babygooroo » Birth Defects

Premies Face Lifelong Challenges

April 7, 2008 by Pauline Lupercio | No questions or comments

Premature babies lucky enough to survive are left with lifelong health problems that could even affect their own children, a new study shows. While the average pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, with babies born between 37 to 42 weeks considered full-term, the number of ... (read more)

Folic Acid: Good or Bad?

February 4, 2008 by Heidi Green | 3 questions or comments

If there was one thing I thought I knew with certainty about nutrition it was this: folic acid is a good thing. Everyone—especially women who may become pregnant—should take it every day. That’s what I wrote for a piece that appeared on this ... (read more)

The Scoop on Birthmarks

January 18, 2008 by Amy Spangler | No questions or comments

They come in all shapes and sizes. Some are hard to find, others are impossible to miss. Some are visible at birth, others appear weeks or months later. They can be flat or raised, and any of a wide range of colors. But no ... (read more)

Folic Acid Every Day!

January 11, 2008 by Heidi Green | 1 question or comment

January 7-13 is Folic Acid Awareness Week—a good time to ask yourself, "Am I getting enough folic acid?" As you think about that, read on to refresh your knowledge of this important nutrient. What is Folic Acid?Folic acid is a B vitamin ... (read more)

An Ounce of Prevention

December 27, 2007 by Amy Spangler | No questions or comments

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 ... (read more)

Small Action Yields Big Results

July 17, 2007 by Amy Spangler | No questions or comments

Every now and them, something thought to be insignificant has a profound effect. A good example was the discovery that placing babies on their back to sleep reduced their risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Another example, with equally profound effects, was the ... (read more)

Survey Looks at Preconception Health Indicators

July 11, 2007 by Amy Spangler | No questions or comments

According to a recent survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), despite widespread educational efforts, some women still lack an understanding of the importance of taking folic acid prior to getting pregnant to reduce the risk of birth defects. The ... (read more)

Prevention Tool Kit Targets Fetal Alcohol Spectrum

February 3, 2007 by Amy Spangler | No questions or comments

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in producing a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Prevention Tool Kit. The tool kit is designed for health ... (read more)

Folic Acid May Lower the Risk of Cleft Lip

February 3, 2007 by Amy Spangler | 1 question or comment

According to data published in the British Medical Journal, folic acid supplements during early pregnancy could reduce the risk of cleft lip in infants by as much as 33 percent. While the link between folate deficiency and neural tube ... (read more)

Infant and Child Health » Birth Defects