While women who have already had children with birth defects may be at higher risk than others, most birth defects occur in pregnancies of women who haven't had an affected pregnancy before. Three to four percent of all babies are born with a major birth defect. And while only some women will ever have children with birth defects, we have no way of knowing in advance which women these will be. That's why it's so important that all women stay as healthy as possible, even if they haven't had any problems before. If you have already had a baby with a birth defect, consult your doctor before trying to become pregnant again.
Maternal age is one of the risk factors for certain types of birth defects.
It's even more important for women who are in their 30s or 40s to see their health care providers before pregnancy and to go for regular prenatal visits throughout the pregnancy. In addition to all the things that you can do before you're pregnant, one of the most important things you can do while you're expecting is to see your health care provider regularly. Prenatal care can help detect problems early in the pregnancy, so that conditions can be monitored or treated before birth. Secondary problems or complications might be avoided with prenatal care, and delivery can be scheduled at the medical facilities best equipped to handle any problems. Even with all the information we have about reducing the risks of having a baby with a birth defect, most birth defects still occur for unknown reasons.