A substantial number of congenital disabilities are caused by the mother’s lifestyle while pregnant. Other birth defects are inherited, and their occurrence cannot be controlled or prevented. Therefore, pregnant women need to know more about the various practices that can prevent birth defects. Learn more about the birth defects caused by factors the mother could have avoided.
Avoid substance abuse
Substances such as alcohol are passed from the mother into the baby’s bloodstream. This can negatively affect the baby’s health. Therefore, there is not a certain amount of alcohol that is recommended for pregnant women. Smoking cigarettes also increases the chances of a mother having a preterm birth. The main risk of preterm birth is the development of cerebral risk. Therefore, the mother should not smoke any cigarette while pregnant. She should also seek medical advice before taking any medication. Some medication is not fit for consumption by pregnant women. When consumed, they can have adverse impacts on the baby s health, which is a risk factor for developing birth defects.
Make plans
Not every woman plans on getting pregnant at a particular time. Some women get accidental pregnancies and decide to keep the baby. Therefore, as soon as a woman realizes she is pregnant, she should make plans to safeguard the baby’s health. The first thing to do is get folic acid tablets from the health center. These tablets help in the prevention of birth defects because they enhance brain and spine growth. Folic acid is also available in fortified foods. If a woman is not sure about the right foods to take, it is best to get the supplement from their healthcare provider.
Visit healthcare for prenatal services.
If a woman plans to get pregnant or is already pregnant, they need to visit their healthcare provider for prenatal services. They should ensure not to skip any of the appointments because they are scheduled to monitor the baby’s growth. If the doctors notice any abnormal growth, they will advise the mother accordingly. Blood tests and checkups done during prenatal visits helps reduce the risk factors of birth defects.
Live a healthy lifestyle.
Once a woman realizes they are pregnant, they need to live a healthy lifestyle. They should avoid a situation that would increase the risk factors associated with birth defects. Among such healthy practices is keeping their weight or diabetes in control. Women with a BMI of more than 30 before pregnancy stands high chances of developing complications during pregnancy. Such complications enhance the risk factors of having birth defects, such as low birth weight and premature births. The mother has to eat a balanced diet because this will provide the baby with all the essential nutrients required for growth.
Preventing the occurrence of certain birth defects that you can learn more about takes the efforts of the mother and medical practitioners. The pregnant woman has to live a healthy lifestyle to avoid the risk factors of developing birth conditions. Medical practitioners guide pregnant women in living a healthy lifestyle to safeguard the child’s health.