What are the most common birth defects?

Some of the most common birth defects include:

    * Heart defects: As many as 1 in 100 babies in the United States are born with heart defects each year
- advances in surgery have dramatically improved the outlook for affected babies
- leading cause of birth defect-related infant deaths

   * Cleft lip/palate: About 1 in 700 babies is born with cleft lip/palate each year
- affected babies can have problems with eating, speech and language.
- some have a small cleft that can be corrected with one surgical procedure
- others have severe clefts and need multiple surgeries

    * Down syndrome: This chromosomal abnormality affects about 1 in 800 babies in the United States
- early intervention programs & treatment of associated health problems have greatly improved the outlook for affected individuals


    * Spina bifida (open spine): This disorder affects about 1 in 2,500 babies in the United States each year.
- affected babies have varying degrees of paralysis and bladder & bowel problems

Other common birth defects include:
- musculoskeletal defects (including arm and leg defects)
- gastrointestinal defects (including defects of the esophagus, stomach and intestines)
- eye defects
- usually are multi-factorial