Author: March of Dimes

5 Myths About COVID-19 Vaccines and Pregnancy

5 Myths About COVID-19 Vaccines and Pregnancy

One of the best ways to protect yourself and others is to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Research has shown that the vaccine is safe and effective in ...
What are cleft lip and cleft palate?

What are cleft lip and cleft palate?

Cleft lip and cleft palate are birth defects that happen during pregnancy.  Your baby’s lips form between 4 and 7 weeks, and the palate (roo ...
Help prevent neural tube defects before you get pregnant

Help prevent neural tube defects before you get pregnant

Did you know that you can reduce your baby’s risk for neural tube defects (also called NTDs) before you get pregnant? NTDs are birth defects of t ...
Protecting yourself and your baby from syphilis

Protecting yourself and your baby from syphilis

Did you know that syphilis is a preventable sexually transmitted infection (also called STI)?  In 2019, the U.S. reported a growing number o ...
Your heart health and pregnancy

Your heart health and pregnancy

If you have a condition related to your heart, such as high blood pressure or heart disease, you may be worried about how it could affect a pregn ...
Genetic conditions, counseling and testing

Genetic conditions, counseling and testing

As Birth Defects Awareness Month wraps up, we want to shift the focus over to genetics, including information about genetic counseling and testin ...
Preconception checkups: why they’re important

Preconception checkups: why they’re important

Are you planning a pregnancy or thinking of getting pregnant sometime in the future? If so, it’s never too early to get ready for a healthy pregn ...
Why is 39 weeks so important?

Why is 39 weeks so important?

Scheduling your baby’s birth means you and your health care provider decide when to have your baby. This can happy by inducing labor or cesarean ...
Good health habits and birth defects prevention

Good health habits and birth defects prevention

One of the best things you can do before getting pregnant is to make sure you’re in good health. Being in good health means having good health ha ...
January is National Birth Defects Awareness Month

January is National Birth Defects Awareness Month

Every year, leading organizations come together in January to raise awareness about birth defects and the impact these conditions have on familie ...