Preventing Birth Defects

Steps you can take

Talk with your healthcare provider

If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talking with your healthcare provider is an important step. Regular visits with your provider before and during pregnancy are important.

Try to keep all prenatal care appointments. Be sure to talk with your provider about:

• Medical conditions (such as diabetes, obesity) that may affect pregnancy.
• Whether anyone in your family has a birth defect.
• Medicines you take, and before starting or stopping any medicine.
• Vaccinations recommended during pregnancy.
  

Avoid harmful substances

Using nicotine-containing products (cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or vape cartridges), drinking alcohol, or using illicit drugs can cause problems during pregnancy. This includes premature birth, birth defects, and infant death.

If you cannot stop drinking, smoking, or using drugs, get help. Resources are available. Talk to your healthcare provider, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW, or find a local support group, like Alcoholics Anonymous.

Take care of your overall health

An important part of having a healthy pregnancy is meeting your health needs.

• Prevent infections, such as COVID-19 and cytomegalovirus.
• Take care of existing health conditions, such as diabetes.
• Treat fevers higher than 101^oF.
• Avoid hot tubs or other environments that might cause overheating.
• Try to keep a healthy weight.

Get 400 micrograms of folic acid every day

Folic acid is a B vitamin. Having enough folic acid in your body before and during pregnancy can help prevent birth defects of the brain and spine. You can get folic acid from fortified foods or supplements, or a combination of the two.