Birth Defect Prevention

January 2016 is National Birth Defects Prevention Month

This year’s theme is "Making Healthy Choices to Prevent Birth Defects - Make a PACT for Prevention."

What is involved in a PACT?

Simply said a PACT is planning ahead. Planning ahead encourages people in child bearing years, both men and women to focus on their preconception health. Preconception health is about getting healthy and/or staying healthy. About half of all pregnancies are unplanned so maintaining good health is vital.

A few important tips:

1. Folic acid is important for women to help prevent potential birth defects. 400 mcg daily of folic acid is recommended.

2. Get annual medical check ups.

3. Family planning.

Show your love

Steps to a healthier me!

http://www.cdc.gov/preconception/showyourlove/documents/Healthier_Me_NonPlan.pdf

Did You Know?

Every 4.5 minutes a baby is born with a birth defect.

1 in every 33 babies has a birth defect.

Birth defects cause death in one in five infant deaths.

To see what is going on in your state to promote dirth defect prevention go to

http://www.nbdpn.org//state_resources.php

Great resources: www.nbdpn.org and www.endbirthdefects.org