Birth Defects
Birth Defects
One in 33 babies is born with a birth defect. Many birth defects are preventable.
Birth defects are serious conditions that are changes to the structure of one or more parts of the body. Birth defects affect one in every thirty-three babies born in the United States each year. Birth defects are one of the leading causes of infant deaths, accounting for more than 20% of all infant deaths.
The cause of 70% of birth defects is still unknown. However, we have learned a lot about birth defects and how women can improve their chances of having a baby born without a birth defect.
Subcategories
- Birth Defect Charities
- Genetic Birth Defects
- Birth Defect Terminology
- Drug & Alcohol Defects
- Dietary Birth Defects
- Common Birth Defects
- Rare Birth Defects
Article Index:
1. Birth defects are common
Birth defects affect 1 in 33 babies every year and cause 1 in 5 infant deaths. For many babies born with a birth defect, there is no family history of the condition.
Birth Defects Are Common
Every four and a half minutes, a baby is born with a birth defect in the United States. That translates into nearly 120,000 babies affected by birth defects each year.
Birth defects can affect almost any part of the body (e.g., heart, brain, foot). They may affect how the body looks, works, or both. Birth defects can vary from mild to severe.