To further highlight the public health impact of birth defects in Michigan, Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has declared January as Michigan Birth Defects Prevention Month.

Each year, approximately 8,000 babies are born with a birth defect in Michigan. Nationally, 150,000 babies born with birth defects each year, making birth defects the leading cause of infant mortality.

“The Michigan Department of Community Health is committed to spreading the message about vital prenatal care, ” said Janet Olszewski, Director of the Michigan Department of Community Health. “Arming mothers with knowledge of prevention will do wonders to decrease birth defects and increase the number of happy, healthy babies and families.”

For the prevention of some birth defects, there are easy steps that Michigan women can take to reduce their risk for such defects in their children. The U.S. Public Health Service recommends that every day, all women of childbearing age should take a multivitamin that contains 400 micrograms of folic acid to reduce chances of having a baby with a defect.

“Most women contemplating pregnancy or those already pregnant would do anything to have a healthy baby,” said Nelda Mercer, MS, RD, Folic Acid Coordinator at the Michigan Department of Community Health. “Taking 400 micrograms of folic acid every day from fortified foods or a vitamin supplement, along with eating a diet that includes a variety of foods that are rich in folate, is a behavior that helps ensure a great start for a developing fetus.”

Another birth defects prevention strategy is appropriate immunization. Of special interest are women born outside the United States who have not been immunized against Rubella (German measles). Exposure to the virus in the first trimester of pregnancy may result in congenital rubella syndrome that can cause serious cardiac, hearing and vision defects.

“Women with chronic diseases such as diabetes, seizure disorders, phenylketonuria (PKU) and lupus must plan ahead for pregnancy – meaning partnering with their doctors and learning how best to manage their own special health needs in order to prepare for a healthy baby right from the start,” says Jane Simmermon, Follow-up Coordinator for the Michigan Birth Defects Registry.

For more information about folic acid and birth defects prevention, log on to the March of Dimes website at http://www.modimes.org or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/ . To request a brochure or packet of educational resources, e-mail BDRFollowup@michigan.gov or call 1-866-852-1247.