January is National March of Dimes Birth Defects Prevention Month. March of Dimes is a national organization that researches and studies the long-term and short-term effects of premature babies (any baby born before 37 weeks) and birth defects, and the reasons behind such an epidemic. Every 4 ½ minutes a baby is born in the United States with a birth defect. One in eight babies born in the United States is premature. See the stats in the previous posting for Montana statistics.  Some of the causes of premature birth are drugs and alcohol, Cesarean Sections (c-section), maternal obesity, smoking, fertility drugs, and induced labor. A mother that drinks alcohol or uses illegal or prescription drugs causes the baby to have problems with its development because he or she does not process the substance as quickly as the mother.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is one of the most well-known birth defects and is caused by drinking alcohol during a pregnancy. FAS affects upwards to 6,000 babies nationally each year; these kids are at risk for psychological and behavioral problems including criminal behavior, short height, slimmer weight, small head circumference (which indicates a small brain), attention and memory problems, hyperactivity, impulsivity, poor social and communication skills, psychiatric problems, and more likely to use drugs and alcohol themselves. https://health.google.com/health/ref/Fetal+alcohol+syndrome The use of illegal drugs and cigarettes during a pregnancy a child may have the same effects as alcohol as well as low-birth rate, cleft pallet, bleeding during pregnancy (puts mother and baby in danger), low muscle tone, withdrawal symptoms, and much more. Heart problems are the most common birth defect in the U.S. – 1 in 300 babies are born with some type of heart defect. Downs Syndrome affects 1 in 800 U.S. children. Worldwide 1 in 300 babies are born with cleft pallet/lip. The good news is that some birth defects can be prevented by avoiding alcohol, drugs (prescription and illegal) and smoking and secondhand smoke.

There are over 7,000 known birth defects, making it the number one cause of death before the age of one. Last year in Cascade County had a 5.3% infant mortality rate compared to the 6.26% national rate. In 2005 birth defects took the lives of 1 in 5 infant deaths in Montana. Researchers believe the causes are environmental and genetics, but in 70% of cases the cause is unknown.  Environmental causes include alcohol, drugs both illegal and prescription, infections, and sexually transmitted infections (STI’s).

Though there is no exact science about what causes child abuse, there are known causes that increase the risk. The risks for child abuse include, and are not limited to, premature birth, physical disability, below-normal intelligence, difficult temperament, developmental delays, and behavioral problems. Other causes include the failure to establish a close bond between parent and child caused by an unwanted pregnancy, twins or multiple births, foster or adoptive child, mental health problems in a caregiver, and many more. Most of these risk factors cause emotional and financial stress on the family causing the parent or caregiver to lash out on the child. Over 240,000 children are abused or neglected each year in the United States.

The question remains: when in the child’s development is it considered child abuse? In 2004 Texas passed a law making it a felony to smoke marijuana while pregnant, carrying a 2-20 year prison sentence. Also in 2004 the United States passed the Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004, also known as “Laci and Conner’s Law” after the 2002 murder of Laci Peterson and her unborn baby Conner. The law makes it a crime to harm a fetus during an assault on a pregnant woman.

Self care such as having a pre-conception check-up, getting up-to-date vaccines, eating healthy foods, early and regular prenatal care and other healthy choices can help avoid birth defects.

So, if you or someone you know is pregnant and needs assistance Cascade City-County Health Department offers several programs:

Better Beginnings- educates women on how to have a safe and healthy pregnancy

WIC (Woman Infants and Children)- a food voucher program for women under 150% poverty line, this program allows pregnant mothers and mothers of children ages 5 and under to purchase healthy food

Parents as Teachers- teach new parents how to stimulate their child through social interactions, such as play time.

Home Visitations- home sessions to over 200 women and young families in Cascade County which offers videos, books, handouts, and age appropriate games to play with their child(ren)

Safe Kids Cascade County/ Buckle Up Montana- a car seat program that offers car seats at a discounted rate or free depending on the situation. Bennett Motors installs and shows the car owner how to properly install the car sear into different cars and restrain child.

For more information on any of these programs and more call 454-6950 or visit http://www.cchdmt.org/index.php?p=family&n=family

To learn more about March of Dimes visit: http://www.marchofdimes.com/home.asp

by Amanda Nigrello