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Congenital heart defects, hydronephrosis, omphalocele and meningocele (spina bifida) are also common. Cystic hygromas occur but are uncommon. [citation needed] Triploid fetuses have intrauterine growth restriction beginning early in the pregnancy, as early as 12 weeks, and does not affect the head as severely as the body.
Fetal hydantoin syndrome, also called fetal dilantin syndrome, is a group of defects caused to the developing fetus by exposure to teratogenic effects of phenytoin. Dilantin is the brand name of the drug phenytoin sodium in the United States, commonly used in the treatment of epilepsy .
Birth defects may result from genetic or chromosomal disorders, exposure to certain medications or chemicals, or certain infections during pregnancy. [4] Risk factors include folate deficiency , drinking alcohol or smoking during pregnancy, poorly controlled diabetes , and a mother over the age of 35 years old.
[11] [12] [13] Maternal valproate use during pregnancy increased the probability of autism in the offspring compared to mothers not taking valproate from 1.5% to 4.4%. [14] A 2005 study found rates of autism among children exposed to sodium valproate before birth in the cohort studied were 8.9%. [15]
Alcohol: Use during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. [67] Tobacco use: During pregnancy, causes twice the risk of premature rupture of membranes, placental abruption and placenta previa. [68] Also, it increases the odds of the baby being born prematurely by 30%. [69]
Prenatal testing is a tool that can be used to detect some birth defects at various stages prior to birth. Prenatal testing consists of prenatal screening and prenatal diagnosis, which are aspects of prenatal care that focus on detecting problems with the pregnancy as early as possible. [1]
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[4] [5] It is not transmitted during breastfeeding unless there is an open sore on the mother's breast. [4] The unborn baby can become infected at any time during the pregnancy. [4] Most cases occur due to inadequate antenatal screening and treatment during pregnancy. [8] The baby is highly infectious if the rash and snuffles are present. [4]