January is Birth Defect Awareness Month

January is Birth Defect Awareness Month, and Dr. Scott Adzick, surgeon-in-chief at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and founder and director of CHOP’s Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment, says they have cared for expecting mothers carrying babies with birth defects from across the world.  One in every 33 babies has a birth defect, according to Dr. Adzick, and most patients are treated after birth…

“More than 35,000 patients, mothers, babies, have been referred to our center.  We’ve performed close to 3,000 fetal surgeries, more than any hospital worldwide.  Only about 10% of the mothers who are referred to us have an unborn child that requires treatment before birth.  It’s usually treatment after birth and we have all of the resources at this world-class public hospital to provide that care.”