All pregnant women are at risk of giving birth to babies with birth defects. However, some cases with higher risk are the following:
+ Women who become pregnant when they are older, from 35 years old or older.
+ Women who have had a history of giving birth to children with birth defects or multiple miscarriages.
+ Women who have been infected with the virus in the first months of pregnancy and have not been vaccinated against the disease.
+ Cases of heavy exposure to radiation, toxic chemicals, and cigarette smoke.
+ Pregnant women have underlying medical conditions, chronic diseases, such as diabetes.
According to statistics from the Department of Population and Family Planning, Vietnam records more than 40,000 cases of birth defects each year. Of these, about 1,700 children died due to birth defects.
Currently, with increasingly developed medicine and science and technology, doctors can detect birth defects early in children right from when they are still in the mother’s womb, even in the first months. first of pregnancy.
However, the rate of birth defects is still high because mothers still do not understand and are not interested in screening and diagnosing fetal defects. It’s time for us to change. Women need to learn carefully about this issue before getting pregnant and during pregnancy to know how to best monitor and protect their babies.
Defects in newborns are very diverse and complex
Defects in newborns are very diverse. Many cases of mild malformations are detected early in the fetal and newborn stages, and early intervention steps will help children prevent serious consequences on physical health and mental development. future wisdom. Besides, there are also some cases of serious deformities that can greatly affect the child’s future development, even endangering life.
Some defects that can be detected early and require timely intervention are:
– Defects causing respiratory failure: Defects of posterior nostril narrowing, esophageal atrophy, diaphragmatic hernia,
– Genitourinary system defects: Undescended testicles, testicular torsion, some gender abnormalities,…
– Bone and joint deformities: Can occur in any part of the body, such as arms, legs, spine,…
– Gastrointestinal defects: Such as cases of neonatal intestinal obstruction, anus, etc.
2. Some common birth defects
Below are some common birth defects that pregnant mothers need to pay attention to:
Each year, Vietnam records about 3,000 cases of children born with congenital heart disease. Most of them are serious cases, not only affecting the heart’s activity but also affecting the child’s overall health.
Some factors that can increase the risk of congenital heart disease include genetics from parents, side effects of certain medications during pregnancy, and use of stimulants during pregnancy. ,…
Some signs of children with congenital heart disease are rapid heart rate, poor weight gain, difficulty breathing, swollen legs, swollen abdomen, and pale skin. Treatment is medication or surgery, depending on each specific case.
Children with cleft lip and palate can have surgery to fix it
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Cleft lip and palate deformities
When learning about some common birth defects, you should not ignore cleft lip and cleft palate. This is a defect that can be detected during pregnancy. When a child is born, surgery is needed early to restore the lip and jaw structure, helping the child develop well and be more confident.
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Clubfoot syndrome
It can be said that clubfoot syndrome is a common birth defect. Children may have clubfoot in one or both feet, and the feet may curl inwards or outwards. Currently, the exact cause of this deformity has not yet been found, but genetic factors may be closely related to clubfoot syndrome. In addition, clubfoot can also be accompanied by a number of other syndromes such as clubbed hands, hip dysplasia, torticollis, knee bowing, congenital polyarticular stiffness, etc.
In the first hours after birth, mothers need to carefully observe when the baby moves its feet and if abnormalities are detected, immediately contact specialists. If detected early and some methods such as casting and orthopedics are applied, children can be treated effectively. On the contrary, in cases that are discovered late or are not treated properly, this deformity not only affects the aesthetics but also affects the child’s ability to move later.