Birth defect
noun
Any condition or anomaly in a baby that is present from birth.
Many birth defects are relatively benign, but when severe they are a big cause of deaths of babies in the world. The defect can affect the vital organs such as lungs, heart, and digestive track. It can result in mental and/or physical disabilities. It is believed to be a cause of some early miscarriages when the fetus does not survive for an unknown reason.
Any mother can have a child with a defect, and more than one baby in fifty born in the US have a birth defect of some kind. Down Syndrome or an enlarged heart are types of severe birth defects. Alcohol, drugs and certain chemicals, when the mother is exposed during pregnancy, can contribute to the development of a birth defect, but even perfectly healthy mothers can have children with some type of birth defect. The cause can even originate with the father. Some defects are genetic and some are not.
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