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CDC works to identify causes of birth defects and opportunities to prevent them. By applying a public health approach incorporating three essential elements—surveillance or disease tracking, research to identify causes, and prevention research and programs—we can rapidly translate scientific findings into appropriate public health interventions.

CDC works to identify causes of birth defects and opportunities to prevent them. By applying a public health approach incorporating three essential elements—surveillance or disease tracking, research to identify causes, and prevention research and programs—we can rapidly translate scientific findings into appropriate public health interventions.

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The journal Pediatrics has published a new CDC article: "Maternal Smoking and Congenital Heart Defects in the Baltimore-Washington Infant Study". You can read the abstract of the article here. Following is a summary of the findings from this article.

In the US, about 1 in every 100 babies is born with a congenital heart defect. About 25% of these heart defects are critical congenital heart defects. Read one mother’s story about her son’s critical congenital heart defect.

January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month. Birth defects are critical conditions that can cause lifelong challenges. Sometimes they can be life-threatening, causing about 1 in every 5 deaths during the first year of life.

January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month. Birth defects are common, affecting 1 in every 33 babies born in the United States. Help increase awareness in your community.

January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month. Hospitalization for birth defects costs the U.S. over $2.6 billion annually. This cost is higher when including the financial and emotional impact of living with birth defects.

Make a PACT to get healthy before and during pregnancy.

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