5 Most Common Birth Defects
#1 - Cleft Lip
- Cleft lip is caused by a neural tube in the mother in early pregnancy not closing
- Other possible influences: viruses, chemicals, and other drugs during or prior to pregnancy
- Affects 1 in 700 babies each year
- Physical or biochemical abnormality that is present at birth and that may be inherited or the result of environmental influence
- 120,000 babies each year
X Ray of baby suffering gastroschisis
#4 - Spina Bifida
#2 - Gastroschisis
- Literally means "cleft spine"
- Neural tube does not fully close or develop in the uterus before birth
- 4 different kinds: occulta, closed neural tube, meningocle, and myelomeningocle
- Affects 1,500 to 2,000 babies out of the 4 million born in the US annually
- Severe cases require surgery
- Type of hernia that is a rupture
- Infants have hole in abdominal wall
- Child's intestines stick out through the hole
- 1,871 babies are born with it each year in the United States
- Surgery is needed immediately after birth
#5 - Limb Anomaly
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- Babies born without a limb
- Unknown cause - chemicals? virus that mildly affects mother?
- Referred to a physical therapist
- 1,500 born without upper limb
- 750 born without lower limb
#3 - Club Foot
- The tissues connecting the muscles to the bones are shorter than usual, making the foot twisted out of position
- Fairly common - 1 in 1,000 babies annually
- Surgery recommended soon after birth