birth-defects

Jeffrey Blount, M.D., M.P.H, is the director and co-founder of the Global Alliance for the Prevention of Spina Bifida (GAPSBiF). This
organization seeks to use science-based advocacy to promote global fortification of food and salt with folic acid for the prevention
of spina bifida. One of the enabling objectives to accomplish this larger objective was to update and review best available world
literature on folic acid fortification. This resulted in a landmark presentation in Lancet Global Health that addressed and summarized
this topic. Ongoing work is underway to use these reviews to support a WHO/WHA General Assembly Resolution supporting global
folic acid fortification.

Today's episode of Kids Health Cast comes from our Women's Health Wednesday series on Back to Health. Georges Sylvestre, M.D. discusses the importance of preventing birth defects. He shares the risk factors that can increase the likelihood of having a baby with a birth defect. He also highlights the precautions that pregnant adults can practice during the prenatal period, including the benefits of taking folic acid. Finally, he discusses what expecting mothers can do to decrease the risk of having a baby with certain abnormalities.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Georges Sylvestre

Today's episode of Kids Health Cast comes from our Women's Health Wednesday series on Back to Health. Georges Sylvestre, M.D. discusses the importance of preventing birth defects. He shares the risk factors that can increase the likelihood of having a baby with a birth defect. He also highlights the precautions that pregnant adults can practice during the prenatal period, including the benefits of taking folic acid. Finally, he discusses what expecting mothers can do to decrease the risk of having a baby with certain abnormalities.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Georges Sylvestre

Georges Sylvestre, M.D. discusses the importance of preventing birth defects. He shares the risk factors that can increase the likelihood of having a baby with a birth defect. He also highlights the precautions that pregnant adults can practice during the prenatal period, including the benefits of taking folic acid. Finally, he discusses what expecting mothers can do to decrease the risk of having a baby with certain abnormalities.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Georges Sylvestre

In the United States, nearly 6,800 babies are born with oral-facial clefts annually.

The Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Institute at St. Louis Children's Hospital, established in 1978 as part of the Division of Plastic Surgery, is the largest and oldest center of its kind in the Midwest. The team has treated more than 4,000 patients with cleft lip and palate, and another 2,800 with major craniofacial anomalies.

In this segment, Alison Snyder-Warwick, MD discusses cleft lip and palate in children and when to refer to a pediatric plastic and reconstructive surgeon.