How can pregnant mothers avoid giving birth to deformed babies?

Maternal and child health experts stressed that after my country abolished mandatory premarital examinations, the rate of birth defects among newborns has increased. Expectant mothers must not take chances and must attach importance to the "three-level prevention" of birth defects and do a good job in pre-pregnancy and prenatal screening to avoid giving birth to unhealthy babies to the greatest extent possible.

Prospective parents should do a good job of "three-level prevention"

my country is a country with a high incidence of birth defects, with a total incidence of about 5.6% and 900,000 new cases of birth defects each year. Birth defects refer to abnormalities in body structure, function or metabolism that occur before the baby is born. The causes of birth defects are complex, including consanguineous marriage, genetic factors, advanced pregnancy, nutrient deficiency, viral infection, diabetes, improper use of drugs, bad lifestyle habits and exposure to toxic and harmful substances, which can all lead to birth defects in newborns. In general, it is mainly the result of genetic factors, environmental factors or the combination of both.

How to avoid the tragedy of giving birth to a defective child

Professor Cheng Weiwei, director of the Perinatology Department of the China Welfare Institute International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, pointed out that there are "three-level prevention" measures to prevent birth defects, and the efforts of both prospective parents and doctors are indispensable.

Primary prevention: prevention of birth defects, including premarital examination, genetic counseling, choosing the best childbearing age, proper nutrition during pregnancy, prevention of infection, careful use of medication, quitting smoking and drinking, avoiding exposure to radiation and toxic and harmful substances, etc.

Secondary prevention: prevent the birth of defective babies, identify fetal congenital defects early through screening and prenatal diagnosis during pregnancy, intervene early, and reduce the birth rate of abnormal fetuses;

Level 3 prevention: Early screening of newborn diseases to avoid disability can reduce the disability rate and alleviate the disease burden.

Common birth defects can be prevented and checked

So, what are the serious birth defects? How to detect them early and prevent them effectively? Professor Cheng Weiwei said that the most common and most serious birth defects mainly include the following five categories:

Category 1: Down syndrome

Down syndrome, in addition to congenital idiocy, also has multiple organ abnormalities. Most Down syndrome children die young, and the mortality rate is relatively high within 6 years of birth. Some children show special talents in certain aspects, such as the ability to command and sensitivity to numbers.

Countermeasures: Screen for Down syndrome as early as possible. Currently, screening for Down syndrome in early pregnancy (10-13 weeks) has been carried out in many cities in my country. Combined with NT (nuchal translucency), Down syndrome screening in early pregnancy can achieve a detection rate of 95%. This screening only requires B-ultrasound examination and 3ml of venous blood, which is simple and safe. Once confirmed, the pregnancy can be terminated in time to avoid the birth of Down syndrome children.

Category 2: Infection during early pregnancy (TORCH)

Infections in early pregnancy include TORCH - T stands for Toxoplasma gondii; O stands for other viruses, such as parvovirus; R is rubella, also known as German measles; C is cytomegalovirus; and H is herpes virus.

Countermeasures: TORCH testing can target the above pathogens. When is the best time to do the test? Experts point out that it is best to start before pregnancy, but not every pregnant woman is aware of this. In the early stages of pregnancy, especially within 12 weeks, if the mother is infected with the TORCH pathogen, the pathogen enters the placenta through the maternal blood and then infects the fetus through the placenta. The fetus has a certain probability of congenital abnormalities and may even cause permanent defects. Infection with Toxoplasma gondii, Treponema pallidum, HIV, hepatitis B virus, parvovirus B19, Epstein-Barr virus, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, etc. in early pregnancy can cause congenital diseases in the baby.

Category III: Neural tube defects (such as anencephaly, cleft lip and palate)

Countermeasures: Neural tube defects can be detected through pregnancy testing. Neural tube screening mainly tests the level of red blood cell folate. Because neural tube defects are highly correlated with red blood cell folate levels and the cause is relatively clear, it is currently advocated worldwide to take folic acid before pregnancy to prevent the occurrence of some birth defects.

Category 4: Abnormal thyroid function

One in 10 expectant mothers may suffer from thyroid disease. Abnormal thyroid function in pregnant women can increase the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, perinatal fetal death and other adverse pregnancy outcomes, and even affect the intellectual development of offspring.

Countermeasures: It is best to screen for thyroid indicators before pregnancy. Once the disease is confirmed, you can choose to get pregnant after effective treatment to maximize the health of mother and baby. Hypothyroidism in pregnant women can also affect the thyroid function of the fetus, thereby affecting the intellectual development of the fetus. Timely treatment of pregnant women with hypothyroidism can reduce fetal abnormalities.

Category 5: Vitamin D deficiency

Vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women will increase the incidence of low birth weight, neonatal hypocalcemia, rickets, respiratory syncytial virus infection and type 1 diabetes in the infant, affecting the normal development of the infant.

Countermeasures: Pregnant women should test their blood vitamin D concentration three months after pregnancy. If there is a clear deficiency, they can take vitamin D supplements as prescribed by the doctor to improve and maintain the vitamin D level within the normal range. At the same time, the vitamin D level in the body should be monitored regularly before delivery to avoid vitamin D poisoning caused by insufficient or excessive supplementation.

The benefits of having a second child

The communique of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, released on August 29, 2015, proposed "full implementation of the policy that a couple can have two children." The population policy adjustment of the universal two-child policy aims to reverse the trend of declining demographic dividend and accelerated aging. For people of childbearing age, what are the benefits of having a second child?

Give your only child a companion so that their childhood is no longer lonely

It is not enough for children to have only their parents' company. Having a second child means that children will have a stronger tendency to share with others in their childhood. The closer the relationship between the first-born child and his peers, the stronger their willingness to share and take care of young children, and the lower their level of loneliness.

Let children develop mentally

The growth environment of only children can easily make them self-centered, unable to communicate and share with others, poor hands-on ability, lack of responsibility, strong dependence and other problems. If you have a second child, it will make the first child have a certain sense of responsibility, need to protect the younger siblings, and be a role model for them. Two children growing up together is conducive to the healthy development of the first child's mind.

Prevent parenting risks and reduce the burden of supporting children in old age

Nowadays, after many only children get married, they have to shoulder the responsibility of supporting four elderly people. Although many parents no longer need their children to support them after retirement, there are still many unpredictable problems such as illness, which bring great pressure to their children. If there are brothers and sisters in the family, the pressure will not be so great, and when encountering family problems, they can rely on each other.

The second child is a lubricant to adjust the conflicts between husband and wife

Although having a second child will bring various pressures to the family, the child can inject fresh vitality into the dull family, giving the couple more motivation to strive for success. The warm life of a family of four is very enviable. The second child brings double happiness to the family, and the second child is a lubricant to adjust the conflicts between the couple.