Prenatal screening reduces birth defects

Ho Chi Minh City: The number of children born with birth defects at Hung Vuong Hospital has decreased from 200-300 per year to about 100, and these defects can be corrected thanks to prenatal screening.

"In the past, without prenatal screening, many full-term pregnancies were born with multiple physical abnormalities, causing the mothers to become depressed," Associate Professor, Dr. Hoang Thi Diem Tuyet, Director of Hung Vuong Hospital, said on the sidelines of the signing ceremony for cooperation in screening for pregnancy diseases on February 29. This is a central hospital, one of the two leading obstetrics and gynecology facilities in Ho Chi Minh City and the Southern region.

According to Dr. Tuyet, prenatal screening programs have developed strongly in recent decades, helping to detect congenital abnormalities early, especially multiple abnormalities, so that appropriate interventions can be made. This contributes to reducing the psychological impact on pregnant women after a long period of pregnancy and childbirth, as well as reducing the cost of raising a child who cannot integrate into society.

Babies born at Hung Vuong Hospital. Photo: Thien Chuong — Babies born at Hung Vuong Hospital. Photo: *Thien Chuong*

Currently, medicine can correct some birth defects in children right from the fetus. In cases where the fetus is diagnosed with an incurable birth defect such as severe hydrocephalus, anencephaly, etc., the doctor will advise early termination of the pregnancy. For the remaining birth defects that can be corrected, the baby will be monitored and coordinated with specialists for treatment.

Genetic diagnosis is playing an increasingly important role in prenatal screening. For example, recently, non-invasive testing (NIPT) can detect chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus, reducing "wrongful" amniocentesis compared to the previous method of combining nuchal translucency ultrasound and biochemical testing.

Doctors recommend that pregnant women have screening tests every trimester... as prescribed by the doctor, to help detect necessary problems early for timely adjustment, increasing the chance of a healthy baby or terminating the pregnancy early when necessary. Before getting pregnant, women need to prepare good health, get vaccinated as recommended, adjust their diet and gain a reasonable weight...

Le Phuong

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