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= Abnormalities During Birth = Before birth some babies may have some problems with their body form or organs, this varies from how they possibly may walk, eat and talk. This is called an abnormality in birth or even know as a birth defect. Most babies in this country are born healthy but women tend to get testing done to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Most birth defects or abnormalities are shown before the birth of the child and can be treated while still in the womb. They can also be prevented if the mother of the child follows protocols and takes care of herself including the baby inside.

Causes
A birth defect or abnormality can be caused by anything from an environmental cause to a genetic cause. The mother plays a big role in the development of the child, if she has any infections such as toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, her baby can have an abnormality at birth. Other infections or conditions include rubella and chickenpox. Sometimes the cause of the defect can be at the mother’s fault because the use of too much alcohol can cause fetal alcohol syndrome. Every human being has chromosomes containing genes that define their characteristics, during the conceiving process the child receives one of each pair of chromosomes from both parents. If the process doesn’t go as planned it cause defects during the baby’s birth. A disease or defect can only be passed by one of the two parents in doesn’t necessarily have to be both of them. Dr. Steven Dowshen mentions in his research that there are more than 4000 different kinds of birth defects, ranging from minor ones that need no treatment to ones that are serious and can cause disabilities requiring treatment or surgeries.

Symptoms
All birth defects have different symptoms according to what birth defect the child has. If there is an abnormality in the heart some symptoms may include; rapid heartbeat, breathing difficulties, inadequate weight, pale grey or blush skin. A child with down syndrome has obvious physical and mental features that are out of order. The physical characteristics of Fragile X syndrome is large ears, poor muscle tone, flat feet, large testicles, heart problems and overcrowded teeth. For sickle disease, the cells become more distorted, instead of looking round they start to like bananas or sickles. As for clubfoot, you might not realize the severity of the situation until the child starts to stand or talk.

Specific Disorders
As mentioned in the paragraph above there are over 4000 different kinds of birth defects and abnormalities, listed below are a few of the common ones.

Cleft Lip
Cleft Lip occurs when the tissues on the roof of the mouth and lips are not completely joined together. This results in the upper lip containing an opening, it varies from a small slit to a big one. During pregnancy, the child is slowly being developed in the womb for about 7-9 months. The lip and mouth tissues usually form between the fourth and seventh weeks of pregnancy.

Down Syndrome
This is a condition in which the baby has an extra chromosome, it’s a usually a gene that determines how the baby will appear to look. Normally a baby is born with 46 chromosomes, babies with down syndrome have a copy of chromosome 21. Down syndrome can be also referred to as Trisomy 21. The extra chromosome changes the way the baby will look in terms of body shape, brain development, and physical challenges.

Some common physical features include:


 * Flattened face
 * Short neck
 * Small ears
 * A tongue that sticks out
 * Small hands and feet
 * Poor muscle tone or loose joints
 * Shorter in height

Anotia/ Microtia
Anotia and Microtia are birth defects of the baby’s ear. This is basically when the external part of the ear is missing. This usually develops during the first trimester, this isn’t considered to be a major defect because the inner part of the ear is not affected, it just affects how the baby will look. The mental and physical development are also not affected.

Diaphragmatic Hernia
This is usually when there is a hole in the diaphragm, it leads to organs pushing through the hole and into the baby’s chest. When the organs push through the chest it is called a hernia. This causes the baby’s lungs from fully developing leading the baby to have difficulties breathing at birth.

Clubfoot
Clubfoot is a birth defect where the child’s foot is pointing inward instead of forward. This defect is normally identified after the birth of the child. Although the condition may only affect one foot it is possible for it to affect both feet. The doctors can also identify the condition through an ultra sound before the birth. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Clubfoot occurs in one out of every 1000 live births, it also occurs more often in boys than in girls.

Diagnosis
There is a way to get the birth defect diagnosed even before the baby is born, usually through prenatal test. This also determines better the mother has any infections or conditions that might affect the unborn baby. This will help the doctors plan for the future if they are aware of the health concerns of the baby and mother. Other defects can be found during routine newborn screenings.

Prevention
Most birth defects or abnormalities can be prevented, this is all up to the women and if she is willing to do certain things to prevent it. Some things that are important while pregnancy that women should consider doing are:


 * keeping up with vaccinations
 * getting tested for any possible infections or diseases
 * avoiding unnecessary medicines
 * staying away from alcohol or smoke (includes second hand smoking)
 * avoid all illicit drugs
 * keep up with exercise and have a good diet
 * lastly get prenatal care

It is important for women to take close care of themselves especially before, during and after pregnancy to reduce any abnormalities for the child. A well-known exam that is recommended for pregnant women is the preconception examination, it’s the best way to ensure a healthy pregnancy.