A birth defect occurs while a baby is developing in the mother\'s body. Most bir
ID: 128243 • Letter: A
Question
A birth defect occurs 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.
Please watch all the 6 videos below and write a paragraph (4-5 sentences) summarizing what you have learnt from each of the videos. The objective is for you to understand and learn about different birth defects, ways to screen and also reduce the risk.
Video 1: Birth Defects (CDC) - Dr. Stuart Shapira discusses risk factors for birth defects
http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=8626951
Video 2: "Good Medicine Can Be Bad for Baby" CDC Podcast - Some medicines that are used to treat a woman's medical conditions can have adverse effects on her unborn child. In this podcast Dr. Cheryl Broussard discusses the potential link between birth defects and women taking medications during pregnancy
http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=4992118
Video 3: "You CAN Help Prevent Birth Defects" CDC Podcast - To reduce the risk for neural tube defects (NTDs) such as spina bifida or anencephaly, women of reproductive age should consume at least 400 mcg of synthetic folic acid daily by eating one serving of fortified breakfast cereal or taking a supplement. In addition, women should eat foods rich in naturally occurring folate such as orange juice, strawberries, cantaloupe, asparagus, broccoli, cooked dry peas and beans, and dark green, leafy vegetables.
http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=6966
Video 4: "Folic Acid: Helping to Ensure a Healthy Pregnancy" NCBDDD Podcast - It is recommended that women should take 400 micrograms of folic acid every day before and during early pregnancy to help prevent certain birth defects.
http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=7552
Video 5: "Keeping Little Hearts Happy" CDC Podcast - Most babies appear to be healthy when they're born. However, some of the most serious problems aren't always visible. Congenital heart defects are conditions that affect the structure and function of an infant's heart. In this podcast, Dr. Tiffany Colarusso discusses ways to prevent congenital heart defects in newborns
http://www2c.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=5438172
Video 6: Birth defects and Prenatal Screening
http://www.thevisualmd.com/panel/?c=752.45
Explanation / Answer
video 1:
this video represents the rsk factors of birth defects.
1. birth defects are expected in 1 in 33 babies after birth. most of the birth defects are detected in the first trimester of pregnancy.
2. cleft lip and cleft palate (600 babies ) is the common birth defects which is usually detected immediately after birth. second most common birth defect is neural tube defect
3. most of the birth defects are non critical but some birth defects are very critical.
4. common causes of birth defects are genetic nature, medications, maternal smoking, maternal alcoholism, gestational diabetes, folic acid deficiency.
5. they are 5 important things to be followed to avoid birth defects- maternal checkup, avoid smoking and alcoholism, healthy diet especially diabetic food, folic acid consumption(400 mcg) and inform to health care provider.
video 2:
this video represents medications that are to be consumed or not during pregnancy:
1. some medications adverse effects will affect the unborn child.
2. some medications like folic acid medication to prevent neural tube defect of the child.
3. some medications which are to be avoided as follows: non steroidal drugs, ibubrufen, thalamide drugs
4. if mother is taking medications for epilepsy, athma, hypertension and diabetes etc that are to be continued as per physician order.
video 3:
this video clearly tells about folic acid consumption during pregnacy and also in reproductive age.
1. folic acid consumption 400mcg is very important for every women during their reproductive age.
2. consuming folic acid 400 mcg is very important to avoid neural tube defect for the babies.
3. mother should consume folic acid through cereals, cooked beans, spinach etc during their reproductive age.
4. folic acid is vitamin B9 which is responsible DNA synthesis.
video 4:
1. folic acid consumption during first trimester of pregnancy is very important.
2. folic acid is useful for DNA synthesis and to avoid neural tube defect.
video 5:
1. in this video they clearly tells about congenital heart defects of the baby.
2. most of the babies are asymptomatic
3. most of the signs and symptoms are fast trouble breathing, bluish nails and lips, sleepy nature, tarry stools.
3. most of the babies etiology is unknown, mostly due to genetic factor, down syndrome,diabetes, maternal smoking and alcoholism.
4. preventive measures:
a. lifestyle nature
b. healthy diet
c. quit smoking
d. complete screening throughout pregnancy
e. blood test
f. X-ray
g. Echo cardiogram
5. treatment modalities: cardiac catheterization and plan for surgery based on the severity of the disease
video 6:
1. this video clearly tells about the prenatal screening.
2. prenatal screening:
a. blood test for genetic disoders like cystic disorders, fragile X chromosome and spinal muscular dystrophy during first trimester
b. blood test for identifying proteins triple test (AFP,HCG and Estriol), Quard test *AFP, HCG, Estriol and inhibin A) and penta test (AFP, HCG, Estriol, Inhibin A and ITA) during second trimester
c. ultrasound screening for congenital birth defects and baby structure
d. through doctor visits.