Birth defects affect one in 31 babies and are a leading cause of infant mortality.  Most birth defects occur before a woman even knows she is pregnant.  Women who receive a diagnosis of diabetes before they become pregnant are three to four more times likely to have a child with one or even multiple birth defects as compared to a mother without diabetes, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Some mothers not diagnosed with diabetes before pregnancy do not develop symptoms until becoming pregnant, which is called gestational diabetes. 

            A pregnant woman can develop resistance to insulin because of hormonal changes related to the formation of the placenta.  In the United States, the prevalence of gestational diabetes has been increasing in recent years and affects about 7 percent of all pregnancies.  Women who have had gestational diabetes are at an increase for type 2 diabetes in the future.

Prevention of birth defects begins BEFORE pregnancy:

• Know the family history of parents and partner
• Women of reproductive age should take a multivitamin with 400 mg of folic acid
• Get regular medical checkups
• Keep vaccinations up-to-date
• Eat a balanced diet
• Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat
• Avoid alcohol, tobacco or street drugs
• Get prenatal care early and routinely

             If you have any concerns of questions, please check with your healthcare provider.  You may call our OB-GYN department at WTMA by calling 325-224-5358.