One in 28 infants are born with a major birth defect in Florida. Birth defects are a major cause of morbidity and long-term disability and are one of the leading causes of infant mortality in the state, causing one in five infant deaths. In 2008, more than 10,000 infants were born with a major birth defect in Florida.
Standing behind the powerful cause of birth defect prevention, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) conducts surveillance for birth defects in Florida by managing and operating the Florida Birth Defects Registry (FBDR). The FBDR is a statewide, population-based surveillance system that has identified infants born with birth defects since 1999. Since its inception, the FBDR has identified more than 70,000 infants born with major birth defects in Florida.
Though we know how babies can warm our hearts, sometimes theirs can be affected by congenital heart defects, the most common type of birth defect affecting nearly 1% of all newborns. Some congenital heart defects have only a minor and brief effect on a baby’s health and some have very serious and lifelong effects. Public awareness, accurate diagnosis and expert medical care are all essential for prevention and management of these all too common and sometimes deadly conditions.
“The heart forms in the early weeks of pregnancy, often before a woman realizes she is pregnant,” says Dr. Sharon Watkins of the Florida Department of Health, who supervises the state’s birth defects registry. “Diet, life-style choices, genetics, factors in the environment, health conditions and medications all can play a role in preventing or causing congenital heart defects.”
Planning and preparing for pregnancy is often a time of excitement and anticipation for women and their families. There are several important steps women can take to help prevent birth defects, including congenital heart defects. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should:
- Avoid all alcohol and illegal drugs.
- Avoid exposure to tobacco, chemicals and toxins both at home and work.
- Maintain a healthy weight, both before and during pregnancy, eat a healthy diet and take a multivitamin with folic acid prior to and during pregnancy.
- Talk to their doctor before becoming pregnant about whether their vaccinations are up to date.
- See a physician prior to pregnancy to discuss any medical conditions which require medications, any known metabolic conditions including diabetes, obesity, phenyketonuria (PKU), and family history of genetic conditions and/or congenital heart defects.
“During National Birth Defects Prevention Month, it is imperative that we use our data to guide prevention activities and assist families who are caring for infants and children with complex conditions including congenital heart defects and other birth defects,” says Watkins.
Though birth defects are uphill challenges that many have faced and will continue to face, Florida is making strides in both addressing and preventing birth defects.
Find out more about DOH’s Florida Birth Defects Registry by visiting www.fbdr.org.
Find out more about the National Birth Defects Prevention Network by visiting www.nbdpn.org.
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