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Influences on
Birth Defects
FACTS
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About 150,000 babies are born each
year with birth defects.
The parents of one out of every 28
babies receive the frightening news that
their baby has a birth defect
There are over 4,000 known birth defects
Birth defects are the leading cause of
death in the first year of life.
What is a Birth Defect?
Birth defects are the leading cause of death for infants during the
first year of life. Every year, about 7.9 million infants (6% of
worldwide births) are born with serious birth defects. The most
common birth defects are heart defects, cleft lip and cleft palate,
Down syndrome and spina bifida.
I. Environmental Influences
on Birth Defects
A. Inadequate nutrition of mother
B. Exposure to diseases or infections
during pregnancy
C. Harmful substances consumed
during pregnancy
I. Environmental Influences
on Birth Defects
A. Inadequate nutrition of
mother
1. Stunted brain
development of baby
2. Leads to mental
retardation
I. Environmental Influences
on Birth Defects
B. Exposure to diseases or infections during
pregnancy
1. Rubella or German Measles, can cause blindness, deafness,
heart disease, and mental retardation
2. Toxoplasmosis, can cause hearing loss, learning disabilities
and death; found in cat litter and some raw meats
3. Chicken pox can cause scarring of babies’ skin, limb defects,
eye problems, and miscarriage
4. STDs can be passed to unborn child and lead to serious
illness, physical disabilities, or death
Toxoplasmosis
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Toxoplasmosis is considered to be a leading cause of death attributed to
foodborne illness in the United States. More than 60 million men, women, and
children in the U.S. carry the Toxoplasma parasite, but very few have symptoms
because the immune system usually keeps the parasite from causing illness.
Cats play an important role in the spread of toxoplasmosis. They become
infected by eating infected rodents, birds, or other small animals. The parasite is
then passed in the cat's feces. Cats play an important role in the spread of
toxoplasmosis. They become infected by eating infected rodents, birds, or other
small animals. The parasite is then passed in the cat's feces.
If you are newly infected with Toxoplasma while you are pregnant, or just before
pregnancy, then you can pass the infection on to your baby. You may not have
any symptoms from the infection. Most infected infants do not have symptoms
at birth but can develop serious symptoms later in life, such as blindness or
mental disability. Occasionally infected newborns have serious eye or brain
damage at birth.
I. Environmental Influences
on Birth Defects
C. Harmful substances consumed during
pregnancy
1. Nicotine from smoking tobacco or
secondhand smoke
a. Smaller babies
b. Miscarriages and premature
births
c. Respiratory infections or
allergies
I. Environmental Influences
on Birth Defects
C. Harmful substances consumed during
pregnancy
2. Alcohol can cause fetal alcohol
syndrome (FAS)
a. 20% of FAS infants die
b. Facial deformities, delayed physical growth,
heart defects, and hyperactivity
c. Mental retardation or disabilities
d. Poor coordination
e. Difficulty controlling behavior
I. Environment Influences of
Birth Defects
C. Harmful substances consumed while
pregnant
3. Drugs
a. Over-the-the counter drugs
b. Drug addiction
c. Long-term learning and
behavioral problems
d. Risk of miscarriages
e. Congenital heart problems
I. Environmental Influences
on Birth Defects
4. Exposure to hazards during
pregnancy
a. Chemicals
b. X-rays
c. Toxoplasmosis – from cats
I. Environmental Influences
on Birth Defects
5. Accidental injuries
a. Cerebral palsy caused by
damage to brain before, during, or
shortly after birth
b. Falls lead to a variety of
complications
II. Hereditary Influences on
Birth Defects
Dominant genes?
Recessive genes?
Can you explain the difference?
II. Hereditary Influences on
Birth Defects
A. Defective recessive genes inherited from both parents
1. Cystic fibrosis
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2. Tay-Sachs disease
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3. Sickle cell anemia
B. Defective dominant gene inherited from one parent
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1. Hemophilia
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2. Huntington’s disease
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3. Duchenne muscular dystrophy
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4. Color blindness
C. Errors in chromosomes
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1. Down syndrome
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III. Combined Influence of
Heredity and Environment Birth
Defects
A. Drugs + virus = heart defect
B. Cleft lip/cleft palate
C. Spina Bifida – reduce risk by taking folic acid
What potentially causes birth
defects?
Can birth defects be
prevented?
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While the potential causes of most
birth defects are not known, there are
a number of steps a woman can take
to reduce her risk of having a baby
with a birth defect.
IV. Factors that contribute to
Birth Defects:
• A. Overweight
• B. Underweight
• C. Jewish or AfricanAmerican decent
Brainstorm
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Visit a health care provider for a prepregnancy check up, especially if a woman
has health problems
When pregnant take daily multivitamins
containing 400 mg of the B-vitamin folic acid
Avoid alcohol, drugs, smoking, prescription
or over-the-counter medication unless
approved by a health care provider
V. More factors that
contribute to birth defects
A. Drinks alcohol
B. Uses prescription drugs
C. Has used street drugs
D. Takes vitamins
E. Drinks caffeine
F. Has had exposure to chemicals
V. More factors that
contribute to birth defects
G. Lives in a home built before 1955
(lead paint)
H. Constant exposure to cats
I. Has had x-rays during pregnancy
J. High blood pressure
K. Diabetes
L. Sickle cell anemia
V. More factors that
contribute to birth defects
M. Health problems
N. Genital herpes
O. Gonorrhea
P. Syphilis
Q. No immunizations against rubella
R. Miscarriage
Can some birth defects be
diagnosed before birth?
Can birth defects be treated
before birth?
Preventing Birth Defects
•Avoid…
Review
How do you define birth defect?
 What factors contribute to birth
defects?
 Can some birth defects be diagnosed
before birth?
 Can birth defects be prevented?
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