Health: Birth Defects

present from birth; can arise from genetic inheritance and exposure to harmful chemicals or radiation during development of fetus

causes child to be born with many physical abnormalities and mental retardation; an especially high risk for older patients bearing a child; extra chromosome in baby's body cells; tested with amniocentesis

inherited inability of the cells to handle one of the amino acids; brain damage causes severe mental retardation; every child in the U.S.A. gets this test: Guthric Test

physical, mental, and neurobehavioral birth defects associated with drinking during pregnancy; leading cause of mental retardation and birth defects; abnormal facial features; growth retardation; CNS (Central Nervous System) abnormalities, low IQ, preventable

gaps in bones of spine, leaving spinal cord unprotected in those spots; cord may bulge and protrude through gaps of vertebrae; affects 1/1000 babies born in the U.S.A.

linked to smoking; smoking limits delivery of oxygen and nutrients to growing fetus; low birth weight of baby because mom smokes; in SIDS, baby dies suddenly, may be linked to mom smoking

too much caffeine can lower the baby's birth weight (1 to 2 cups is considered safe)

contaminants can include: household chemicals, insecticides, or cleaning fluids

can harm cells, passes through cells and disrupts genetic material; i.e. x-ray