Birth defects are differences in the way a body develops before birth. These differences may occur in any part of the body, including the heart, brain or foot. They may affect how the body looks, works or both. Birth defects can vary from mild to severe. Health outcomes and life expectancy depend on which body part is involved and how it is affected. The term “birth defect” is a medical term, it does not mean that a person is “defective.”

Medical professionals may not know the exact causes of a birth defect. Birth defects may result from genetics, infections during pregnancy, certain medicines and chemicals that a pregnant person was exposed to, lifestyle choices and behaviors or a combination of these. A baby may also be born with a birth defect even without these risk factors. Having one of these risk factors does not mean that your baby will have a birth defect.

For more birth defects information, visit Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) - Birth Defects Education, Outreach and Surveillance Program