According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in every 33 babies born each year in the United States is born with a birth defect. Birth defects account for more than 20 percent of all infant deaths making it the leading cause of death among infants. Moreover, babies born with birth defects have a greater chance of illness and long-term disability compared to babies born without birth defects.

In an effort to expand birth defects surveillance, research, and prevention, the National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN) was formed in 1997. Three years later, NBDPN designated January as National Birth Defects Prevention Month. Each January, NBDPN releases a packet of information with a specific focus.

The 2008 packet focuses on preventing infections during pregnancy and includes information on a variety of related topics including toxoplasmosis and cytomegalovirus. A variety of free materials including pamphlets, brochures, posters, and fact sheets are available in both English and Spanish.

Whether you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant—an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!