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An Ounce of Prevention for Birth Defects

Be Wise About Birth Defects Before Conception

By Kelly Burgess

"The word 'counseling' is something of a misnomer; it's more an informational session to review the issue that had brought the family there," says Clemens. "We generally don't make recommendations; it would more be a matter of saying to her, 'These are the avenues you can take,' and explaining what would happen if they chose to continue with diagnostic or screening tests." Clemens explains that there is no one "blanket" test for genetic material. However, if there is an existing family history, tests can be performed to rule out specific worries.

In spite of modern advances in understanding the role of environment and genetics, not all problems are avoidable. However, doing everything possible to ensure a healthy pregnancy can help ease some of the grief and pain when things don't go well. Joanna Goldie of Gloucestershire, England, did everything right before her first pregnancy, but tragically, her baby was born with a heart defect. "Nobody knows what causes that heart defect, so there is no certainty either way," she says. "I certainly don't feel guilty about it, as I was doing my best."

Goldie redoubled her efforts at a healthy lifestyle prior to her second pregnancy and had a perfectly healthy child. Dr. Dolan thinks that avoiding that type of guilt is a powerful incentive for doing everything possible to prevent birth defects. "Since most women don't plan to become pregnant, she might not have been taking her vitamins that month," says Dr. Dolan. "Then, for her to have a child with a birth defect and realize they didn't do everything they could – that's a difficult thing to live with."

* Name changed to protect privacy.

Want to see more?

• Fabulous Folic Acid: A Tool to Prevent Birth Defects
• Ready, Set, Conceive! Preconception Planning for a Healthy Pregnancy
• Health Check! Preventive Medicine Before You Conceive
• Join the discussion on our Family.com community!
• Genetic Disorders: Testing for Genetic Disorders

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