124 chapter 12
PREVENTION OF BIRTH DEFECTS
It is not possible to prevent all birth defects. Some babies form differently inside
the womb and no one knows why. But many birth defects can be prevented. For
ways to make it less likely that children will be born with birth defects, see Chapter
3. To reduce the chances of having birth defects, pregnant women must stay in good
health and avoid certain dangers:
• Eat well during pregnancy. Eating enough good food gives strength, prevents
infection, builds a healthy baby and helps prevent too much bleeding during
birth. Be sure to eat food that has enough folic acid. (See Where There Is
No Doctor, Chapter 11 and Where
Women Have No Doctor, Chapter 11.)
• Avoid all medicines and drugs
during pregnancy unless you are
sure they will not damage the baby.
(Vitamins, some antacids, and iron in
the correct dose are alright.) Alcohol
and tobacco during pregnancy can
also damage the developing child.
• Avoid any contact with pesticides
and other poisons. If a pregnant
woman’s husband or family members must
use pesticides or poisons, they should wash their own clothes, and protect the
pregnant woman from the chemicals.
• Avoid marrying close relatives. When close family members have children
together, the children are much more likely to have birth defects.
• If you already have one or more children with a birth defect, it is more
likely you may have another, so you might consider not having more.
• While pregnant, stay far away from anyone with German measles (rubella) if
you have never had it. If you are not pregnant, try to catch it before you get
pregnant. Vaccines give protection against German measles but you should not
become pregnant for 1 month after rubella immunization.
• Getting syphilis or herpes when you are pregnant can cause the baby to be
born with birth defects. Make sure to be tested and treated early for sexually
transmitted infections.
• Consider not having more children after age 35 or 40, or if you have had one
child with Down syndrome, since the chance of having another is increased.
Most birth defects can be prevented when women can afford good food to eat,
when they do not have to work with toxic chemicals, and when they have good
health care.
Birth defects should not be treated as a problem for families to deal with on
their own. The causes of birth defects affect the whole community. To prevent birth
defects, we must change the world we live in so that it is safer for women and
families.
Disabled village Children