January is Birth Defect Prevention Month
Galena, MO – Stone County Health Department wants to help protect the health of children from the very start. That is why Stone County Health Department encourages you to join us in promoting Birth Defect Prevention Month this January. Did you know that birth defects are quite common? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1 in 33 infants are born with a birth defect. For many babies born with a birth defect there is no previous family history of them.
The cause of many birth defects is unknown. Some can be detected before a baby is born using tests like an ultrasound or amniocentesis. Still others may not be found until later in life. A birth defect can affect how the body looks, works, or both. Birth defects can also be expensive. The financial burden rests not only on parents, but also on the community, government and especially the child as he or she grows up.
Birth defects can be prevented! Most health care providers agree that the best prevention is for women to choose healthy lifestyle behaviors before and during pregnancy. Regular medical check-ups, managing medical conditions like diabetes, testing for infectious diseases, staying up-to-date on vaccinations, and avoiding use of tobacco products, alcohol, and drugs are some of the best defenses to reduce risk. Another key step in preventing birth defects is for women to consume a healthy diet that includes plenty of folic acid.
Did you know that there is no known safe amount, safe time, or safe type of alcohol to drink during pregnancy? Mothers who choose to consume alcohol during pregnancy put their babies at risk for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) which are a group of conditions that result in physical, behavioral, and learning problems in infants that can last a lifetime. FASDs are 100% preventable.
The nutritional health of women is very important before, during, and after pregnancy. Because half of all pregnancies in the United States are not planned, health care providers recommend that women who may become pregnant take a multivitamin with at least 400mcg of folic acid daily. Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps a baby’s brain and spine develop in the first few weeks of pregnancy. Prenatal multivitamins with folic acid are available at Stone County Health Department.
Together we can reduce the burden of birth defects in our community by encouraging women to make the health choices described above. There are many health services available at SCHD to support women including well woman check-ups, immunizations, and the Women, Infants, and Children supplemental food and nutrition program, WIC. If you want to learn more about this subject or these services please call the SCHD staff for more information: Galena office (417) 357-6134 or Branson West (417) 272-0050. Like us on Facebook and visit our website at www.stonecountyhealthdepartment.com.