help.
Boy born with heart outside chest (The Arizona Republic)
07/04/2008
Birth defect is linked to STDs and infection (Deseret Morning News)
Young women who have both a sexually transmitted disease and a urinary tract infection just before or early in their pregnancy are four times more likely to have a baby born with intestines and other organs outside the abdomen, according to a study by University of Utah researchers.
Birth defect is linked to STDs and infection (Deseret Morning News)
07/02/2008
Who's saying what about gay and lesbian issues (Metro Weekly)
"She had a birth defect, and we call it that. I can't think of a worse birth defect, as a woman, than to have a penis ."
Who's saying what about gay and lesbian issues (Metro Weekly)
07/02/2008
Trinidad Child Born with Rare Heart Defect (KCBD-TV Lubbock)
Adrian Raheal, 20 months, looks like a typical toddler, until his shirt is lifted and you see his beating heart protruding through his chest.
Trinidad Child Born with Rare Heart Defect (KCBD-TV Lubbock)
07/02/2008
Trinidad Child Born with Rare Heart Defect (KCBD-TV Lubbock)
Adrian Raheal, 20 months, looks like a typical toddler, until his shirt is lifted and you see his beating heart protruding through his chest.
Trinidad Child Born with Rare Heart Defect (KCBD-TV Lubbock)
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