ChelseaDr:
l was moved to open this thread after reading through the thread on: "Woman delivers a faceless baby in Aba". This thread is dedicated to all ladies especially those planning to get pregnant and those who are still at the early stages of their pregnancy (i.e. within 3 months) and to all those planning to step into the shoes of fatherhood.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Fact sheath updated in April 2015, about 276,000 newborns die within 4weeks of their birth due to birth defects. Birth defects is a major cause of chronic disability and the psychological impact on both the individual and his/her family is unquantifiable.

What are the causes of birth defecs?
[/b]Surprisingly, in about 50% of cases of birth defects the causes are unknown. Most of these defects happen within the first three months of pregnancy. This is because the different organs and systems that make up human beings form within tjis period. That is why for those that are planning to get pregnant and those whose pregnancies are still very early, the things you take in form of drugs at this stage will have a leading impact on what happens to your baby. So beware!!!.

However there are identifiable risk factors and causes in the remaining 50%. Some of the known causes/risk factors include: genetic mutations (hereditary), advancing maternal age (especially women aged 35 years and above), drugs, nutritional deficiencies (by extension, poverty), infections, exposure to harmful substances in the environment, etc.
[b]
Genetic problems:
This is peharps the commonest cause of birth defects. Some foetuse (babies in the womb) inherited some abnormal genes from their parents and by no fault of theirs become abnormally formed if they survive till birth. Some of these genetic problems (mutations) is commoner among those who tend to get pregnant after the age of 35 years. More so because after age 35, bith te quality and quantity of the eggs begin to decline and the chances of giving birth to "abnormal" babies increases. The import of this is for women to try as much as possible to complete their family size before 35 years. ....Yes l know na naija we dey ooo..!!

Drugs
[b]This is another notable cause of birth defects. NOT all drugs are safe in pregnancy. While some are safe after 3 months others are outrightly contraindicated within the first three months. For instance drugs like sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (e.g. fanaidar...with due respect to Swipha....as this is just to pass an information).Fansidar is an important drug given to pregnant women after three months (first trimeater) to PREVENT (NOT TO TREAT) malaria in their babies and should be repeated EVERY MONTH untill delivery. Fansidar SHOULD NEVER EVER be taken within the first three months (first trimester). This is because it cause birth defects in babies when given within 3months as the organs are being formed. This is because it makes folic acid useless and folic acid is needed for normal brain and spinal cord formation.

Other drugs include anti-epilepsy drugs, some anti-hypertensive drugs like ACE inhibitors, drugs to treat depression and anxiety disorder e.g valium-5, etc. Most importantly alcohol and cigarette smoking. Alcohol notably causes facial defects while cigarette smoking causes small babies, abortion and premature deliveries and even death of baby inside the womb.[/b]

Nutritional Deficiencies
Deficiency or excess of some micro/macro elements in food also causes birth defects. Notably among these is FOLIC ACID. It is recommended that if you are planning to get pregnant start taking folic acid one tablet daily three months before getting pregnant and continue taking it through out pregnancy. It is needed for normal structural formation within the first three months and also for blood building throughout pregnancy. Most of the common routine drugs contain folic acid and so pregnant women should NOT joke with their routine drugs. Poverty is a major impediment as many may not have access to antenatal care where they can get these drugs free. So the government of the day should make true their campaign promise of making efforts to reduce infant mortality to 3% and maternal mortality by 70% by providing free maternal and child health for Nigerian women and children.

Environmental hazards
Exposure to some pesticides may also result in virth defects. Some chemicals may also be direct causes. Remember the outbreak of miscarriages and congenital deformities that greeted the aftermath of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bomb attack.

Congenital deformities are real. They are not due to witches and wizards from the village (we cannot rule that out any way) but we have to play our own part by minding what we take during pregnancy....the time to act is NOW!

Syphonn:
Women who have a regular monthly menstrual cycle, the earliest and most reliable sign of pregnancy is a missed period. Women who are pregnant sometimes have a very light period, losing only a little blood.

Listed below are some of the other signs and symptoms of early pregnancy. Every woman is different and not all women will notice all these symptoms. READ MORE AT THE LINK BELOW

www.busygisting.com/early-signs-of-pregnancy-what-every-woman-needs-to-know

Adelakun2016:
Why deliver them if it can be detected on ultrasound.... Visit our center today..OMVIAL 4D USS,Ibadan center.

Bolaopeyemi:

I missed my period, urine test is positive while blood test is negative, please what can I do?