Risk Factors for Birth Defects: Smoking, Alcohol, Drugs, Nutrition - Research Paper

Introduction

Some behaviors increase the risk of birth defects. They include smoking, alcohol intake, illegal drugs while pregnant. Birth defects are caused by a combination of factors including genetics, lifestyle, nutrition and environmental issues which increases the risk of illness or birth abnormalities during pregnancy. Research indicates that the lack of enough dietary folic acid can intensify the incidence of neural tube defects. Further, if a mother lives in an environment where herbicides and pesticides are sprayed, it increases the risks of birth defects.

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Mothers who do not get enough dietary zinc as well as vitamin E or engage in smoking have a high risk of having underweight babies. A pregnant woman who drinks alcohol can get a baby who has alcohol foetal syndrome. Low vitamin C in the diet, as well as smoking by the male parent, can result in damaged sperm DNA which contributes to foetal defects.

Nutrition plays a key role in determining the wellbeing and health of a baby. People expecting to be parents have a responsibility to understand how they should change their behavior to increase the chance of getting a healthy baby. Some infant breathing problems such as asthma could arise due to a lack of vitamin D. eating mercury can be devastating to a baby's health, and it is mostly available in fish (Setright, 2018).

There are environmental factors that can cause congenital disabilities such as exposure to toxic chemicals and viruses can increase the risk of birth defects. People who live in environments that expose them to pollutants in the soil, water or air can expose their unborn children to the risk of being born with birth defects. An expected mother who is infected with particular infections can have a child with birth defects.

Diseases such as rubella and chicken pox can be harmful to a fetus. Most people are vaccinated against this disease and therefore it reduces the risk of a mother passing on the infections to their unborn children.

Common Congenital Disabilities

Spina bifida is a neural tube disorder that develops during the initial month of pregnancy when the spinal column fails to close completely. The spina bifida is one of the congenital disabilities that affect about 1500 pregnancies every year. It is estimated that Spina Bifida affects 7 out of 10,000 live births in the US. The spina bifida association of America estimates that more than 70,000 people are living with the defect in the United States. About 90 percent of children who have this defect have fluid in the brain which requires surgery to drain the fluid (Setright, 2018).

Cleft lip and cleft palate are other disorders that are observable after birth. A cleft occurs when the lip fails to join properly. A cleft palate occurs when there is a gap in the roof of the mouth. What causes these congenital disabilities are unknown, but it is believed that environmental factors, as well as genetics, could play a role in leading to these problems. The cleft lip and cleft palate can be addressed by surgery.

Cerebral palsy is another disorder that occurs among children. The condition affects a person's cognitive and physical functioning. It is estimated that the disorder occurs 2 to 3 births out of 10000. Autism is another congenital disability that affects emotions and mental functioning.

Further, one out of 125 children born has a heart defect meaning that approximately 32,000 infants born every year have one form of a heart defect. Heart defects are the most common cause of death in the US. However, improvement in medical care increases the probability of survival. There are other congenital disabilities which include Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, phenylketonuria, clubfoot, Tay-Sachs disease, and others.

Cardiovascular defects are the most common congenital disabilities in the United States. The condition can cause mortality. Some environmental materials that are dangerous such as methylmercury and radiation are associated with the condition. Water that is contaminated is also linked to these defects. There is an increased risk of cardiovascular defects when a pregnant woman is exposed to certain disinfection by-products (DBPs). There is reliable information about the link between DBP exposure and the risk of developing cardiovascular defects (Wright et al., 2017).

Children living with a congenital disability require special care as well as interventions to stay alive and thrive developmentally. There are state congenital disabilities programs that help to identify and also refer children to access services. Congenital disabilities should be confirmed by the doctor so as local resources and treatment can be accessed. Geneticists, genetic counselors, and other specialists are important resources for people with birth defects since they allow them to discover the cause of their conditions, available treatment, and management of the disorders.

How Birth Defects Are Diagnosed

Most Birth defects can be diagnosed before the child is born through prenatal tests. These tests are also capable of showing whether a mother has an infection that endangers the fetus. Early detection of health problems can allow parents as well as health care providers to plan for the future.

However, it is likely for a child to be healthy before birth and be diagnosed with a congenital disability later. It is important for pregnant women to see their doctors so that they can get proper directions on what tests are appropriate for them. It is possible to find out other birth defects during regular newborn screenings. In the USA babies are screened differently in every state, and it is therefore vital for a parent to raise any birth effects that their child portrays so that they can be helped.

Can Birth Defects Be Prevented?

Birth defects cannot be prevented. However, a woman can do certain things before and during the pregnancy that can help reduce the likelihood of giving birth to a child with congenital disabilities. Before pregnancy women can ensure that they are vaccinated, ensure that they are tested against sexually transmitted disease, ensure that they try to use folic acid before they get pregnant and keep off medicines.

If a parent has a family history of genetic problems, a meeting with a genetic counselor can help determine the risk of getting a child with defects. After pregnancy, a woman needs to eat well and avoid smoking, alcohol, illegal drugs and ensure that the exercise and visit prenatal hospitals to receive care (Farrant, White & Shepherd, 2019).

Conclusion

Birth defects are a common problem in society. The cause of some of the defects is known while the cause of the majority of them is unknown. Congenital disabilities affect the wellbeing of a child depending on its severity and the part of the body it affects. Some behaviors can increase the chance of getting a child with anomalies such as smoking, alcohol intake, use of illicit drugs, poor eating habits. Exposure to some environmental situations can also increase the risk of birth defects. Genetic makeup also predisposes a person to these health issues. It is therefore vital for people who desire to be parents to understand the issue and therefore prepare and live accordingly to reduce congenital disabilities which are dangerous and costly

References

Farrant, B. M., White, S. W., & Shepherd, C. C. J. (2019). Trends and predictors of extreme preterm birth: Western Australian population-based cohort study. PLoS ONE, 14(3), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0214445

Setright, R. (2018). The role of nutritional and environmental health in preventing birth defects. Journal of the Australian Traditional-Medicine Society, 24(3), 155-160. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=131833902&site=ehost-live

Wright, J. M., Evans, A., Kaufman, J. A., Rivera-Nunez, Z., & Narotsky, M. G. (2017). Disinfection By-Product Exposures and the Risk of Specific Cardiac Birth Defects. Environmental Health Perspectives, 125(2), 269-277. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP103