Healthy Women, Healthy Babies: Part One

January is National Birth Defects Prevention/Awareness Month. If you are thinking about starting a family—or maybe you are a partner, grandparent, or friend of someone who might become a mom—now is a good time to learn more.

Not all birth defects can be prevented, and about 70 percent of causes are unknown. But in this first of a two-part series, Healthy Women, Healthy Babies, we try to make sense of birth defects and understand what can be done even before a pregnancy starts to lower the risk.

In Part 2, we’ll look at what women can do during pregnancy to increase the odds of a healthy baby and try to help raise awareness about birth defects and their impacts on babies and families.

But wait. Maybe you think this particular blog doesn’t apply to you—you’re a guy, currently not planning a pregnancy, or past child-bearing age. Even if that is all true, please, keep reading. You might know someone who could benefit from the information.

And, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about half of pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned, so even if you’re not actively planning for a baby, things sometimes … develop, shall we say.

About Birth Defects

Every 4 ½ minutes, a baby is born with a birth defect in the United States, or about 120,000 babies each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Birth defects are structural changes present at birth that affect how the body looks, works, or both. Some birth defects are easy to see, such a cleft lip or missing limb, but others that impact internal organs, like the heart or brain, may require special tests. Depending on severity and which organ or body part is involved, a child’s wellbeing and lifespan can be impacted.

The good news is that with early diagnosis and improved medical care and treatment, babies born with birth defects are living longer and healthier lives. More good news: We know much more about how healthy choices reduce the risks of pregnancy complications and birth defects.

Before Pregnancy

Having a healthy pregnancy and baby starts even before a woman is pregnant. Good preconception health—your state of health before pregnancy—improves your chances of getting pregnant and can help prevent pregnancy complications.

The March of Dimes suggests starting to focus on your health at least three months before you start trying to get pregnant. Some steps to take:

1 Take inventory

Talk to your health care provider about health conditions that can affect your pregnancy. Start putting together a family history of any health conditions that you, your partner and everyone in your families have had, such as sickle cell disease or birth defects, with your health care provider. Based on your own or your family history, your doctor might refer you for genetic counseling.

2 Get treatment, as needed

Some chronic health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure can lead to pregnancy problems and, sometimes, birth defects. Getting treatment before pregnancy can improve your chances of having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

3 Pay attention to diet

People who are overweight or obese have a higher risk for many serious conditions, including complications during pregnancy. People who are underweight are at risk for serious health problems, too. Now is a good time to create healthy eating habits for a lifetime, not just for the next nine months.

4 Step up your fitness routine

If you’ve been enjoying a fitness routine, keep it up. But if you’ve been getting less than the recommended 150 minutes of exercise per week, look for ways to get moving—even five minutes a day can make a difference.

5 Mental health is key, too

Pregnancy, childbirth and baby care can take a toll on our mental health. If you are feeling worried, anxious, sad, or stressed, talk to your healthcare provider about your feelings and treatment options.

The Importance of Folic Acid

Folic acid is a B vitamin. Having enough folic acid in your body at least one month before and during pregnancy can help prevent major birth defects of the developing baby’s brain and spine, such as anencephaly and spina bifida.

Most major birth defects of the baby’s brain or spine occur very early in pregnancy before most women know they are pregnant.

That’s why the CDC urges all people who can become pregnant to get 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid each day, from fortified foods (such as fortified cereals and pastas, for example) or supplements, or a combination of the two, in addition to a varied diet rich in folate. Beans, peas, lentils, asparagus, eggs, broccoli, leafy greens, nuts, seeds, avocado, are all good sources.

Planning for pregnancy is exciting, but it can also be a bit nerve-wracking. Focusing on your overall good health is a good first step.