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‘Many birth defects are correctable’
Dispelling myths about food and activities to be avoided during pregnancy and laying emphasis on the fact that some birth defects are completely correctable, Mediscan - Foetal Research Foundation conducted an event on Friday. The programme conducted on National Birth Defects Prevention Month observed in January addressed a group of women in various stages of pregnancy.
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Chennai
Dispelling myths about food and activities to be avoided during pregnancy and laying emphasis on the fact that some birth defects are completely correctable, Mediscan - Foetal Research Foundation conducted an event on Friday. The programme conducted on National Birth Defects Prevention Month observed in January addressed a group of women in various stages of pregnancy.
Dr S Suresh, director of Mediscan, said that with the advent of ultrasound, even minor defects that get reported make pregnancy a harrowing experience for the mothers. “Pregnancy has to be a joyous occasion and not a worrying episode,” he said.
Some of the women who had attended the event discussed common myths like avoiding consumption of papaya and sesame. They are rich in calcium and iron, added Dr Suresh. Some common birth defects are clubfoot, cleft lip and palate. “These are completely correctable and even some minor cardiac defects can be corrected,” Dr Suresh added.
He also said that it was common to see pregnant women consuming folic acid and B12 after pregnancy is confirmed. “They should start consuming them before the pregnancy and it can help avoid neural tube defects in at least 70 per cent of the cases,” he pointed out.
The session also had discussions on why women should not be afraid to do routine activities during pregnancy. “It is common to see women being confined to a room. They can do a number of regular activities and these don’t cause any strain,” he said.
The session with Dr Ranjani Parthsarathy witnessed them getting a glimpse of the perfect diet regimen with simple available food items, like Ragi, which is rich in calcium.
The event also saw children who were born with birth defects like cleft lip and a block in the kidney. The other message driven to the public was the importance of celebrating the birth of a girl child. “One has to welcome girl child with the same happiness as they would if it were a boy,” he added.
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