Health Tip: Help Prevent Birth Defects

Steps you can take before and during pregnancy

July 17, 2009 RSS Feed Print

(HealthDay News) -- While the cause of many birth defects remains a mystery, doctors do understand what causes many others -- and how to prevent them.

The Minnesota Department of Health says before and during pregnancy, you should:

Eat foods with a high folate content, or foods enriched with folic acid. A folic acid deficiency can lead to a type of birth defect called a neural tube defect. To prevent this, good dietary choices are green leafy veggies, dried beans, oranges and orange juice, and fortified breads, pastas and cereals.
Before pregnancy and while you're pregnant, take a daily multivitamin that includes at least 400 micrograms of folic acid.
See your doctor for a checkup before you are pregnant, and get regular pre-natal care throughout your pregnancy.
Stop drinking alcohol while you're trying to conceive, and never drink alcohol during pregnancy.
Make sure the medicines you take are safe during pregnancy. Check with your doctor.