Std birth defects

STDs and Birth Defects: Protect Your Baby

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can cause birth defects and other problems for a developing baby. It is very important that women – and their partners – get tested for the most common STDs/STIs once they confirm their pregnancy. When left untreated, STDs and STIs can pass from the mother to her baby, causing serious problems. Birth defects like blindness, deafness, and bone deformities are just some of the ways sexually transmitted diseases and infections harm your baby’s development. If you suspect or know you are pregnant, ask your care provider to test you. Some STDs and STIs have silent symptoms, meaning you never know you have them until it is too late.

Can STDs hurt my baby’s development?

Prenatal care always should include STD testing. STDs and STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, and syphilis can pass to your baby during pregnancy or delivery. Your baby can experience short or long-term health problems once infected. Some of the most common problems include:

Blindness
Blood infections
Brain damage
Chronic liver disease
Deafness

Babies who are infected with an STD or STI while in the womb also are at higher risk for premature birth and stillbirth. It is not just the baby who is affected by STDs and STIs. Mothers can experience higher rates of miscarriage if their infection is left undetected and untreated. Birth mothers also may suffer from other health complications. Getting tested for STDs is the best way you can help protect yourself and your baby while he or she is developing in your womb.

Which STDs cause the most harm to my baby?

Women are more likely than men to experience long-term health consequences after contracting an STD. Damage to the reproductive system is just one of them. Passing that infection along to your baby can have even more dire outcomes. Let’s look at the six most common STDs and explore the complications they can bring to your pregnancy.

Chlamydia is linked to pre-term labor and low birth weight. You can pass it to your baby during vaginal delivery. When detected early, it can be treated with an antibiotic, and measures can be taken to protect your baby during delivery.
Gonorrhea, when left untreated,can cause premature birth and low birth weight. It can be passed to your baby during vaginal delivery. Doctors can take precautions during delivery to help reduce the spread of transmission.
Hepatitis B causes the greatest risk to your baby if it is contracted shortly before delivery. Transmission to your baby during a vaginal delivery is preventable if infants are treated immediately after birth.
Hepatitis C can cause low birth weight and increase the risk of premature birth. Babies also can develop a type of liver infection when exposed in the womb.
HIV can pass from a pregnant mother to her baby during pregnancy, labor, and vaginal delivery. Breast-feeding also is a risk for babies when the mother has HIV. When detected early, steps can be taken to help reduce transmission.
Syphilis is linked to premature birth, stillbirth, and in some rare cases, death after birth. Untreated babies have a high risk for complications involving several organs.

How are STDs treated during pregnancy?

Some STDs, like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis can be treated and cured during pregnancy with antibiotics. STIs caused by viruses, like hepatitis B and C and HIV, have no cure and can only be monitored with the hope of reducing transmission during pregnancy and birth. For instance, antiviral medications are approved for use in pregnant women with HIV to help reduce the chance of transmitting the infection to their babies.

If you test positive for an STD or an STI, you will require close monitoring by your healthcare provider during treatment to ensure your safety and that of your baby.

Preventing STDs and STIs

The only 100 percent effective way to prevent an STD or an STI is to abstain from sex. If you are in a committed relationship with a monogamous partner, you can both get tested to ensure you are safe. Avoid sexual activity until you have confirmation you are disease-free, especially if you are planning to become pregnant. Using condoms can help reduce the transmission of some STDs and STIs, but not all.

Where to get tested

Care Net Albuquerque offers free STD/STI testing for women and their partners at four locations. Contact us to schedule your appointment at the location that is most convenient for you. You will require a follow-up appointment 2 to 7 days after your testing to discuss the results. If your results are positive, our team will refer you and your partner to a treatment center. If you are pregnant and test positive, you must share those results with your obstetrician so they can take preventative measures to reduce transmission to your baby and treat you for the STD/STI if treatment is available.

Sexually-Transmitted Diseases (STDs) in Pregnancy, Birth Defects & Injuries

Not all STDs are alike. Sometimes referred to as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), STDs are diseases that can pass from the mother to the fetus and can harm both a mother and child if left undiagnosed and untreated. According to findings from the CDC, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and urinary tract infections (UTIs) in pregnant women increase the risk of having a baby with a birth defect, otherwise known as a congenital disability. Women of childbearing age are also the most sexually active and likely to contract an STD. The CDC studies and countless other medical research articles correlate untreated STDs in pregnant women to avoidable birth defects in their offspring. Prompt detection and treatment are effective prevention against harm to developing fetuses and newborns. Therefore, medical errors involving missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis of a sexually transmitted disease while pregnant, and inadequate treatment or preparation for birth, can contribute to a woman’s troubled pregnancy and delivery. It can also lead to a serious birth injury.

What Causes Sexually-Transmitted Diseases?

STDs develop when microorganisms pass from one person to another through bodily fluids, primarily blood and genital fluids, or through the skin by prolonged and extensive skin contact during intimate sessions. Although they are associated with sex, STDs can also pass through the blood when people share hypodermic needles or blood transfusions. Likewise, babies can contract STDs from their mothers.

What are the Most Common STDs for Pregnant Women?

STDs vary from region to region, but the most common are bacterial, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Others are viral, such as genital herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV), HIV, and hepatitis B. Still, others arise from parasites like trichomoniasis, pubic lice, and scabies. Other infections that are not STDs can contribute to disease.

Signs and Symptoms of Sexually Transmitted Infections

What is most problematic about an STD diagnosis is the lack of symptoms. Many people do not know they have one. Others visit their doctor after noticing sores, bumps, or genital discharge. Women may experience painful sex or urination and experience vaginal bleeding. Others experience soreness in the abdominal region or rashes. Women with STDs not only suffer symptoms associated with the specific STD, but also risk pregnancy and birth complications.

Consequences of STDs for Mothers and Infants

Infection during pregnancy is particularly worrisome for the effects on the mother and the developing fetus. STDs may cause miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirths, and reproductive system damage for mothers. Gonorrhea in particular, can cause mouth sores, blood infection, and fever in the mother. For the pregnancy, it can cause premature rupture of the membranes that protect the fetus and blindness if the infant is infected at delivery. A mother also passes Hepatitis B at delivery. Moreover, some STDs prevent a mother from breastfeeding, such as HIV. Others require the breastfeeding mother to take medications to avoid affecting the baby. STDs also raise the risk of contracting HIV. The risk of infection, prematurity, brain defects, and liver disease is high for the unborn. Additionally, an STD potentially causes low birth weight, cleft lip, heart defects, gastroschisis (intestines form outside the abdominal wall), blindness, deafness, malformed limbs, sickness, and even death.

Testing for STIs during Pregnancy

Given the potential consequences for a birthing mother and her child, doctors must test pregnant women for STDs. Testing for an STD is the best way to protect the child and their mother. In that way, they can treat and prepare for any complications resulting from an STD. Typically, tests involve physical examinations, swabbing tissue, or blood and urine samples. Once identified, an STD may require antibiotics to cure it or antiviral drugs and lifestyle changes to maintain good health for incurable varieties. Unfortunately, some STDs are incurable, so a physician must take steps to protect the mother and baby as the due date nears.

However, the best treatment is prevention by early detection. Therefore, patients planning a pregnancy should to be tested and tested again in the early months of pregnancy to avoid the worst effects of an STD. Routine testing before delivery in the later months for Hepatitis B is also a protocol for pregnancies to prevent transmission at delivery during vaginal birth. Knowing the characteristics and risks of each STD is critical for a physician’s course of action to protect their patients. For example, STDs like syphilis or HIV that pass to the fetus in utero are treated differently from those that pass during delivery, such as chlamydia and genital herpes.

Negligence with Sexually-Transmitted Diseases in Pregnancy and Childbirth

Doctors and their medical staff are chiefly responsible for routinely checking for STDs in women, whether as preparation for pregnancy or at various stages of pregnancy. A woman may contract an STD at any point in pregnancy and pre-pregnancy. Therefore, diligent medical professionals carefully track and treat patients with STDs and inform them about the dire necessity of preventing an STD during pregnancy. Initial meetings are particularly critical in learning a patient’s history with STDs and possible infection. However, the physician who fails to monitor a pregnant woman’s condition spurred on by an STD, or verify they are STD-free before delivery, may be extremely negligent in failing to protect the mother and child.

When newborns deliver with bone deformities, blindness, and other symptoms associated with STDs, their parents likely want to know the cause. Whether they were unaware of an STD or knew about the STD, individuals expect their treating physicians to practice medicine proactively. If your doctor failed to ask you about or test you for STDs, or neglected to follow up with your condition during the pregnancy, they may be held liable for your child’s congenital disabilities or birth injuries. Some defects have immediate and short-term effects on your baby, while others are lifelong. Either way, your child will need care. Talking to a well-versed birth injury attorney to discuss the available remedies for you and your baby may help you pay for expensive care and compensate you, to the extent possible, for the pain and suffering you were caused.

Contact New Jersey Malpractice Attorneys for STD-Related Pregnancy & Birth Complications

Contact our team of seasoned birth injury lawyers if your doctor, the hospital, or any of its staff delivered substandard care for your sexually-transmitted infection during your pregnancy, delivery, or thereafter. Speaking with a pregnancy and childbirth malpractice lawyer with know-how can mean the difference between receiving the compensation you and your baby deserve, and losing your opportunity to file a claim against those responsible.

We can investigate your situation, explain your settlement options and probabilities, devise litigation strategies, and remain in consistent communication with you over the course of the legal process, as we pursue justice and the top achievable compensation for you and your family. We can also ensure you meet critical legal deadlines for filing your lawsuit and relate required filings, notifications, depositions, and the like. Our attorneys also connect with the right medical experts after identifying the medical expertise and support you will need to prove your case. Most importantly, we can help you through the complicated legal process during a difficult time while you concentrate on your well-being.

Get in touch with our birth injury attorneys for further assistance and counsel on your STD-related birth injury or wrongful birth case in New Jersey. We serve clients statewide and consult on these cases across the country. The initial consultation is 100 percent free of charge, as is our representation unless we obtain a financial recovery on your behalf. Contact 866-708-8617 to speak with an attorney today. You can also request a free case evaluation via our website and a member of our team will reach out to further assist you.

Resources:

Maternal genitourinary infections and risk of birth defects in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study
Risk of gastroschisis with maternal genitourinary infections: the US National birth defects prevention study 1997–2011

You can read more here about the Risks and Complications from Delayed Prenatal Testing.

Malformations

Healthcare issues »
A
B
B
G
D
E
and
M
R
S
T
Y
F
X
C
W
B
S
B
E
S
I

Popular Topics
- Air pollution
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
- Hepatitis

Data and statistics »
- News bulletin
- The facts are clear
- Publications

Find country »
A
B
in
g
d
E
С
and
L
m
N
t
in
x

Reporting

Regions »
- Africa
- America
- Southeast Asia
- Europe
- Eastern Mediterranean
- Western Pacific

Media Center
- Press releases
- Statements
- Media messages
- Comments
- Reporting
- Online Q&A
- Events
- Photo reports
- Questions and answers

Update

Emergencies "

News "
- Disease Outbreak News

WHO Data »

Dashboards »
- COVID-19 Monitoring Dashboard

Basic moments "

About WHO »
- CEO
- About WHO
- WHO activities
- Where does WHO work?

Governing Bodies »
- World Health Assembly
- Executive committee

Main page/
Media Center /
Newsletters/
Read more/
Malformations

development and strengthening of registration and surveillance systems;
experience and capacity building;
strengthening research and scientific work in the field of etiology, diagnosis and prevention;
strengthening international cooperation.

Definition

\nCongenital malformations are also referred to as congenital malformations, congenital disorders, or congenital deformities. Congenital malformations can be defined as structural or functional abnormalities (eg, metabolic disorders) that appear in utero and may be identified before birth, during birth, or later in life.

Causes and risk factors

\nApproximately 50% of all malformations cannot be attributed to any specific cause, but some causes or risk factors are known.

Socio-economic factors

\nAlthough low income may be an indirect determinant, malformations are more likely to occur in families and countries with insufficient resources. It is estimated that approximately 94% of severe malformations occur in middle- and low-income countries, where women often do not have access to sufficient and good enough food and may be exposed to some agent or factor, such as infection or alcohol, that provokes or enhances deviations from the norm in prenatal development. Moreover, motherhood in adulthood increases the risk of chromosomal abnormalities, including Down's syndrome, while motherhood at a young age increases the risk of certain congenital malformations.

Genetic factors

\nIncest (consanguinity) increases the prevalence of rare genetic birth defects and almost doubles the risk of neonatal and infant mortality, mental retardation and severe birth defects in children born to first cousins . Some ethnic groups, such as Ashkenazi Jews and Finns, have a relatively high prevalence of rare genetic mutations that lead to an increased risk of malformations.\n

Infections

\nMaternal infections such as syphilis or measles are a common cause of birth defects in low- and middle-income countries.

Maternal nutrition

\nDeficiencies in iodine, folate, obesity, or conditions such as diabetes mellitus are associated with some malformations. For example, folic acid deficiency increases the risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect. In addition, increased intake of vitamin A may affect the normal development of the embryo or fetus.

Environmental factors

\nMaternal exposure to certain pesticides and other chemicals, as well as certain drugs, alcohol, tobacco, psychoactive substances, or radiation during pregnancy may increase the risk of developing the fetus or a newborn baby with birth defects. Working or living near or close to landfills, smelters, or mines can also be a risk factor, especially if the mother is exposed to other environmental risk factors or malnutrition.

Prevention

\nPregnancy and conception preventive health care, and prenatal care, reduce the incidence of some birth defects. Primary prevention of malformations includes the following measures:

Improving the nutrition of women during the reproductive period by ensuring adequate intake of vitamins and minerals, especially folic acid, as a result of daily oral supplementation or fortification of staple foods, such as wheat or corn flour.
Supervise that a pregnant woman does not consume or consume in a limited amount unhealthy foods, especially alcohol.
Pre-pregnancy and pregnancy prevention of diabetes through counseling, weight management, proper nutrition, and, if necessary, insulin administration.
Prevention of exposure to environmental hazardous substances (eg, heavy metals, pesticides, certain drugs) during pregnancy.
Ensuring that any exposure of a pregnant woman to drugs or medical exposures (such as x-rays) is justified and based on a careful analysis of the health risks and benefits.
Increase vaccination coverage for women and children, especially against rubella. This disease can be prevented by vaccinating children. Rubella vaccine may also be given at least one month before pregnancy to women who did not receive the vaccine or who did not have rubella in childhood.
Increase vaccination coverage for women and children, especially against rubella virus. This disease can be prevented by vaccinating children. Rubella vaccine may also be given to women who are not immune to the disease at least one month before pregnancy.
Scaling up and intensifying training for health professionals and other staff involved in strengthening malformation prevention.

Identification

\nPre-conception (pre-conception) and near conception (peri-conception) health care includes basic reproductive health care as well as medical genetic screening and counseling. Screening can be carried out during the three periods listed below.

Pre-pregnancy screening is designed to identify people who are at risk of developing certain health conditions or at risk of passing on any health conditions to their children. Screening includes family medical history and vector screening. Screening is especially important in countries where incestuous marriages are common.
Preconception screening: maternal characteristics may increase risk, and screening results should be used to provide appropriate care based on risk. During this period, screening of young and mature mothers, as well as screening for the use of alcohol, tobacco and other psychoactive substances, can be carried out. Ultrasound can be used to detect Down's syndrome during the first trimester of pregnancy and severe fetal malformations during the second trimester. Additional tests and amniocentesis help detect neural tube defects and chromosomal abnormalities during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy.
Newborn screening includes a clinical examination and screening for hematological, metabolic, and hormonal disorders. Screening for deafness and heart disease, and early detection of birth defects, can facilitate life-saving treatment and prevent progression of the defect, which could lead to some form of physical, mental, or visual or hearing disability. In some countries, all newborns are screened for thyroid and adrenal abnormalities before being discharged from the maternity ward.

Treatment and care

\nIn countries with adequate health services, structural congenital malformations can be corrected with pediatric surgery and children with functional problems such as thalassemia (inherited by recessive blood disease), sickle cell disorders, and congenital hypothyroidism.

WHO activities

\nIn 2010, the World Health Assembly published a report on birth defects. The report outlines the main components of establishing national programs for the prevention and care of birth defects before and after birth. The report also recommends priority actions for the international community to help establish and strengthen such national programs.

\nThe Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health, announced in September 2010 by the United Nations in collaboration with government leaders and other organizations such as WHO and UNICEF, plays a critical role in implementing efficient and cost-effective action to promote newborn and child health.\n

\nWHO is also working with the National Center for Birth and Developmental Disorders, part of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other partners to develop a global policy to fortify foods with salt folic acid at the country level. In addition, WHO is working with partners to provide the necessary technical expertise to conduct surveillance of neural tube defects, monitor efforts to fortify foods with folic acid salts, and strengthen laboratory capacity to assess risks for birth defects prevented by folic acid salts.

\nThe International Clearing House for Surveillance and Research on Birth Defects is a voluntary, non-profit, international organization in official relations with WHO. This organization collects surveillance data on birth defects and research programs around the world to study and prevent birth defects and mitigate their effects.

\nThe WHO Departments of Reproductive Health and Research and Nutrition for Health and Development, in collaboration with the International Clearing House for Surveillance and Research on Birth Defects and the CDC National Center for Birth Defects and Development, organize annual seminars on surveillance and prevention of birth defects and preterm birth. The WHO Department of HIV/AIDS is collaborating with these partners to strengthen surveillance for malformations among women receiving antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy as an integral part of the monitoring and evaluation of national HIV programs.

\nThe GAVI Alliance, partnered with WHO, is helping developing countries to increase the control and elimination of rubella and congenital rubella syndrome through immunization.

\nWHO is developing normative tools, including guidelines and a global action plan to strengthen health care and rehabilitation services in support of the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Similarly, WHO is helping countries integrate health care and rehabilitation services into general primary health care, supporting the development of community-based rehabilitation programs and strengthening specialized rehabilitation centers and their links with community-based rehabilitation centers.

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

\nThe WHO Department of Public Health and Environment works across a range of activities and develops interventions to address the environmental and social determinants of child development. These include: child-only vulnerability to indoor and outdoor air pollution, water pollution, lack of basic hygiene, toxic compounds, heavy metals, waste components and radiation exposure; mixed impact of factors related to the social environment, professional activities and nutrition, as well as the living conditions of children (home, school).

","datePublished":"2023-02-27T22:52:00.0000000+00:00","image":"https://cdn.who.int/media/images/default -source/imported/preterm-birth-mother-jpg.jpg?sfvrsn=c5c1adf1_0","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"World Health Organization: WHO","logo": {"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.who.int/Images/SchemaOrg/schemaOrgLogo.jpg","width":250,"height":60}},"dateModified ":"2023-02-27T22:52:00.0000000+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":"https://www.who.int/ru/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/congenital-anomalies", "@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"Article"};

Key Facts

It is estimated that 303,000 children die every year from malformations during the first 4 weeks of life.
Developmental disabilities can lead to long-term disability, with significant impacts on individuals, their families, health systems and society.
The most severe malformations include heart defects, neural tube defects and Down's syndrome.
Although malformations may be genetic, infectious or environmental in origin, the exact cause is often difficult to establish.
Some birth defects can be prevented. The main elements of prevention are, inter alia, vaccination, adequate intake of folic acid or iodine through fortification of staple foods or provision of nutritional supplements, and proper prenatal care.

Malformations and preterm birth are major causes of childhood death, chronic disease and disability in many countries. In 2010, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution calling on all Member States to promote primary prevention and health promotion for children with developmental disabilities through:

development and strengthening of registration and surveillance systems;
experience and capacity building;
strengthening research and scientific work in the field of etiology, diagnosis and prevention;
strengthening international cooperation.

Definition

Congenital malformations are also referred to as congenital malformations, congenital disorders or congenital deformities. Congenital malformations can be defined as structural or functional abnormalities (eg, metabolic disorders) that appear in utero and may be identified before birth, during birth, or later in life.

Causes and risk factors

Approximately 50% of all malformations cannot be attributed to any specific cause, but some causes or risk factors are known.

Socio-economic factors

While low income may be an indirect determinant, malformations are more likely to occur in under-resourced families and countries. It is estimated that approximately 94% of severe malformations occur in middle- and low-income countries, where women often do not have access to sufficient and good enough food and may be exposed to some agent or factor, such as infection or alcohol, that provokes or enhances deviations from the norm in prenatal development. Moreover, motherhood in adulthood increases the risk of chromosomal abnormalities, including Down's syndrome, while motherhood at a young age increases the risk of certain congenital malformations.

Genetic factors

Incest (consanguinity) increases the prevalence of rare genetic birth defects and almost doubles the risk of neonatal and infant mortality, mental retardation and severe birth defects in children born to first cousins. Some ethnic groups, such as Ashkenazi Jews and Finns, have a relatively high prevalence of rare genetic mutations that lead to an increased risk of malformations.

Infections

Maternal infections such as syphilis or measles are a common cause of birth defects in low- and middle-income countries.

Maternal nutrition

Deficiency of iodine, folic acid salts, obesity, or conditions such as diabetes mellitus are associated with some malformations. For example, folic acid deficiency increases the risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect. In addition, increased intake of vitamin A may affect the normal development of the embryo or fetus.

Environmental factors

Maternal exposure to certain pesticides and other chemicals, as well as certain drugs, alcohol, tobacco, psychoactive substances, or radiation during pregnancy may increase the risk of birth defects in the fetus or newborn. Working or living near or close to landfills, smelters, or mines can also be a risk factor, especially if the mother is exposed to other environmental risk factors or malnutrition.

Prevention

Preventive health care during pregnancy and conception, as well as antenatal care, reduce the incidence of some birth defects. Primary prevention of malformations includes the following:

Improving the nutrition of women during the reproductive period by ensuring adequate intake of vitamins and minerals, especially folic acid, through daily oral supplementation or fortification of staple foods such as wheat or corn flour .
Supervise that a pregnant woman does not consume or consume in a limited amount unhealthy foods, especially alcohol.
Prevention of diabetes in pregnancy and during pregnancy through counseling, weight management, proper nutrition and, if necessary, insulin administration.
Prevention during pregnancy of exposure to hazardous environmental substances (eg, heavy metals, pesticides, certain drugs).
Ensuring that any exposure of a pregnant woman to drugs or radiation for medical purposes (eg x-rays) is justified and based on a careful analysis of the health risks and benefits.
Increase vaccination coverage for women and children, especially against rubella virus. This disease can be prevented by vaccinating children. Rubella vaccine may also be given at least one month before pregnancy to women who did not receive the vaccine or who did not have rubella in childhood.
Increase vaccination coverage for women and children, especially against rubella virus. This disease can be prevented by vaccinating children. Rubella vaccine may also be given to women who are not immune to the disease at least one month before pregnancy.
Scaling up and intensifying training for health professionals and other staff involved in strengthening the prevention of malformations.

Identification

Medical care before conception (in the preconception period) and around the time of conception (in the periconceptional period) includes basic reproductive health care, as well as medical genetic screening and counseling. Screening can be carried out during the three periods listed below.

Pre-pregnancy screening is designed to identify people who are at risk of developing certain health conditions or passing on any health conditions to their children. Screening includes family medical history and vector screening. Screening is especially important in countries where incestuous marriages are common.
Preconception screening: Maternal characteristics may increase risk and screening results should be used to provide appropriate care based on risk. During this period, screening of young and mature mothers, as well as screening for the use of alcohol, tobacco and other psychoactive substances, can be carried out. Ultrasound can be used to detect Down's syndrome during the first trimester of pregnancy and severe fetal malformations during the second trimester. Additional tests and amniocentesis help detect neural tube defects and chromosomal abnormalities during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy.
Newborn screening includes a clinical examination, as well as screening for hematological, metabolic and hormonal disorders. Screening for deafness and heart disease, and early detection of birth defects, can facilitate life-saving treatment and prevent progression of the defect, which could lead to some form of physical, mental, or visual or hearing disability. In some countries, all newborns are screened for thyroid and adrenal abnormalities before being discharged from the maternity ward.

Treatment and medical care

In countries with adequate health services, structural birth defects can be corrected with pediatric surgery and timely treatment can be provided for children with functional problems such as thalassemia (a recessive blood disorder), sickle cell disorders, and congenital hypothyroidism.

WHO activities

In 2010, the World Health Assembly published a report on birth defects. The report outlines the main components of establishing national programs for the prevention and care of birth defects before and after birth. The report also recommends priority actions for the international community to help establish and strengthen such national programs.

The Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health, launched in September 2010 by the United Nations in collaboration with government leaders and other organizations such as WHO and UNICEF, plays a critical role in achieving effective and cost-effective action to improve newborn health and children.

WHO is also working with the National Center for Birth and Developmental Disorders, part of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other partners to develop a global policy for folic acid fortification at the country level. In addition, WHO is working with partners to provide the necessary technical expertise to conduct surveillance of neural tube defects, monitor efforts to fortify foods with folic acid salts, and strengthen laboratory capacity to assess risks for birth defects prevented by folic acid salts.

The International Clearing House for Surveillance and Research on Birth Defects is a voluntary, non-profit international organization in official relations with WHO. This organization collects surveillance data on birth defects and research programs around the world to study and prevent birth defects and mitigate their effects.

The WHO Departments of Reproductive Health and Research and Nutrition for Health and Development, in collaboration with the International Clearing House for Surveillance and Research on Birth Defects and the CDC National Center for Birth Defects and Development, organize annual workshops on surveillance and prevention of birth defects and premature birth. The WHO Department of HIV/AIDS is collaborating with these partners to strengthen surveillance for malformations among women receiving antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy as an integral part of the monitoring and evaluation of national HIV programs.

The GAVI Alliance, with WHO among its partners, is helping developing countries to accelerate the control and elimination of rubella and congenital rubella syndrome through immunization.

WHO is developing normative tools, including guidelines and a global action plan to strengthen health care and rehabilitation services in support of the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Similarly, WHO is helping countries integrate health care and rehabilitation services into general primary health care, supporting the development of community-based rehabilitation programs and strengthening specialized rehabilitation centers and their links with community-based rehabilitation centers.

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The WHO Department of Public Health and Environment works across a range of activities and develops interventions to address the environmental and social determinants of child development. These include: child-only vulnerability to indoor and outdoor air pollution, water pollution, lack of basic hygiene, toxic compounds, heavy metals, waste components and radiation exposure; mixed impact of factors related to the social environment, professional activities and nutrition, as well as the living conditions of children (home, school).

Congenital malformations of the fetus | Official website (Health Institution "Malorita Central District Hospital")

Congenital malformations (CM) are in third place among the factors leading to fetal death during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period.

Complications caused by these defects can affect a person's health throughout life. Distinguish malformations:

- easily correctable;

- incompatible with life;

- compatible with life, but significantly complicating it.

Congenital malformations occur as a result of violations of intrauterine development of the fetus. Congenital malformations are the most serious threat to the normal development of pregnancy, which in most cases leads to childhood disability and mortality. Among congenital malformations, there are anencephaly (underdevelopment of the brain), malformations of the nervous system, heart defects, back Bifida (external hernia of the spinal cord), malformations of the limbs or their absence, maxillofacial deformities, in particular the cleft palate, cleft lip, etc.

Why is this happening?

The causes of congenital malformations can be very diverse.

Quite often, the cause is hereditary factors, in particular, deviations in the set of chromosomes of one or both parents. Various harmful factors, such as infections (measles, chicken pox, rubella, cytomegalovirus), drug use or large doses of alcohol, can also lead to the development of malformations in the fetus.

A common cause of congenital malformations is a deficiency of vitamins in the diet of a pregnant woman, in particular a lack of folic acid. Naturally, the correct lifestyle of a pregnant woman and the diet are important factors for the development of a healthy child. Conversely, a lack of vitamins often causes a failure in the development of the mental and physical abilities of the baby.

Influence of negative environmental factors: x-rays, ionizing radiation, atomic energy, etc. Exposure to negative chemical factors can lead to fetal hypoxia and cause the formation of congenital malformations of the fetus.

Substances of particular concern include nicotine, mercury, contraceptives, benzene, paints and certain drugs.

Mechanical factors such as uterine tumors, fetal malposition, egg implantation can cause anomalies such as spina bifida, neural tube abnormalities. Maternal injuries during pregnancy and endocrine diseases are also predisposing factors in the formation of congenital malformations.

It should be noted that in almost half of cases of congenital malformations in the fetus, the causes of their occurrence remain unclear.

Gross congenital malformations (CM) occur in 2-6% of newborns. The database of the Belarusian Register of VPR is replenished annually with more than 2.5 thousand observations. The first place in the structure of registered developmental anomalies is occupied by heart defects, which in total account for about a third of all diagnosed cases (1 per 150 newborns). A group of multiple congenital malformations and chromosomal pathology (1 out of 200 newborns), as well as neural tube defects (1 out of 600 newborns) is quite common. Cleft lip/palate is common (1 in 800 newborns). At the current level of development of prenatal diagnosis, more than ⅓ of CM is diagnosed in utero, which makes it possible to terminate a pregnancy with such a pathology in the fetus. In recent years, more than 600 pregnancies have been terminated in the Republic in connection with the detection of fetal congenital malformations.

How are congenital malformations diagnosed?

In our time, thanks to the achievements of modern medicine, early diagnosis of congenital pathology in the prenatal period is possible.

There are indirect and direct methods for diagnosing congenital malformations of the fetus.

Indirect methods for diagnosing congenital malformations: blood tests for AFP, hCG, hormones, immunological, serological, genetic tests that pregnant women undergo during the first visit to a medical genetic consultation up to 13 weeks of pregnancy. Based on the results of these studies, the presence or high risk of congenital malformations of the fetus can be assumed.

In addition to these research methods, all pregnant women undergo non-invasive direct methods for diagnosing congenital malformations - this is an ultrasound examination of the fetus (ultrasound), which is performed 3 times during the entire pregnancy, but additional procedures are prescribed if necessary. Since by the 19-20th week almost all organs and systems have already been formed, congenital malformations of the fetus are visible on ultrasound in 80-86% of cases.

Information obtained after the diagnosis of congenital malformations is necessary to make a decision on further management of the patient:

emergency treatment of birth defects;

childbirth in specialized institutions for the timely treatment of congenital malformations;

termination of pregnancy in case of inability to treat a congenital defect and disorders incompatible with life.

Prevention of congenital malformations

Most pregnant women first go to the doctor for a period of 8-10 weeks of pregnancy or even later, that is, at those times when many potentially dangerous moments in fetal development have already passed.

About half of all pregnancies are unplanned, often women are not aware of their situation in the early stages and continue to lead a normal life - smoking, drinking alcohol, taking various medications and dietary supplements, harming the development of their unborn child. In addition, in our time, there are still cases of non-appearance of patients for registration due to pregnancy, thereby depriving their unborn child, if he has congenital malformations, of timely surgical treatment in a specialized medical institution in Minsk and keeping him life.

The ideal situation is when a woman seeks advice at the stage of pregnancy planning. Then the doctor has time to conduct all the necessary studies, draw up an individual plan for periconceptual prophylaxis, which is able to provide the best conditions for the maturation of the egg, its implantation and early development of the embryo.

What measures should be taken if a couple is planning a pregnancy?

Medical genetic examination:

where a specialist determines the degree of risk of developing a congenital malformation of the fetus. Most often, families turn to genetics in which there are hereditary or congenital pathologies in one of the relatives, or the birth of a child with congenital malformations in a married couple, as well as age couples (a wife over 35 years old, a husband over 40 years old), taking into account the fact that that the risk of having children with chromosomal abnormalities increases with age. A geneticist is designing a set of genes that allows you to determine the risk of congenital malformation of the fetus due to violations of the genetic material or the compilation of incorrect combinations,

determines the carriage of major mutations in phenylketonuria, cystic fibrosis, Duchenne myodystrophy, hereditary breast cancer, Tay-Sachs disease, thalassemia, sensorineural hearing loss, etc., HLA typing, determination of the level of homocysteine in blood plasma.

Test for infectious diseases

HIV, Syphilis, hepatitis B and C, toxoplasmosis, herpes, CMS, rubella. Research to identify common sexually transmitted infections.

If necessary - immunization against hepatitis B, rubella, chickenpox

If necessary - treatment of chronic infectious diseases in both spouses.

Recommendations for uninfected women on how to reduce the risk of contracting viral infections and toxoplasmosis: frequent hand washing, reducing contact with preschool children, avoiding contact with raw meat, open ground, cats.

Industrial and environmental hazards

Assessment of the risk of industrial hazards. Exclusion of contact with solvents, dyes, pesticides.

Pay attention to chemicals commonly used in everyday life. Minimize contact with them, if possible, replace them with safe analogues - soda, laundry soap, etc.

General health assessment

You should undergo an annual medical examination and discuss with your doctor which drugs pose the least threat to the development of pregnancy. Write down the names of drugs that can be taken during pregnancy with fever, allergies, and other common situations.

Visit a dentist and treat existing caries;

If you have a chronic disease that requires continuous medication, ask a specialist to choose the safest treatment regimen and follow it

Health and bad habits monitoring

Stop smoking;

Minimize the amount of alcoholic beverages;

Avoid taking narcotic and psychotropic substances;

Limit caffeinated drinks to two cups a day;

Normalization of nutrition

Eliminate the risk of nutritional deficiencies. Discuss with your doctor the problem of restrictive diets, if you follow them.

Avoid vitamin overdose, do not exceed:

Vitamin A no more than 3000 IU/day;

Vitamin D no more than 400 IU/day;

Folic acid supplementation at 400 mcg/day for healthy women and 1000 mcg per day for patients with diabetes and epilepsy. If a woman already has a child born with defects in the development of the neural tube, then the dose is increased to 4 mg per day. Folic acid intake should be started 3 months before conception and continued for the first 3 months of pregnancy;

Remember that excess weight is just as dangerous for the normal development of pregnancy as underweight;

Normalize a varied diet;

Healthy lifestyle advice

Maintain regular moderate exercise, walk outdoors as a rule;

Avoid overheating: visits to the sauna, infrared cabins, solarium, etc.

Unfortunately, even in countries with active campaigning, the proportion of pregnant women who receive preconception training as recommended, as a rule, does not exceed one third. By the time a woman realizes that she is pregnant, many preventive opportunities have already been missed.

Therefore, in order to increase the effectiveness of ongoing measures to prevent the birth of children with congenital malformations, it is first of all necessary to significantly increase the percentage of planned pregnancies.

Separately, we should dwell on chronic diseases that affect young women who are planning a pregnancy.

Diabetes mellitus is the most well-studied disease in terms of adverse effects on pregnancy. If a woman with diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance plans to become pregnant, she should receive full treatment at least a few months before the intended conception.

Those women who have elevated glycated hemoglobin levels (>8.4%) have a 32% risk of miscarriage. In the case of full-term pregnancies in these cases, the risk of congenital fetal anomalies exceeds 7 times the risk compared to the risk that diabetic women have, whose disease is well controlled.

Treatment of diabetes mellitus, started a few months before conception, significantly reduces the risk of miscarriage and congenital malformations. General recommendations for those women who have carbohydrate metabolism disorders when planning pregnancy are:

Use of strict contraception until a thorough diagnosis and treatment is in place to control blood sugar levels;

Following a balanced diet, compulsory exercise;

Careful monitoring of glucose levels by regular determination of fructosamine or glycated hemoglobin;

Hypertension during pregnancy can provoke the development of quite serious complications. Therefore, in this case, more careful monitoring of the risk of developing preeclampsia, kidney damage and intrauterine fetal growth retardation is carried out. Women suffering from hypertension should avoid unplanned pregnancy.

When planning pregnancy in a woman treated for high blood pressure, the attending physician should exclude drugs with a potential teratogenic effect from the regimen. During the 1st and 2nd trimester of pregnancy, angiotensin-converting factor inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists and thiazide diuretics should be discontinued. When planning a pregnancy, you should consult a doctor to select a treatment that is safe for the fetus.

Epilepsy. Children born to mothers with epilepsy have an increased risk of congenital malformations. This risk may be due to ongoing anticonvulsant treatment or reflect existing genetic prerequisites.

Women suffering from epilepsy should receive adequate treatment during pregnancy, as the fetus experiences significant hypoxia during the development of a convulsive episode.

Increased doses of folic acid should be given along with seizure control treatment. It is also mandatory to undergo genetic counseling to determine the risk of epilepsy in a child.

A large number of drugs used to treat epilepsy during pregnancy are unsafe due to their teratogenic risk. Optimal is the appointment of one drug in the lowest possible dosage. In the case of the treatment of a pregnant patient with epilepsy, it is not possible to recommend any one safe drug. Treatment should be carefully selected by the attending physician.

The general rule is to avoid prescribing new drugs that have been little studied in terms of teratogenic risk.

Thrombotic conditions and thromboembolism. Those women who have had an episode of thromboembolic or thrombotic disease, or in a family with an increased risk of thrombosis, should undergo a thorough examination when planning a pregnancy.

Women who have had a risk of deep venous thrombosis have a 10% risk of recurrence during pregnancy.

Welcome

Find us on iTunes!

Popular Posts