What are the chanes of having a unhealthy baby?

Answer 1

According to a MARCH OF DIMES report almost eight million babies are born every year with birth defects - i.e. six per cent of all births are of infants with a birth defect. Three million of them never reach the age of five.

The problem is much greater in developing countries, says the report. As a result of inadequate health care provision many babies with birth defects die. The report also states that third world countries suffer the most because lack of proper health care, especially maternal care and good nutritional advice, means that many babies are born with defects.

The range of birth defects can be as low as 40 per 1,000 live births, as in France, to 81 per 1,000 as in Saudi Arabia. In the USA the number stands at 48 per 1000 live births - the USA stands at number 20 globally.

Reference to above information;

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/36920.php

It is best not to drink alcohol during pregnancy. This is because alcohol crosses your placenta and goes into your baby's bloodstream.

Since unborn babies cannot break down alcohol properly, drinking can lead to problems with growth and development, including brain development. Not drinking alcohol is particularly important in the first three months of pregnancy.

If you do drink alcohol:

• Limit it to less than one standard drink in any day.
• Do not drink every day.
• Avoid getting drunk.
• Avoid binge drinking.

Cigarettes contain many poisonous chemicals, including nicotine, carbon monoxide, and cyanide. These highly dangerous chemicals enter your bloodstream and are then carried into your baby's blood.

Nicotine narrows blood vessels and reduces the supply of blood to your womb and to your baby. This makes it harder for your baby to get the nutrients she or he needs. Nicotine from your smoking also stresses the baby's heart by making it beat faster.

Even some prescription drugs and herbal treatments can be harmful during pregnancy.

Drugs that can be a problem include:

• Tranquillisers and sleeping pills
• Painkillers
• Marijuana
• Amphetamines
• Heroin
• Cocaine
• LSD
• Ecstasy and other designer drugs
• Glues and aerosols

Reference to above information;

http://mumsandlittleones.com/issues