Birth deformities can be minor or severe and they occur when the baby is developing in the womb, and they usually affect how the organs function, the physical appearance and development and also the mental development.
Birth deformities are caused by several factors which include:
Some medical conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes before and during pregnancy and also when one is overweight. Some practices such as smoking, drinking alcohol and other drugs during pregnancy.
Genetics whereby there is already someone in the family who has a birth deformity, and also getting pregnant at an older age can contribute to a baby having birth deformity.
There are several ways which one a control these deformities and they include:
Avoiding alcohol, cigarettes and any other drugs, taking folic acid per day, maintaining reasonable weight, managing diabetes, getting checked by a medical profession in cases of fever, preventing urinary tract infections and also seeking medical professional often.
Some of the birth deformities are such as:
Missing or undeveloped limbs
This is where the baby may have short or no limbs at all, and the treatment involves seeing a specialist where the child’s missing limb is fitted with prosthesis as early as possible so that they can become used to it.
The specialist also takes the child through some lessons, whereby they learn how to use the artificial body part so that they can be able to control it like any other body part.
Sickle cell disease
This deformity usually affects the protein inside the red blood cells by distorting their normal shape, and in severe cases, the child may have shortness of breath because there is now sufficient of oxygen supply in different parts of the body.
Sickle cell disease is usually detected in infants, and therapies are usually administered to help reduce the severity.
Cleft lip
This is usually caused by environmental or genetic factors, and a child who has cleft lip or palate needs to seek help from a speech pathologist because their speech is usually affected because of the way lips are formed.
Spina bifida
This is caused when the backbone does not close completely when the fetus is being formed. Treatment of Spina bifida involves a surgery that is conducted with the first 48 hours, and also by exercising the baby’s feet in preparation of using clutches.
Birth deformities can be detected before birth at birth or any time after birth and also within the first year of life.
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