January is national birth defects prevention month. The goal for this awareness is to raise awareness and educate the public. The National Birth Defects Prevention Network is a resource like none other to offer more information.
Birth Defects Awareness Month events have several goals, including:
- Raise awareness of the prevalence of birth defects. Many people are not aware that a baby is born with a birth defect every four-and-a-half minutes. A message for a custom birth defects bracelet might say, “Birth Defects Awareness – January 2014”.
- Educate people about birth defects that can be prevented. Folic acid can help prevent some birth defects, so one a bracelet may include the message “Did you take your folic acid today?” to help spread that message.
- Support families of babies with birth defects. Birth defects affect 1 in 33 babies every year and cause 1 in 5 infant deaths. A message of support may say something like “Love Conquers All Learn More About Birth Defects”.
- Raise money for research about birth defects. While a birth defect may be caused by genetic or environment factors, over sixty percent of birth defect causes are currently not known. The more that is discovered about the causes of birth defects, the more likely doctors are to find ways to prevent them.
- Inform people about specific birth defects. There are thousands of different birth defects. Birth defects include Anencephaly, Congenital Heart Defects, Cleft Lip, Cleft Palate, Down Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum, Hydrocephaly, Microtia, and Spina Bifida
I'm sharing this info with my niece. Her son (18 months) was born with cleft lip and palate. She is pregnant again and the ultrasound showed her baby girl will have cleft lip as well. :(
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing
- All that's Jas
you are very welcome our own family has had its own share of birth defects including babies born with cleft lip and other problems as well Prayers for your niece
ReplyDelete