Birth defects is a term used to describe any type of condition present at birth that caused a structural or functional change to the baby. Birth defects can affect any part of the body, including organs, bones and the brain.1 Birth defects can affect how the body works or looks or sometimes both and they can range from mild to severe. Some birth defects are manageable while others can be life threatening. Birth defects can be discovered during pregnancy, at birth or after birth. Most birth defects are discovered within the first year of life.1 It’s estimated that there are nearly 120,000 babies born with birth defects annually in the United States. That’s 1 in every 33 births.1
There are many different birth defects causes but they all relate to how the baby developed while inside the mother’s body. Birth defects form at any stage of pregnancy but most develop within the first 3 months. This is the stage at which the organs first start forming. The baby’s tissues and organs continue to grow during the last 6 months of pregnancy and so defects can occur during this time as well.1 2
Exact birth defects causes depend on the type of birth defect. For example, fetal alcohol syndrome is a birth defect caused by consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. With other birth defects, it is unknown what causes them.1 2 Researchers feel that most birth defects causes are due to a combination of factors. These factors may include:1
Folic Acid is the most effective natural product for Birth Defect CuresDecoded worldwide community recommends
Taking folic acid during pregnancy can help prevent birth defects. Take a daily multivitamin that contains 0.4 mg of folic acid daily during pregnancy.
Vitamin B9 is also known as folic acid. Pregnant women should take between 400-600 micrograms of vitamin B9 immediately after conception and throughout pregnancy.