Gov. Nixon Declares January Birth Defects Prevention and Awarenewss Month

Governor declares January as Missouri Birth Defects Prevention and Awareness Month
State health officials emphasize the importance of folic acid

The rate of birth defects in Missouri remains stable despite some indicators that suggest birth defects might be on the rise nationwide.

State health officials say efforts to improve women’s health are a key to keeping the state’s birth defect rate from increasing beyond the current 6 percent. Those efforts include teaching women about the importance of taking folic acid before and during pregnancy.

Gov. Jay Nixon has issued a proclamation declaring January as Birth Defects Prevention and Awareness Month in Missouri.

“Children are a precious resource, and we should give them every advantage we can, including a healthy start in life,” said Margaret Donnelly, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. “Women who are pregnant or could become pregnant should make sure they are as healthy as possible to improve their chances of having a healthy baby.”

Women who are pregnant or might become pregnant should take a multivitamin containing 400 micrograms of folic acid every day, health officials say. When taken prior to conception and during the early weeks of pregnancy, folic acid can prevent 50 to 70 percent of neural tube defects such as the brain disorder known as anencephaly and spina bifida, the most common disabling birth defect in the United States.

A recent study shows that less than one-third – 32.9 percent – of Missouri women take a multivitamin the recommended minimum of four times a week during the month prior to becoming pregnant.

“Friends and family members can play an important role by encouraging the women in their lives to take control of their health and make healthy choices, including taking folic acid, to prepare for pregnancy,” Donnelly said.

The folic acid message is especially important for Hispanic women, who are up to twice as likely to have a baby born with a birth defect due to a lack of folic acid in their diet, Donnelly said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that Latinas consume the least amount of folic acid among all racial or ethnic groups in the United States.

In addition to taking folic acid, other steps women can take for a healthy pregnancy and baby include:

* Have a medical checkup from a health care provider prior to becoming pregnant;
* Learn about your family medical history;
* Manage chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and seizure disorders;
* Abstain from alcohol, tobacco and other drug use;
* Prevent infections by washing hands frequently and thoroughly, and avoiding people who have an infection;
* Talk to your doctor about immunizations you might need.

These steps can help prevent premature birth, which increases the chance of birth defects. Babies born too early often have more health problems, both at birth and later in life, than babies born full term (40 weeks). In Missouri, birth defects are associated with 11.4 percent of premature births.

More information is available on the health department’s Web site at http://www.dhss.mo.gov/PreconceptionalCare, http://www.dhss.mo.gov/BirthDefects, and http://www.dhss.mo.gov/folic_acid.