[Allegany County, NY] – “Every 4 ½ minutes a baby is born with a birth defect in the United States. Simply put – it does not have to be that common,” said Robin Fuller. That is why Ardent Solutions is joining with leading prenatal health experts from the National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Pediatrics, the March of Dimes, Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention and MotherToBaby this month to increase awareness of 5 critical tips to reduce the chances of having a baby with a birth defect.
The National Birth Defects Prevention Month campaign theme, “Best for You. Best for Baby.” aims to raise awareness of the roughly 1 out of every 33 babies, 3% of all babies that are born with a birth defects cases occurring in the United States each year. “While we can’t prevent all birth defects, the following steps increase a woman’s chance of having a healthy baby,” explained Fuller, Early Childhood Development Community Coalition Coordinator.
1. Be sure to take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day.
· Folic acid is very important because it can help prevent some major birth defects of the baby’s brain and spine when taken before and during early pregnancy.
2. Book a visit with your healthcare provider before stopping or starting any medicine.
· There are often benefits to continuing treatment throughout pregnancy. Discussing a treatment plan before a pregnancy allows a woman and her health care provider to weigh the pros and cons of all options to keep mom and baby as healthy as possible.
3. Become up-to-date with all vaccines, including the flu shot.
· Having the right vaccinations, like the flu and Tdap vaccines, at the right time during pregnancy can help keep a woman and her baby healthy.
4. Before you get pregnant, try to reach a healthy weight.
· Obesity increases the risk for several serious birth defects and other pregnancy complications.
5. Boost your health by avoiding harmful substances during pregnancy, such as alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
· There is no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy and its exposure can cause major birth defects.
· Smoking during pregnancy can cause dangerous chemicals to damage the placenta and/or reach baby’s bloodstream.
· The opioid addiction epidemic has led to a sharp increase in Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), premature birth and drug withdrawal in developing babies.
“Birth defects are a common cause of death in the first year of a baby’s life, but change happens through awareness,” added Jason L. Salemi, PhD, MPH, NBDPN President. “We’re thrilled Ardent Solutions is doing its part to positively change the outcome for babies across Allegany County and NY.”
Ardent Solutions encourages health advocates as well as the public to be an active participant in National Birth Defects Prevention Month. Follow and share #Best4YouBest4Baby messages on social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. In addition, the complete 2021 NBDPN Birth Defects Prevention Month information packet, including this year’s primary tips for birth defects prevention, “Best for You. Best for Baby. 5 Tips for Preventing Birth Defects,” is available online at: https://www.nbdpn.org/bdpm.php
If you are interested in joining the Early Childhood Development Community Coalition or learning more about preventing birth defects, please contact Robin Fuller at fullerr@ardentnetwork.org.
