Birth Defects, Environmental Factors and

Birth defects affect everyone. Having a healthy baby is the reality for many parents while others face parenthood with a child born with a defect. According to the California Birth Defects Monitoring Program (CBDMP) one in 33 babies are born with birth defects. Some of the causes are linked to the mother's actions (i.e., drinking, smoking), while others are caused by environmental factors unrelated to a mother's behavior or habits. The role of environmental factors on birth defects has many implications for policy development, implementation, women's rights, and advocacy-for more than just reproductive justice measures. This issue is important to help ensure the safety and security of life and birth of a child. Understanding the causes of birth defects will help women take care of ...