Op-ed by Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D, CA-34) and Dani Montague, CA State Director, March of Dimes
“Simple Truth about Birth Defects”
Washington,
Feb 26, 2008 -
(please click here for the Spanish version)
Gazing upon a newborn baby is one of life’s simplest joys. But assuring the birth of a healthy baby is anything but simple.
We cannot take for granted that all babies will be born healthy. Nationwide, one in three newborns is born with a birth defect. And tragically, here in Los Angeles County, birth defects account for about one in four infant deaths. The death of even one baby is one too many. To save more families from this heart rending grief, we must all take responsibility to act – on the federal stage, within our communities and on a personal level in our daily lives.
Let’s start with federal action. We are working to secure approval of The Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act of 2007 (HR 3825) in the U.S. Congress. This bill would establish critical national newborn screening guidelines. Newborn screening is a simple blood test that detects many genetic or metabolic disorders before any symptoms begin, allowing crucial time for early treatment to prevent long-term damage, and even death. It also includes screening for hearing.
Even in California where all but one of the twenty-nine disorders recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the March of Dimes are screened, parents and health care professionals need more information about the process and, if necessary, appropriate follow-up care for infants. So a key provision in the bill specifically funds educational outreach.
Federal funding for educational outreach is crucial to increasing awareness about newborn screening and encouraging all women of childbearing age to take folic acid. Up to seventy percent of neural tube defects – birth defects of the brain and spinal cord – may be prevented if women consume 400 micrograms of folic acid daily, prior to and during the early weeks of conception. However, the majority of women in this country are still not aware of the benefits of folic acid, and only about forty percent of women ages 18 to 45 take a daily vitamin with the recommended level of folic acid. We need to get this important message out in our communities.
If you’re a woman of childbearing age, seriously consider taking a daily vitamin with the recommended level of folic acid. In the grocery store aisles, you can also look for breads and other grain products that carry a new “Folic Acid for a Healthy Pregnancy” seal. Released by the March of Dimes and the Grain Foods Foundation, the seal helps women quickly and easily identify grain products that contain at least 10 percent of the recommended daily amount of the B vitamin folic acid.
Other simple, yet important, steps that women can take to prevent or mitigate the harm caused by birth defects include consulting a healthcare provider about controlling chronic health issues, achieving a healthy weight, and adopting good exercise and eating habits. Of course, quitting smoking is also highly recommended. Find out even more about these recommendations by visiting marchofdimes.com.
It will take action by all of us – on the federal, state and community levels – to see a lowering of the incidence of birth defects in our country. Through federal actions to expand screening and educational outreach and by encouraging healthy habits among women of childbearing age, we can achieve this obtainable goal and provide a brighter future for America’s babies.
Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard represents the 34th Congressional District of Los Angeles. A longtime advocate on behalf of newborn screening, the March of Dimes presented the congresswoman with the foundation’s national 2007 Public Affairs Leadership Award for her sponsorship of legislation to improve the health of mothers, infants, and children. The foundation cited the congresswoman’s Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act of 2007, which would establish national newborn screening guidelines intended to make comprehensive newborn screening widely available throughout the country. The bill provides federal funding to educate parents and health care professionals about the importance of newborn screening. The bill also improves access to follow-up care for infants detected with an illness through newborn screening tests. The foundation also recognized the congresswoman for her work on the "Folic Acid Education Act of 2000." The law, which was sponsored by Congresswoman Roybal-Allard, directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to undertake a public education campaign on the importance of folic acid in preventing birth defects. In addition, the March of Dimes noted the congresswoman’s continued leadership as a member of the Appropriations Health Subcommittee in securing federal funding for folic acid education, newborn screening and prematurity research.
Dani Montague is the California State Director for the March of Dimes. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. It works to improve the health of women, infants and children through funding research, community service grants, educational outreach, and advocacy programs. Dani has been an employee of the March of Dimes for 25 years. Under her leadership, the California chapter has expanded newborn screening to identify and treat babies born with genetic and metabolic disorders. The chapter has also worked closely with the California Birth Defects Monitoring Program to improve birth defects research.
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