About one in every 33 babies is born with a birth defect. Birth defects are a leading cause of infant death, accounting for more than 1 of every 5 infant deaths. In addition, babies born with birth defects have a greater chance of illness and long term disability than babies without birth defects.
Prevention
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Some birth defects can be prevented. There are things that a woman can do before and during pregnancy to increase her chance of having a healthy baby:
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Try not to share forks, cups, and food with young children.
Wash your hands often when around children. Their saliva and urine might contain a virus. It is likely harmless to them, but it can be dangerous for you and your unborn baby.
Learn more about cytomegalovirus (CMV).
| Cook your meat until it’s well done.
The juices should run clear and there should be no pink inside. Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, or deli meats, unless they are reheated until steaming hot. These undercooked meats and processed meats might contain harmful bacteria. Learn more about Listeria. Avoid unpasteurized (raw) milk and foods made from it. Do not eat soft cheeses such as feta, brie, and queso fresco unless they have labels that say they are pasteurized. Unpasteurized products can contain harmful bacteria. Learn more about Listeria. |  |
Do not touch or change dirty cat litter.
Have someone else do it. If you must change the litter yourself, be sure to wear gloves and wash your hands afterwards. Dirty cat litter might contain a harmful parasite. Learn more about toxoplasmosis.
Stay away from wild or pet rodents and their droppings.
Have a pest control professional get rid of pests in or around your home. If you have a pet rodent, like a hamster or guinea pig, have someone else care for it until after your baby arrives. Some rodents might carry a harmful virus. Learn more about lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV).
Get tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as HIV and hepatitis B, and protect yourself from them.
Some people that have HIV, hepatitis B, or an STD do not feel sick. Knowing if you have one of these diseases is important. If you do, talk to your doctor about how you can reduce the chance that your baby will become sick. Learn more about STDs.
Talk to your doctor about vaccinations (shots).
Some are recommended before you become pregnant, during pregnancy, or right after delivery. Having the right vaccinations at the right time can help keep you healthy and help keep your baby from getting very sick or having life-long health problems. Learn more about vaccinations.
| Avoid people who have an infection.
Stay away from people who you know have infections, such as chickenpox or rubella, if you have not yet had it yourself or did not have the vaccine before pregnancy. Learn more about chickenpox. Ask your doctor about group B strep. About 1 in 4 women carry this type of bacteria, but do not feel sick. An easy swab test near the end of pregnancy will show if you have this type of bacteria. If you do have group B strep, talk to your doctor about how to protect your baby during labor. Learn more about group B streptococcus. |  |
These tips can help you prevent infections that could harm your unborn baby. You won’t always know if you have an infection - sometimes you won’t even feel sick. If you think you might have an infection or think you are at risk, see your doctor.
This is not a complete guide to a healthy pregnancy. Be sure to talk with your doctor to learn more about safe food preparation, wearing insect repellent when outside, taking medicine, and other important topics.
If you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant, see your healthcare provider. Prenatal (before birth) care can help find some problems early in pregnancy so that they can be monitored or treated before birth.
Not all birth defects can be prevented. But, a woman can increase her own chances of having a healthy baby. Many birth defects happen very early during pregnancy, sometimes before a woman even knows she is pregnant.
Here are some steps a woman can take to get ready for a healthy pregnancy:
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Take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day.
Folic acid is a B vitamin. If a woman has enough folic acid in her body at least 1 month before and during pregnancy, it can help prevent major birth defects of the baby’s brain and spine (anencephaly and spina bifida).
Learn more about folic acid »
- Don’t drink alcohol.
When a woman drinks alcohol, so does her unborn baby. Alcohol in the woman’s blood passes through the placenta to her baby through the umbilical cord. There is no known safe amount of alcohol to drink while pregnant. There also is no safe time during pregnancy to drink and no safe kind of alcohol. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause a baby to be born with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).
- Don’t smoke.
The dangers of smoking during pregnancy include premature birth, certain birth defects (cleft lip or cleft palate), and infant death. Even being around cigarette smoke puts a woman and her unborn baby at risk for problems. Quitting smoking before getting pregnant is best. But for a woman who is already pregnant, quitting as early as possible can still help protect against some health problems for the baby, such as low birth weight.
It’s never too late to quit smoking.
- Don’t use “street” drugs.
A woman who uses illegal—or “street”—drugs during pregnancy can have a baby who is born premature; is low birth weight; or has other health problems, such as birth defects. A woman who uses cocaine while pregnant is more likely to have a baby with birth defects of the arms, legs, urinary system, and heart. Other drugs, such as marijuana and ecstasy, also can cause birth defects among babies.
It also is important that a woman not use "street" drugs after she gives birth, because such drugs can be passed through breast milk to her baby and can affect the baby’s growth and development. If you use "street" drugs, talk with your doctor about quitting before you get pregnant.
- Talk to a health care provider about taking any medications.
Taking certain medications during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects, but the safety of many medications taken by pregnant women has been difficult to determine. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, you should not stop taking medications you need or begin taking new medications without first talking with your doctor. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medications and dietary or herbal products.
- Prevent infections.
Some infections that a woman can get during pregnancy can be harmful to the unborn baby. Learn how to help prevent infections.
- Talk to your doctor about vaccinations (shots).
Many vaccinations are safe and recommended during pregnancy, but some are not. Having the right vaccinations at the right time can help keep a woman and her baby healthy.
- Keep diabetes under control.
Poor control of diabetes during pregnancy increases the chances for birth defects and other problems for the baby. It can also cause serious complications for the woman. Proper healthcare before and during pregnancy can help prevent birth defects and other poor outcomes.
- Reach and maintain a healthy weight.
A woman who is obese (a body mass index of 30 or higher) before pregnancy is at a higher risk for complications during pregnancy. Obesity in the woman also increases the risk of several serious birth defects for the baby.
If you are overweight or obese, talk with your doctor about ways to reach a healthy weight before you get pregnant.
- See a health care professional regularly.
A woman should be sure to see her doctor and get prenatal care as soon as she thinks that she is pregnant. It is important to see the doctor regularly throughout pregnancy, so a woman should keep all her prenatal care appointments.
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Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it also can be stressful. Knowing that you are doing all that you can to get ready for pregnancy, stay healthy during pregnancy, and give your baby a healthy start in life will help you to have peace of mind.
Causes and Risk Factors
Birth defects occur before a baby is born. Most birth defects occur in the first 3 months of pregnancy, when the organs of the baby are forming. This is a very important stage of development. However, some birth defects occur later in pregnancy. During the last six months of pregnancy, the tissues and organs continue to grow and develop.
Most birth defects are thought to be caused by a complex mix of factors. These factors include our genes, our behaviors, and things in the environment. For some birth defects, we know the cause. But for most, we don’t.
We do know that some women have a higher chance of having a child with a birth defect:
- Women who take certain drugs, smoke, or drink alcohol during pregnancy.
- Women with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes or obesity.
- Women who take certain medications that are known to cause birth defects, such as isotretinoin (a drug used to treat severe acne).
- Women who have someone in their family with a birth defect. To learn more about your risk of having a baby with a birth defect, you can talk with a clinical geneticist or a genetic counselor.
- Women over the age of 35 years.
Learn about CDC’s research on causes and risk factors.
Diagnosis
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A birth defect can be found before birth, at birth, or anytime after birth. Most birth defects are found within the first year of life. Some birth defects (such as cleft lip or clubfoot) are easy to see, but others (such as heart defects or hearing loss) are found using special tests, such as x-rays, CT scans, or hearing tests. |
Specific Birth Defects
Birth defects can affect almost any part of the body (e.g., heart, brain, foot). They may affect how the body looks, works, or both. Birth defects can vary from mild to severe. The well-being of the child depends mostly on which organ or body part is involved and how much it is affected.
Learn about specific birth defects.
Living with a Birth Defect
If your child has a birth defect, you should ask his or her doctor about local resources and treatment. Geneticists, genetic counselors, and other specialists are another resource.
Find more information for families who have a child with a birth defect.