What to Do When a Baby Is Born Dead

Birth defects are mutual, costly, and critical atmospheric condition that affect 1 in every 33 babies born in the United States each yr.¹ Read more about what we accept learned about birth defects and how women can ameliorate their chances of having a baby born without a nascency defect.

Nascency Defects Are Common

Every 4 ½ minutes, a baby is born with a birth defect in the The states. That means nearly 120,000 babies are affected by birth defects each twelvemonth.¹

Nascency defects are structural changes present at birth that can affect almost any office or parts of the trunk (e.k., heart, brain, pes). They may affect how the body looks, works, or both. Nascency defects tin can vary from balmy to severe. The well-being of each kid affected with a birth defect depends mostly on which organ or body role is involved and how much it is affected. Depending on the severity of the defect and what trunk office is afflicted, the expected lifespan of a person with a birth defect may or may not be affected.

Identifying Birth Defects

A birth defect tin can exist found before birth, at nascency, or any time after nascency. Well-nigh nascency defects are found inside the first year of life. Some birth defects (such as cleft lip) are easy to encounter, only others (such equally heart defects or hearing loss) are found using special tests, such as echocardiograms (an ultrasound picture of the centre), x-rays or hearing tests.

Acquire more nearly diagnosing nascence defects »

Causes

Nativity defects tin occur during any stage of pregnancy. Almost birth defects occur in the first 3 months of pregnancy, when the organs of the baby are forming. This is a very important stage of evolution. However, some nascence defects occur later in pregnancy. During the final six months of pregnancy, the tissues and organs go along to grow and develop.

For some birth defects, like fetal alcohol syndrome, nosotros know the cause. But for most nativity defects, we don't know what causes them. For most nascence defects, nosotros think they are caused by a complex mix of factors. These factors include our genes (information inherited from our parents), our behaviors, and things in the surroundings. Simply, we don't fully sympathize how these factors might piece of work together to crusade nativity defects.

While we still have more than work to do, we have learned a lot nigh nascency defects through past research. For example, some things might increase the chances of having a baby with a nascency defect, such as:

• Smoking, drinking alcohol, or taking sure drugs during pregnancy.
• Having certain medical conditions, such as existence obese or having uncontrolled diabetes earlier and during pregnancy.
• Taking certain medications, such as isotretinoin (a drug used to treat severe acne).
• Having someone in your family with a birth defect. To learn more about your adventure of having a baby with a nativity defect, you can talk with a clinical geneticist or a genetic advisor.
• Having sure infections during pregnancy such as Zika virus and cytomegalovirus.
• Experiencing fever greater than 101^oF or having an elevated trunk temperature due to oestrus exposure.
• Being an older mother, as the take a chance of chromosomal abnormalities increases with historic period.

Having one or more of these risks doesn't mean you'll have a pregnancy affected by a birth defect. Also, women tin can have a baby born with a birth defect even when they don't take any of these risks. It is of import to talk to your md about what you lot can do to lower your risk.

Learn near CDC's enquiry on causes and risk factors »

Prevention

Not all nascency defects tin can be prevented. Simply, there are things that a woman tin practise earlier and during pregnancy to increase her adventure of having a good for you baby:

• Be sure to run into your healthcare provider regularly and commencement prenatal care as presently as you think you lot might exist pregnant.
• Get 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every 24-hour interval, starting at least i calendar month before getting pregnant.
• Don't beverage alcohol or smoke.
• Talk to a healthcare provider about whatsoever medications you are taking or thinking about taking. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medications and dietary or herbal supplements. Don't stop or first taking any type of medication without first talking with a medico.
• Know how to preclude infections during pregnancy.
• Be proactive in identifying and treating fever when ill or subsequently getting a vaccine. Treat fevers higher than 101^oF with Tylenol® (or store make acetaminophen), and avoid hot tubs, saunas, or other environments that might cause overheating.
• If possible, be sure whatsoever medical atmospheric condition are nether control, before condign significant. Some weather, such as diabetes, tin can increase the risk for birth defects.

More than tips to forestall nascency defects »

Living with a Nativity Defect

Babies who have birth defects often demand special care and interventions to survive and to thrive developmentally. State nativity defects tracking programs provide one manner to identify and refer children as early equally possible for services they need. Early on intervention is vital to improving outcomes for these babies. If your child has a nascency defect, you lot should enquire his or her doctor about local resources and treatment. Geneticists, genetic counselors, and other specialists are another resource.

Find more information for families who have a child with a nascency defect »

References

1. 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.

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Source: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/facts.html

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