Congenital or Inherited Disorders in Iowa
About 3% of babies, or 1 of every 33, are born with a congenital or inherited disorder. Congenital or inherited disorders are problems that happen as a baby develops in the mother's body. A congenital or inherited disorder may affect how the body looks, works, or both. Some congenital or inherited disorders are so serious they can cause a baby to die; others are very minor problems that can be easily repaired. Babies born with congenital or inherited disorders have a greater chance of illness and long-term disability than babies without congenital or inherited disorders.
Not all congenital or inherited disorders can be prevented, but you can take some actions that increase your chance of having a healthy baby. Most congenital or inherited disorders are thought to be caused by a complex mix of genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors. However, for many congenital or inherited disorders, exactly how these factors work together is unclear.
When a woman comes into contact with an environmental hazard early in her pregnancy, it may increase the risk of her baby being born with a congenital or inherited disorder. More research is needed to study the links between environmental hazards and congenital or inherited disorders, which is why congenital or inherited disorders are part of the Environmental Public Health Tracking Network.