The exact causes of birth defects are often unknown. They can be a result of genetics, lifestyle choices and behaviors, certain medicines and chemicals, infections during pregnancy, or a combination of these.

Learn more about birth defects at MDHHS Birth Defects Education, Outreach, and Surveillance.

Genetics

Often a person with a birth defect is the only person in their family with the condition. Other times, if you have a family health history that includes a birth defect, developmental disability, newborn screening disorder, or genetic condition, you might be more likely to have a baby with this condition. To learn more about your genetic and non-genetic risks of having a baby with a birth defect, talk to your doctor or a genetic counselor. You can also find genetic services through the Michigan Association of Genetic Counselors or by searching the National Society of Genetic Counselors' online directory for in-person or tele-services.

It is important to be as healthy as possible before and during your pregnancy. Being healthy helps lower the chance of birth defects, premature birth, low birth weight, and other poor birth outcomes.¹

Women are encouraged to make choices that are best for their own health and for the baby they may have in the future. Here are 5 prevention tips to help prevent birth defects²:

Tip 1: Be sure to take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day.

Tip 2: Book a visit with your healthcare provider.

Tip 3: Reduce your risk of infections.

Tip 4: Care for your body and mind during pregnancy to set you and your baby up for success.

Tip 5: Avoid harmful substances during pregnancy, such as alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.

For more prevention information, visit the National Birth Defects Prevention Network.

Birth Defects MiTracking Indicators

• Anencephaly
• Cleft lip with cleft palate
• Cleft lip without cleft palate
• Cleft palate without cleft lip
• Down syndrome (trisomy 21)
• Gastroschisis
• Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
• Hypospadias
• Spina bifida (without anencephaly)
• Tetralogy of Fallot
• Transposition of the great arteries
• Upper and lower limb deficiencies

MiTracking Data Can Tell Us:

• The numbers and rates of birth defects in Michigan by type of birth defect, year, age group, and gender.
• If birth defects rates are going up or down over time.
• If part of the population is at higher risk of birth defects.

MiTracking Data Cannot Tell Us:

• What causes birth defects.
• The total cost, effect, or consequence of birth defects.

Find Out More

Data from the Michigan Birth Defects Registry (MBDR) were used to create this dataset through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics (DVRHS). For more data information, visit:

• About These Data (found on the data portal after a query search).
• Metadata (technical information about the content, quality, and context of the data).