
Birth defects are structural changes present at birth that can affect almost any part or parts of the body (e.g., heart, brain, foot). Every 4 ½ minutes, a baby is born with a birth defect in the United States. That means nearly 120,000 babies (1 in every 33) are affected by birth defects each year. Birth defects can vary from mild to severe. They may affect how the body looks, works, or both. The well-being of each child affected with a birth defect depends mostly on which organ or body part is involved and how much it is affected. Depending on the severity of the defect and what body part is affected, the expected lifespan of a person with a