Birth Defects Summary A birth defect is a problem that happens while a baby is developing in the mother’s body. Most birth defects happen during the first 3 months of pregnancy. One out of every 33 babies in the United States is born with a birth defect. A birth defect may affect how the body looks, works or both. Some birth defects like cleft lip or neural tube defects are structural problems that can be easy to see. To find others, like heart defects, doctors use special tests. Birth defects can vary from mild to severe. Some result from exposures to medicines or chemicals. For example, alcohol abuse can cause fetal alcohol syndrome. Infections during pregnancy can also result in birth defects. For most birth defects, the cause is unknown. Some birth defects can be prevented. Taking folic acid can help prevent some birth defects. Talk to your doctor about any medicines you take. Some medicines can cause serious birth defects. Babies with birth defects may need surgery or other medical treatments. Today, doctors can diagnose many birth defects in the womb. This enables them to treat or even correct some problems before the baby is born. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Start Here 10 Things You Need to Know about Birth Defects Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Birth Defects National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Birth Defects (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Birth Defects: What They Are and How They Happen March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Congenital Abnormalities American Academy of Pediatrics Facts about Birth Defects Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Encyclopedia Acrodysostosis Alpha fetoprotein Ambiguous genitalia Amniotic constriction bands Annular pancreas Clubfoot Clubfoot repair Clubfoot repair – slideshow Developmental disorders of the female reproductive tract Diaphragmatic hernia Diaphragmatic hernia repair – slideshow Diaphragmatic hernia repair – congenital Duodenal atresia Fusion of the ear bones Gastroschisis repair Gastroschisis repair – slideshow Hirschsprung’s disease Hypospadias Hypospadias repair Hypospadias repair – slideshow Hypospadias repair – discharge Imperforate anus Imperforate anus repair Imperforate anus repair – slideshow Meckel’s diverticulectomy Meckel’s diverticulectomy – slideshow Meckel’s diverticulum Omphalocele Omphalocele repair Omphalocele repair – slideshow Pinna abnormalities and low-set ears Polyhydramnios Prune belly syndrome Quadruple screen test Trisomy 13 Trisomy 18 Specifics Ambiguous Genitalia Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Bardet-Biedl Syndrome Foundation Fighting Blindness Branchiootorenal Syndrome Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center Characteristics of CdLS (Cornelia de Lange Syndrome) Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Foundation Clubfoot Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Conjoined Twins Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip Nemours Foundation Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula American Academy of Family Physicians Facts about Anophthalmia and Microphthalmia National Eye Institute Facts about Gastroschisis Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Facts about Hypospadias Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Facts about Omphalocele Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Facts about Upper and Lower Limb Reduction Defects Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Genital and Urinary Tract Defects March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Hirschsprung Disease Nemours Foundation Klippel-Feil Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Moebius Syndrome National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Polydactyly (Supernumerary Digit) Logical Images Undescended Testicles (For Parents) Nemours Foundation What Are the Types of Birth Defects? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development What I Need to Know about Hirschsprung Disease National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Statistics and Research Birth Defects Data and Statistics Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Birth Defects Research and Tracking Centers for Disease Control and Prevention FastStats: Birth Defects or Congenital Anomalies National Center for Health Statistics National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Diagnosis and Tests Birth Defects Diagnosis Centers for Disease Control and Prevention How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose Birth Defects? National Institute of Child Health and Human Development MedlinePlus: Newborn Screening National Library of Medicine MedlinePlus: Prenatal Testing National Library of Medicine TORCH Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Congenital Abnormalities National Institutes of Health Videos and Tutorials Esophageal Atresia OR-Live Related Issues Fact Sheets Organization of Teratology Information Specialists Isotretinoin and Other Retinoids During Pregnancy March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation Medication Use during Pregnancy Centers for Disease Control and Prevention What Is a Neonatologist? American Academy of Pediatrics When Your Baby’s in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) Nemours Foundation Genetics Genetics Home Reference: abdominal wall defect National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: DOORS syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Genetic Conditions National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Poland syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Schinzel-Giedion syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: trisomy 18 National Library of Medicine Prevention and Risk Factors Guidance for Preventing Birth Defects Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Reducing Risks of Birth Defects American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Array Intersex Find an Expert March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Journal Articles Birth Defects Reference Desk Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms National Human Genome Research Institute Living With When Your Baby Has a Birth Defect Nemours Foundation Latest News Scientists Assess Risk to Pregnant Women Infected with Zika HealthDay Pain, Epilepsy Drug Lyrica May Increase Birth Defects Risk, Study Suggests HealthDay Study Sees No Link Between Common Epilepsy Drug, Certain Birth Defects HealthDay Study Explores Mechanism Between Zika Virus, Birth Defects HealthDay
