How to lower the risk of birth effects

1. HOW TO LOWER THE RISK OF BIRTH DEFECTS IN YOUR BABY Having a healthy baby is the primary desire of every couple who want to extend their family. If you’re trying to conceive or are currently expecting, you need to understand the risk of birth defects. It’s not always possible to prevent birth defects, but there are many aspects of prenatal care that can protect your unborn baby. In this blog, we will tell you about the steps you can take to make sure your baby is healthy. Read on. Schedule a preconception visit For those who are planning to conceive, scheduling a preconception appointment with a good gynaecologist or the best IVF specialist in East Delhi is a good place to start. This will help the doctors to review any medical problems you may have, which medications you’re taking, and which medications you can continue during pregnancy. It is particularly important for women with medical conditions like diabetes, to attend a preconception counselling visit, as keeping their diabetes under control can decrease their risk of birth defects. Get vaccinated It is vital to stay up to date with your vaccinations, especially the ones for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), influenza, and varicella (chickenpox). Exposure to Rubella is known to cause birth defects, and sometimes chickenpox or flu can also develop into a severe infection in some pregnant women. Thus protecting yourself and your baby by ensuring that you are adequately vaccinated is extremely important.

2. Lifestyle changes can lower the risk of birth defects Another advantage of a preconception is that it encourages women to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle. Exercising regularly prior to becoming pregnant, and then continuing that level of activity during pregnancy is very important. Being at a healthy weight prior to conceiving and maintaining a healthy weight throughout pregnancy also decreases your risk of developing diabetes or elevated blood pressure during pregnancy. Having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above can also increase your risk of birth defects, which is why maintaining a healthy weight is also important. Consumption of Folic Acid If you’re trying to get pregnant, you must start a daily prenatal vitamin containing at least 400mcg of folic acid. Folic acid plays an important role in decreasing the risk of certain birth defects, such as neural tube defects. Avoid substances that increase the risk of birth defects It is advisable to totally avoid substances like alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and retinoid medications as they increase the risk of birth defects. In case you are smoking or using alcohol or other drugs, this is an ideal time to quit. Planning for a pregnancy can be a powerful motivator to quit unhealthy habits, not just during pregnancy but beyond. Starting the conversation with your doctor at the best maternity hospitals in Delhi will help you better understand how to ensure a safe pregnancy for you and your baby. Make every effort to ensure a healthy baby Unfortunately, following all these guidelines does not guarantee that your baby will not have a birth defect. There are specialized ultrasounds of fetal anatomy that help detect many birth defects, although some may not be detected until birth. That said, following these recommendations will help ensure that you have done all that you can to ensure a healthy pregnancy and baby.