Problem Pregnancies

Birth Defects

Caring for Baby Before Birth T or F• It’s not necessary for a woman to see a health

care provider until after she is pregnant.• The most crucial stages of an unborn baby’s

development could occur even before the woman realizes that she is pregnant.

• A woman can help to prevent certain types of birth defects by including folic acid in her diet before she becomes pregnant.

• During pregnancy, a woman will need additional calories and nutrients to help her baby develop.

• A woman should not be concerned about her weight before pregnancy, since she’ll be putting on a lot of pounds anyway.

• Certain medical problems are easier to manage during pregnancy if they are well controlled before pregnancy.

• Smoking and drinking have little or no impact on the health of a baby.

• The lifestyle of the father has no impact on the health of his baby.

• Knowing the family history can help a person plan for a healthy pregnancy.

• Vaccinations are an important part of pre-pregnancy planning.

ANSWERS Scoring: 10 points for each correct• 80-100

– You already know a lot about what can be done before and during pregnancy to assure a healthy baby. Congratulations! You are well-informed about healthcare issues a pregnancy.

• 40-70– You’re aware of some, but not all, of the

factors that can influence the outcome of pregnancy. Time to learn some more.

• 0-30– By taking this quiz, you‘ve learned there

are many specific things a couple can do to improve their chances of having a healthy baby. Remember these health care practices as you make lifestyle decisions that will affect you future children.

1. F2. T3. T4. T5. F6. T7. F8. F9. T10.T

The King and the Scratched Diamond

Once there was a king, who had a beautiful, large pure diamond. There was no other diamond like it in the world. One day, it became deeply scratched. The king called his best diamond cutters, “I’ll promise you a great reward if you can remove the imperfection from my jewel.” But they could not. The king was very upset.

.

Many months later, a man came to the king. He promised to make the diamond even more beautiful than it ever had been. Impressed by the man’s confidence, the king consented. He watched as the man engraved an exquisite rosebud around the blemish and used the scratch to make its stem.

--A parable of the Preacher of Dubno from Jewish folklore

Conclusion

This story can easily be equated to birth defects. Even though a child with a birth defect may not appear to be perfect, he/she still has great abilities and opportunities to apply himself/herself in life. Rather than emphasizing the problem, we must focus on the abilities of the person

Cleft LipCleft Lip

Cleft PalateCleft Palate

Club FootClub Foot

Down’s SyndromeDown’s Syndrome

Muscular DystrophyMuscular Dystrophy

PKUPKU

Neural Tube DefectsNeural Tube Defects

Spina BifidaSpina Bifida

Neural Tube DefectsNeural Tube Defects

EncephalocelesEncephaloceles

Drug Related Birth DefectsDrug Related Birth Defects

ThalidomideThalidomide

STD Related Birth DefectsSTD Related Birth DefectsLow Birth Weight Low Birth Weight Conjunctivitis (Pinkeye)Conjunctivitis (Pinkeye)

Discussion

How many of you know someone who has had a problem pregnancy?

Did she ever think anything like that could happen to her?

No one plans on having a problem pregnancy, but everyone should know something about the potential problems in order to safeguard their health and the health of their fetus.

Student Reports

Divide students into groups of 3. Students will review and collect information

from the March of Dimes and other resources.

Report to the class information gathered about assigned birth defect.

FACTS

About 150,000 babies are born each year with birth defects.

The parents of one out of every 28 babies receive the frightening news that their baby has a birth defect

There are over 4,000 known birth defects Birth defects are the leading cause of death

in the first year of life

What is a Birth Defect?

An abnormality of structure, function or body metabolism (inborn error of body chemistry) present at birth that results in physical or mental disability or is fatal.

Types of Birth Defects1. Malformations present at birth

defects such as congenital heart malformation, spina bifida (open spine), cleft palate, clubfoot

2. Inborn errors of metabolismDefects such as PKU, Tay Sachs disease

3. Blood DisordersDefects such as sickle cell anemia, hemophilia, thalassemia.

4. Chromosomal AbnormalitiesConditions such as Down’s Syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, Turner Syndrome.

5. Prenatal damageCases include certain infections, drugs, maternal disorders such as diabetes, high blood pressure, Rh disease, umbilical cord accidents, difficult labor or delivery, premature birth.

What causes birth defects?

Both genetic and environmental factors can cause birth defect. However, the causes of about 60% of birth defects are currently unknown.

A single abnormal gene can cause birth defects. Every human being has about 100,000 genes that determine traits like eye color, hair, etc.

Preventing Birth Defects

Nutrition Alcohol Smoking Drugs STDs Rubella Parasites Radiation

Can birth defects be prevented?

While the causes of most birth defects are not known, there are a number of steps a woman can take to reduce her risk of having a baby with a birth defect.

Visit a health care provider for a pre-pregnancy check up. Especially if a woman has health problems

When pregnant take daily multivitamin containing 400 mg of the B-vitamin folic Acid

Avoid alcohol, drugs, smoking, prescription or over-the-counter medication with out checking with her health care provider.

Lifestyle and EnvironmentLifestyle and EnvironmentMOMMOM

► Lifestyle Lifestyle STD’s substance abuse, alcohol, habitsSTD’s substance abuse, alcohol, habits

► AgeAge► Nutrition / Diet Nutrition / Diet

caffeinecaffeine Folic AcidFolic Acid

► Health / exercise / attitudeHealth / exercise / attitude weight weight Stress levelStress level

► Missing pregnancy check-ups (13 total)Missing pregnancy check-ups (13 total)► Toxins and pollutionToxins and pollution► RadiationRadiation► Medical History (Medical History (immunizations and records)immunizations and records)► # of kids (# of kids (spacing from prior pregnancy)spacing from prior pregnancy)► GeneticsGenetics

DADDAD• Lifestyle Lifestyle

– STD’s substance STD’s substance abuse, alcohol, abuse, alcohol, habitshabits

• Nutrition / DietNutrition / Diet– CaffeineCaffeine

• Health / exercise / Health / exercise / attitudeattitude– weight weight – Stress levelStress level

• Medical historyMedical history• RadiationRadiation• GeneticsGenetics

Maternal (Mom) Factors that contribute to

Birth Defects:• Overweight• Underweight• Jewish decent• African American• Last birth was less than 12 month ago• Has had a baby that weighed less than d ½ pounds• Has had 3 or more miscarriages• Has had more than 5 pregnancies• Has had a still born baby

• Drinks alcohol• Has personal habits that are different from most

people• Uses prescription drugs• Has used street drugs• Takes vitamins• Drinks caffeine• Has had exposure to chemicals• Live in a home built before 1955• Constant exposure to cats• Has had x-rays during pregnancy

• High blood pressure Thalassemia• Diabetes Birth defects• Hemophilia Mental retardation• Sickle cell anemia Cystic Fibrosis• Health problems:

Genital herpes DiabetesGonorrhea High blood pressureSyphilis Heart diseaseEpilepsy Anemia

• No immunizations against rubella• Rh factor• Miscarriage

Can some birth defects be diagnosed before birth?

Genetic counseling is a form of medical care that helps couples to understand their genetic codes and how they might affect their children.

Ultrasound– A technique that uses sound waves to show a picture of a baby (fetus) in

the womb. Amniocentesis

– A small sample of amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus is removed and examined to detect certain birth defects ( Rh disease, and strength of the lungs of the fetus)

Chronic villus sampling– A prenatal test that takes a tiny tissue sample from outside the sac where

the fetus develops. Placenta Conditions

Can birth defects be treated before birth? Advances in prenatal therapy now make it

possible to treat some birth defects before birth.

Prenatal surgery – urinary-tract blockages, rare tumors in the lungs, spina bifida, ph disease,

Birth Defect Results• Miscarriage – occurs prior to 20 weeks of pregnancy

– Most miscarriages occur when pregnancy is not developing normally. Natures way of expelling a baby incapable of surviving.

– 1st trimester- chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus, hormonal problems, infections, and health problems of the mother.

– 2nd trimester – often caused by uterus problems. Misshaped uterus, weakened cervix that dilates prematurely, chromosomal abnormalities, immune system problems,

• Stillbirth – after 20 weeks of pregnancy– When the fetus appears to be developmentally normal, but for some reason

is born dead.– Most common causes: Placenta problems, Birth defects, Growth

restrictions, Infections• Baby will live and you will enjoy the child and adjust to the

defect.