Birth defects, also named congenital anomalies, or rare disease (when a birth defect is very rare), are structural or functional anomalies, that occur during intrauterine life and can be identified prenatally, at birth, or later in infancy. Examples of structural defects (congenital malformations) are: congenital heart defects, spina bifida, cleft lip or palate, limb deficiency, hypospadias, club foot, Down syndrome, congenital rubella syndrome, congenital Zika syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome. Examples of functional defects are: metabolic diseases, hypothyroidism, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, thalassemia, sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, muscular distrophy, deafness, autism, ADHD.
This page provides information for pregnant women and their loved ones about birth defects.
- Overview of birth defects
- US National Institutes of Health (NIH): https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/birthdefects (English)
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/index.html (English, Spanish)
- The World Health Organization (WHO): www.who.int/topics/congenital_anomalies/ (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish)
- Genetic Alliance South Africa: http://www.geneticalliance.org.za/about/congenital-disorders/
- Specific Birth Defect Information
- March of Dimes: www.marchofdimes.org/complications/birth-defects-and-health-conditions.aspx
- Spina Bifida: http://www.apebi.org.ar/index.php/informacion/prevencion (Spanish)
- Medications and Pregnancy
- Mother to Baby is a resource for information on taking medications during pregnancy or breastfeeding and has an option to talk to an expert at https://mothertobaby.org/ (English, Spanish)
- Preventing Some Birth Defects
- 5 Tips To Reduce the Risk of Birth Defects: www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/prenatal/Pages/Reduce-the-Risk-of-Birth-Defects.aspx (English, Spanish)
- From WorldBDDay Partners
- Tiny Beating Hearts-Nigeria: https://tinybeatinghearts.org/category/pregnancy/