How early can birth defects be diagnosed?

Large birth defects, such as spina bifida, can be detected in the late first trimester of pregnancy. As pregnancy progresses and the fetus gets larger, other birth defects can become apparent. If your doctor knows you have one child with a particular problem, then the doctor can specifically look for that problem. Some birth defects, such as cleft palate, are very difficult to diagnose before birth. All birth defects can be diagnosed after birth, but some are not found until the child is older, or unless they cause a problem.