Four major causes of birth defects include genetic factors (like gene mutations or chromosome problems), environmental exposures (such as chemicals, radiation, or pollutants), maternal infections (like rubella or toxoplasmosis), and lifestyle/substance use (including alcohol, tobacco, certain medications, and poor nutrition). Often, it's a combination or unknown, but these categories cover key risk factors for issues present at birth.
What causes birth defects?
The most common birth defect in the United States, a congenital heart defect results when the heart, or blood vessels near the heart, don't develop normally before birth. One in 110 babies are born with a CHD.
Known risks
Smoking, drinking alcohol, or taking certain drugs during pregnancy. Having certain medical conditions, such as uncontrolled diabetes. Taking certain medications, such as isotretinoin (used to treat acne). Having someone in your family with a birth defect.
10 most common birth defects
Reducing Risks of Birth Defects
Top 5 Conditions of Abnormal Pregnancy
Children of mothers are not at increased risk for defects other than the one carried by the mother, but researchers found children of fathers with birth defects have a significantly higher risk of birth defects of any kind. More Information: NIEHS Program: Chronic Disease Epidemiology Group.
Most miscarriages happen in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy (known as early miscarriage). It is estimated that early miscarriages happen to 10-20 in 100 (10 to 20%) of pregnancies. It is estimated that second trimester loss (late miscarriage) happens to 3-4 in 100 (3 to 4%) of pregnancies.
Most birth defects happen in the first trimester of pregnancy, which ends at 13 weeks and 6 days since a person's LMP (last menstrual period). This is because the major structures of the body (including the heart, arms, legs, lips, and palate) form in the first trimester.
The most common birth defects are: Heart defects. Cleft lip/palate. Down syndrome.
Teratogenic drugs and medicines
The three countries with the highest age-standardised incidence rates were the Central African Republic (166.96 per 100 000, 95% UI 142.89 to 194.43), Brunei (163.83 per 100 000, 95% UI 138.43 to 198.77) and Tajikistan (161.02 per 100 000, 95% UI 138.33 to 186.82) (figure 1).
Only a few studies have examined birth defects other than orofacial clefts; they have reported increased risks of neural tube defects (NTDs)7,10 and conotruncal heart defects7,11 among women with higher stress.
Make healthy choices
There are several possible causes of birth defects, including:
A pregnancy may also be more likely to end in miscarriage if you:
As women age, the risks associated with pregnancy increase. If you're over the age of 35, your pregnancy may be considered high risk due to “advanced maternal age.” This simply means you are more likely than younger women to have certain conditions and complications that may put you and your baby at risk.
Babies born too early may have more health problems at birth and later in life than babies born later. Being pregnant 39 weeks gives your baby's body all the time it needs to develop. Your baby needs 39 weeks in the womb because: Important organs, like your baby's brain, lungs and liver, need time to develop.
As the father grows older, the number of mutations in the father's genome increases, leading to an increase in the incidence of congenital malformations in offspring [11, 65]. Older paternal age may be harmful to the offspring's health in terms of genetic mutations, telomere length, and epigenetics [66].
Foods with folic acid include: okra, pinto beans, navy beans, mustard greens, kale, spinach, chicken liver, beef liver, orange juice, asparagus, broccoli, avocado, green peas, cauliflower, tomato juice, peanuts, and cantaloupe. Plan Your Pregnancy.
Your biological father can pass on physical traits such as your biological sex, eye colour, height, puberty timing, fat distribution, dimples, and even risk factors for certain health conditions. Some of these, like Y-linked traits and the sex-determining chromosome, come exclusively from dad.
DANGER SIGNS DURING PREGNANCY
The most common signs of fetal growth restriction are small fetal size and low fetal weight. Sometimes, the mother's uterus will measure smaller than expected. Providers can find these signs during pregnancy with ultrasound.
There's no single "hardest" month, as challenges vary, but many find the first trimester tough due to nausea, fatigue, and hormonal shifts, while the third trimester (especially the final month) is physically demanding with discomfort, frequent urination, sleep issues, and anxiety about labor, making the last few months incredibly challenging for most. The second trimester often offers relief, but back pain and heartburn can begin, Cleveland Clinic notes.