Preventing birth defects is an important part of ensuring a healthy pregnancy. This requires a combination of preconception planning, prenatal care, and healthy lifestyle choices. 

Here are key steps expectant mothers can take to promote a healthy pregnancy and reduce the risk of birth defects:

1. Preconception Care

• Get a Preconception Checkup: Ideally, schedule a visit to your healthcare provider before trying to conceive. This will help identify and address any health issues that have the potential to adversely affect your pregnancy.
• Optimize Your Health: Make sure to address chronic conditions (like diabetes or seizure disorder) before pregnancy, as these can increase the risk of birth defects.

2. Take Folic Acid

• Start Early: Begin taking folic acid supplements (400 to 800 micrograms per day) at least one month before conception and continue through the first trimester. Folic acid is critical in preventing neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

3. Maintain a Healthy Diet

• Balanced Nutrition: Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats to support fetal development.
• Avoid Certain Foods: Limit or avoid foods that may pose a risk during pregnancy, such as raw or undercooked meats, fish high in mercury, and unpasteurized dairy products.

4. Manage Chronic Conditions

• Monitor Health Conditions: Conditions like diabetes, obesity, and thyroid disorders can increase the risk of birth defects. Work with your healthcare provider to manage these before and during pregnancy.

5. Get Regular Exercise

• Stay Active Safely: Regular, moderate exercise can improve overall health, boost energy, and reduce the risk of complications. Always check with your healthcare provider to ensure your exercise plan is safe.

6. Avoid Harmful Substances

• No Smoking or Vaping: Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of birth defects, preterm birth, and low birth weight. Avoid smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke from those around you.
• Avoid Alcohol and Drugs: Both legal and illegal drugs can have harmful effects on the developing baby. Excessive alcohol consumption can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Even drugs which were prescribed to you by a medical practitioner before pregnancy may need to be altered or stopped before conception as they may be teratogenic to the developing fetus.
• Limit Caffeine: Too much caffeine during pregnancy may be linked to low birth weight.

7. Stay Up-to-Date on Vaccines

• Pre-Pregnancy Vaccination: Certain vaccines, such as rubella and chickenpox, should be up-to-date before pregnancy as they help to avoid infection-related risks. Also, these vaccines cannot be taken after conception as they are not safe to be taken during pregnancy. 
• During Pregnancy Vaccines: Flu and Tdap (whooping cough) vaccines are generally recommended during pregnancy to protect both the mother and baby.

8. Avoid Environmental Hazards

• Limit Exposure to Toxic Chemicals: Avoid exposure to environmental toxins like pesticides, cleaning products, and lead.
• Safe Workplace Practices: If your job exposes you to chemicals, radiation, or other hazards, talk to your doctor about ways to protect yourself and your baby.

9. Take Prenatal Vitamins

• Ensure Adequate Nutrients: Prenatal vitamins with essential nutrients like folic acid and DHA can help prevent birth defects and support overall fetal development.

10. Regular Prenatal Care

• Routine Checkups: Early and regular prenatal visits are crucial for monitoring the health of both mother and baby. Tests like ultrasounds, blood screenings, and other prenatal screenings can detect potential birth defects early.

11. Genetic Counseling

• If You Have a Family History of Birth Defects: If you or your partner have a family history of birth defects, genetic counseling can help assess your risk and guide your decisions. A consultation with a pediatric geneticist will guide prenatal evaluation and planning for prenatal evaluation in the upcoming pregnancy

How does the Srishti Center of Excellence in Fetal Care at Amrita Hospital help you to have a healthy pregnancy?

The Center of Excellence in Fetal Care at Amrita Hospital, Kochi will guide you through every step of your pregnancy journey from prenatal care onwards. Our dedicated team includes Perinatologists, Geneticists, Pediatric surgeons, pediatric cardiologists, and allied specialists committed to the prevention, early detection, and management of fetal birth defects to optimise perinatal and postnatal care. 

Make sure to book your appointment with a fetal medicine specialist to learn more about the same.

Services offered:

Here are the services provided by Amrita Hospital Kochi, to have a healthy pregnancy - 

1)Fetal Medicine and Perinatology

• Level II and III antenatal scans
• 3D and 4D scans
• Amniocentesis, CVS, fetal blood and urine sampling
• Aneuploidy and preeclampsia screening

2) Fetal Cardiology

• Advanced echocardiography with 4D imaging
• Counselling for congenital cardiac issues
• In-utero interventions and postnatal care

3) Fetal genetics

• Prenatal screening, including non-invasive testing
• Counselling for genetic anomalies
• Enzyme replacement therapies for certain conditions

4)Fetal surgery

• Open fetal surgeries and fetoscopic laser procedures
• EXIT procedures and treatments

5)Others

• Fetal MRI
• Advanced ultrasound diagnostic tools for precise evaluations
• Top notch pathology and cytogenetics lab for precise diagnosis

By taking these proactive steps, expectant mothers can help reduce the risk of birth defects and promote a healthy pregnancy and baby. In the event of detection of a birth defect, early detection, testing, and treatment can significantly improve the outcome.