Birth Defects?

Question

Does anyone know anyone who's baby had birth defects and what caused them... Just wondering I am pregnant (14 weeks) and soo scared...I guess that is just normal, but just wondering :)

Answer 1

Our third baby was diagnosed with Charge Syndrome after she was born. It is a genetic disorder which causes heart defects, kidney problems and vision/hearing loss.

It was "one of those things" and does not run in the family. The chance of it happening is 1 in 10,000.

Our dear little one died of pneumonia at age 5 months because the strain on her heart was too much. Surgery might have fixed it....but she didn't make it that far.

We are expecting again and very happy, although once that happens (or once you miscarry) you are a little more "fragile" the next time.

But God knows best. Try not to worry because your chances of having a healthy baby are excellent, and even when something is wrong, mothers and fathers have a special love and strength that sees them through.

Answer 2

I am 37 weeks pregnant with our baby with some major heart defects, and he will need his first open heart surgery in the first week after he's born. However, inside, he's doing wonderfully. . . in fact he's been called "very healthy" except for his heart. He won't stop moving around (and to think they were worried he would start developing heart failure in the womb. . . nope, he's a little tough guy.) The heart defect happened at the moment the heart developed in the third week, and they have no idea why. . . his chromosones are normal, no known associations with medications, etc. It was just a fluke, basically.

It's normal to be scared, but I wasn't even worried about it, so it was kind of a shock when they found the problem on the 20 week ultrasound. Now, I will be more scared earlier with future pregnancies, for sure. But I also know that I already love my little guy, and that we will deal with whatever comes our way!

Answer 3

I don't know anyone that has had a baby with birth defects. The best thing you can do is eat a healthy diet, take vitamins and get lots of rest. Make sure you go to all of your prenatal appts as well. BTW, it is normal to worry about stuff like that. I worried the whole time Iwas pregnant and my baby was fine. Drugs and alcohol can cause probelms though.

Answer 4

There are many causes of birth defects. if its not genetic, it may be caused by substances like medications that may be harmful in the organ formation of the fetus during the first trimester. The first trimester is very critical in the organgenesis.So, it's also the time where malformations due to drug intake happens. So, be careful what you take. Smoking and drinking alcohol is also prohibited.
Aside from drug intake, certain diseases like Rubella, Herpes Simplex, CMV may cause birth defects. Be sure to have a regular prenatal checkup with your doctor,

Answer 5

my wife was born with spina bifida. she's lived a pretty decent life, better than mine at least, and i was born without any birth defects!
she loves telling people her story, because she hears of people having a test to see if they should abort the baby. she tells them, "i'm what you would have aborted!" they then drop their mouth, because she's intelligent and just plain normal!
my point is, don't get yourself worked up worrying about things you can't change.
as far as what causes bd's, a number of things, really. she had great great grandparents who were first cousins. others are environmental, like living too close to a nuclear plant. there are many that they just don't know about. this doesn't make their life any less a life. think about a deaf person. they have deaf pride, with their own community. they don't look at deafness as a problem; they see how their other senses are stronger and they get an extra language, to boot.
good luck, and congratulations. now go and enjoy it!

Answer 6

My girlfriend was born with Crouzon Syndrome, which is a chromosome mutation and is hereditary. If she were to ever have a child (which she won't considering she hates children and is a lesbian) her child would have a 50% of also having Crouzon Syndrome.

By the way, Crouzon Syndrome is a facial deformity that has to be fixed through many surgeries or else it can be fatal. If someone who has Crouzon's doesn't get surgery, eventually his or her brain will burst through the forehead.

Her parents had no idea that they carried the gene for Crouzon Syndrome, so you never know what you or the baby's father may have that you don't know about. Don't worry too much though. I'm sure your baby will be fine.

Answer 7

No, I personally don't know anyone who's baby has birth defects; however, you should be able to research it online.

I have 3 children and worried during the whole pregnancy, but you should not because birth defects are very low.

Answer 8

Birth Defects are caused due to
- Congenital
- Gene mutation
- Procreating within the same gene pool
- Drug abuse by the mother during pregnancy
- Anti-depressents
- Smoking by the mother during pregnancy

Don't worry, just relax and stay healthy n happy. Its good for the baby.

Answer 9

When I was about 20 weeks prego, my doctor found something called a Choroid Plexus Cyst on my baby's brain which could lead to the potential of Down's Syndrome. But it was very rare that something like that would've happened. He said CPCs were just one of those things that come and go and appear in many pregnancies and that I shouldn't be worried. But being a soon-to-be-mom, everything scares and worries you. I wouldn't think about negative things. Think of all the positive things. It's hard enough being pregnant. Don't make it harder on yourself. Don't worry, I'm sure your baby will be fine.
Congrats on being prego!

Answer 10

I know a girl with Spina Bifida, which is caused by not enough folic acid in the diet.. Its importat to get double what you normally intake while you are pregnant. I think its something like 400 mg a day.