Birth Defects
Many things can go wrong during pregnancy and delivery that result in birth defects in the baby. Most defects develop within the first three months of pregnancy. They can vary from mild to severe, and some, such as cleft lip, a condition that happens when the baby's upper lip and roof of the mouth don't join, can be surgically treated.
What causes most birth defects is not known.
There are steps that you can take to lower your risk of having a baby with birth defects. Pregnant women should never drink and should see a doctor as early as possible after becoming pregnant.
Recently Answered
- Q What are some of the challenges children with craniofacial defects face?
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Among their challenges, says UCLA plastic surgeon Reza Jarrahy, M.D., are the multiple surgeries that children with craniofacial defects confront beginning as early as the first week of life and continuing through the late teenage years.... Full Answer
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- Q Why does a child with a craniofacial defect need early intervention?
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The best outcomes for children with craniofacial defects result from early intervention and teamwork. “Patients should be referred as soon as a problem is identified or suspected,” UCLA plastic surgeon Reza Jarrahy, M.D., urges,... Full Answer
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- Q How does a cleft lip or cleft palate affect a child?
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Cleft lip, cleft palate or both affect approximately one in 700 children in the United States annually, which make these conditions among the most common birth defects involving the growth of a child’s head and facial bones (craniofacial... Full Answer
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- Q What are some common types of craniofacial birth defects?
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Pediatrician and geneticist Katrina Dipple, M.D., Ph.D., co-director of the UCLA Craniofacial Clinic, says that common birth defects include craniosynostosis, a condition in which an infant’s sutures (soft spots) close too early and cause the head... Full Answer
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- Q Does biliary atresia run in families?
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Biliary atresia does not run in families. Doctors are not sure what causes the condition, but they do not believe it is hereditary. Children of people who had the disease are not more at risk. Full Answer
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- Q What kind of heart defects can a child be born with?
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During the complicated process of embryonic and fetal development, the heart is subject to more potential defects than any other organ. These defects include: Atrial septal defect (ASD). The wall between the heart's upper chambers has a hole in... Full Answer
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- Q What is Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome?
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Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is an abnormal electrical connection (or bypass tract) between the atria and ventricles of the heart. The bypass tract allows electricity in the heart to travel abnormally fast and results in a very rapid heart rate... Full Answer
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- Q Should I talk to my doctor about my diaphragmatic hernia symptoms?
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Diaphragmatic hernias are usually diagnosed via routine fetal ultrasound in a physician or midwife's office or soon after birth at the initial newborn exam. If the defect is not found on ultrasound or identified soon after birth, diaphragmatic... Full Answer
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- Q Do congenital diaphragmatic hernias affect children differently?
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Children who recovery from congenital diaphragmatic hernia can be affected in different ways. A congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a birth defect that affects the development of the diaphragm that separates the abdomen from the chest. In... Full Answer
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- Q Are congenital diaphragmatic hernias life-threatening?
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Congenital diaphragmatic hernias are life-threatening. Early diagnosis and surgery can help lower mortality rate. Surgery is always needed to treat this birth defect. Neonatal intensive care before and after surgery is a critical component of the... Full Answer
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