What are the most common birth defects?
One of every 33 babies is born with a birth defect. A birth defect can affect almost any part of the body. The well being of the child depends mostly on which organ or body part is involved and how much it is affected. Many birth defects affect the heart. About 1 in every 100 to 200 babies is born with a heart defect. Heart defects make up about one-third to one-fourth of all birth defects. Some of these heart defects can be serious, and a few are very severe. In some places of the world, heart defects cause half of all deaths from birth defects in children less than 1 year of age. Other common birth defects are “neural tube defects,” which are defects of the spine (spina bifida) and brain (anencephaly). They affect about 1 of 1,000 pregnancies. These defects can be serious and are often life threatening. They happen less often than heart defects, but they cause many fetal and infant deaths. Birth defects of the lip and roof of the mouth are also common. These birth defects, known as “
One of every 33 babies is born with a birth defect. A birth defect can affect almost any part of the body. The well being of the child depends mostly on which organ or body part is involved and how much it is affected. Many birth defects affect the heart. About 1 in every 100 to 200 babies is born with a heart defect. Heart defects make up about one-third to one-fourth of all birth defects. Some of these heart defects can be serious, and a few are very severe. In some places of the world, heart defects cause half of all deaths from birth defects in children less than 1 year of age. Other common birth defects are neural tube defects, which are defects of the spine (spina bifida) and brain (anencephaly). They affect about 1 of 1,000 pregnancies. These defects can be serious and are often life threatening. They happen less often than heart defects, but they cause many fetal and infant deaths. Birth defects of the lip and roof of the mouth are also common. These birth defects, known as oro
What is my chance of having a baby with a birth defect? Do genetic factors play a role in causing birth defects? What causes birth defects? Does alcohol cause birth defects? Does smoking cause birth defects? Do illegal drugs cause birth defects? Does exposure to the MMR vaccine cause birth defects? Other vaccines? When in pregnancy do birth defects happen? What can I do to keep germs from harming my baby and me? What kind of health care provider can help find out what caused my babys birth defect? Who coordinates the health care of my child who has a birth defect? What does a genetic counselor do? Where can I find a clinical geneticist or genetic counselor? Where can I get information about my baby’s birth defect? How can I get in touch with parents of a child with the same birth defect as my child? What should I do to have a healthy pregnancy? What is CDC doing to prevent and help find the causes for birth defects? Birth Defects Birth Defects Home > Basic Facts > FAQs Birth Defects: F
