Make Healthy Choices to Help Prevent Birth Defects: Birth Defects Prevention Month
January 5, 2016
January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month. Together with the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, the Prenate® Vitamin Family is helping spread the word about birth defects and how you can make a difference in preventing them.
Birth defects affect us all. Each year, 1 in every 33 babies born in the United States is born with a birth defect.1 The yearly hospital costs for birth defects exceed $2.6 billion.1 In addition, 1 in every 5 infant deaths is due to birth defects.1
Not all birth defects can be prevented. But many can be avoided with healthy lifestyle choices before and during pregnancy. If you plan on becoming pregnant, start practicing good health and nutrition today. You can help lower the risk that your baby will be born with spina bifida and other spinal birth defects by getting at least 400 mcg of folic acid every day. You should also avoid harmful substances, such as cigarettes, alcohol and potentially dangerous chemicals, which are found in many household products. Eating a well-rounded diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins will not only help prevent birth defects, but also it will help you feel better too!
Check out this infographic to learn more about what you can do to help prevent birth defects.
Nutritional Support for Mom and Baby throughout Pregnancy and Beyond
Do your part to avoid birth defects by ensuring that you get the daily recommended amount of vitamins and minerals essential for a strong and well-developed baby. When diet alone does not address your needs, prescription prenatal vitamins can help cover nutritional gaps.
The Prenate® Vitamin Family offers nutritional support for mothers and their babies for every step of pregnancy and after delivery. Ask your doctor if the Prenate® Vitamin Family is right for you.