Is there a way to prevent birth defects?

Every pregnancy is at risk for birth defects. There is no guaranteed way to eliminate all of them, but you can reduce the risk. Here are some ways to reduce your risk of having a child with birth defects:

      • Be as healthy as possible before you get pregnant. Contro chronic illnesses and start taking                  prenatal vitamins or at leas folic acid supplements.

      • Plan and space out your pregnancies and get good care during your pregnancy.

      • Do not smoke or drink alcohol while pregnant. Do not use any medications without talking to              your doctor. Remember everything that you put in your body also is going into the baby’s body.

      • Seek out information about your personal risk from a geneticist if anyone in your family has a              birth defect or has had a child who died or required surgery before one year of age. The same              applies to someone who comes from a culture in which people marry within the extended                    family or someone who has had two or more pregnancy losses.