Birth is a complex and wonderful process and fortunately, the birth outcome for most women is a full term and healthy baby. The fetus is developing along with critical organ systems during pregnancy. There are critical windows during the development when environmental exposures could damage the fetal growth and function. We know some risk factors and others need more research. For example, smoking during pregnancy slows a baby's growth while it is in the womb.

You can learn basic facts about birth, pregnancy, and reproductive outcomes and birth defects from (external Web sites):
http://www.cdc.gov./ncbddd/pregnancy_gateway/default.htm
http://www.marchofdimes.com
http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/99-104.html
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/bd/.

These resources can also be helpful to find out what you can do to protect yourself from environmental exposures during pregnancy.

In New Mexico we are tracking both birth/reproductive outcomes and birth defects.

Birth Defects

In New Mexico, we track the following twelve birth defects: anencephaly, spina bifida (without anencephaly), hypoplastic left heart syndrome, tetralogy of Fallot, transposition of the great arteries (vessels), cleft lip with or without cleft palate, cleft palate without cleft lip, hypospadias, gastroschisis, upper limb deficiencies, lower limb deficiencies, and Down syndrome (Trisomy 21). Currently presented are data for:

• Cleft lip with or without cleft palate NM EPHT Birth Defects: Cleft Lip.