.
Set delivery address
Change
Set delivery address
Change

3 Surprising risk factors for birth defects

Birth defects can be caused by a wide range of factors, including genetic history, certain deficiencies and environmental triggers.

21 February 2022 | By Glynis Horning

Some 70 000 live births in South Africa are affected by birth defects each year – one in every 15, reports Dr Helen Malherbe, honorary director of Rare Diseases South Africa. Of these defects, 80.5%, are genetic or partially genetic, while 19.5% are teratogenic – caused by things like drugs, chemicals, or even infections that can result in abnormal fetal development.

For some these teratogenic factors, such as the link between vitamin B-9 deficiency and spina bifida, you can take preventative action. Read on to find out more about some surprising risk factors for birth defects and how you can avoid them.

Certain antidepressants

It’s vital to tell not just your health professional, but your mental health practitioner, if you are pregnant or planning to get, so they can prescribe any medication you may be on accordingly. According to recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study findings, “some birth defects occur about two or three times more frequently among babies born to women who took certain types of SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) medications early in pregnancy”.

Yet, the researchers noted that the actual risk for a birth defect among babies born to women taking one of these medications is still very low: “Because these birth defects are rare, even doubling the risk still results in a low absolute risk,” they said.  

Pesticides used on farms

Some research has suggested that living near farms where pesticides are used may increase the risk of birth defects by as much as 9%. It’s advised if you in such areas find out which days farmers spray fields and keep indoors if they are pregnant or planning to get pregnant. The World Health Organization has also warned that “working in or living near smelters or mines” may also be a risk factor, “especially if the (expectant) mother is exposed to other environmental risk factors or nutritional deficiencies”.

Landfill sites

According to controversial research in the British Medical Journal, those living near a landfill have a 1% greater risk of giving birth to a child with defects, including gut problems and spina bifida – and if the landfill site contains hazardous waste, the risk rises to 7%.

Although the exact reasons for this are still not clear, it is worrying, given the frequent reports in South Africa of mismanagement of landfill sites and hazardous waste threatening human health and the environment – such as at the New England Landfill in Pietermaritzburg.

Keep in mind

Experts agree that cutting out recreational drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, eating a varied and healthy diet, getting regular exercise and managing your stress are still the best ways to ensure that you and your baby the best possible odds of a healthy pregnancy.

Click here for more healthy pregnancy tips..

*Dr Helen Malherbe is a post-doctoral research fellow at the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform at the University of KZN.

IMAGE CREDIT: 123rf.com