Analysis of U.S. survey data showed that two-thirds of reproductive age women had one or more modifiable risk factors for birth defects. Common risk factors included obesity, folate concentrations ...

Taking folic acid supplements before conception and in the first trimester of pregnancy continues to be a major line of defense against neural tube defects. The recommendation also aligns with ...

A folic acid supplement is recommended during pregnancy and prior to conception because it reduces the risk of neural tube defects in babies. Social media posts have claimed that people should avoid ...

The CDC is urging manufacturers of a type of flour used to make foods like tortillas and tamales to add folic acid to help lower the risk of some birth defects in the Hispanic population. The Centers ...

Scanning for serious structural issues in fetuses during the first trimester can result in earlier detection of these issues, reports a new study led by Aris Papageorghiou at the University of Oxford, ...

Two-thirds of women in their child-bearing years have an increased risk for birth defects due to a lifestyle factor they can change, a new study says. These risk factors -- low levels of vitamin B9 ...

Researchers have identified a gene that plays a key role in the formation of neural tube defects, a problem commonly found in infants of pregnant women with diabetes. This is the first time the gene ...

A teratogen is an environmental factor that a person is exposed to during their pregnancy that may affect the baby’s development, resulting in birth defects. In fact, around 4% to 5% of birth defects ...

Anencephaly occurs when an infant is born without parts of their brain and skull. It is a severe congenital anomaly, which means that a baby develops anencephaly in the womb. Anencephaly is a ...