Genetics consultation
San Antonio de los Baños, Artemisa, Cuba.- The National Program for Diagnosis, Management and Prevention of Genetic Diseases and Congenital Defects implemented by the Ministry of Public Health is available in our town. It offers a specialized care, so that the couple can plan pregnancies, reduce reproductive risks and increase the likelihood of having a healthy baby.
Be responsible
Risk assessment is still a weakness as there are few couples that attend the consultations and take into account the advantages for a future pregnancy. Preconception education is essential to plan pregnancy. The couple should know the benefits of adopting healthy lifestyles, ensuring a balanced diet and not smoking or drinking alcohol, as these environmental factors can produce negative effects on the subsequent development of the baby. The presence of chronic diseases (diabetes, epilepsy, obesity), genetic diseases, birth defects or others which also involve the use of medications, should be a reason to go to this consultation and ensure adequate health and counseling before conceive pregnancy.
The couple should be aware that once pregnancy is detected must immediately seek medical attention and quickly access the genetic risk assessment. Ultrasound of the first trimester of pregnancy allows early detection of abnormalities in the fetus, such as the presence of defects of neural tube closure and the anterior abdominal wall. Alpha fetoprotein test provides information to detect possible malformations of the central nervous system. The second ultrasound observes different organs and structures of the fetus and assesses their proper development.
Both women and men should take folic acid as it helps prevent birth defects such as neural tube closure defects, heart disease, cleft lip, urinary tractus malformations and limb and has been reported to be effective in the prevention of Down syndrome. It also offers benefits to the cardiovascular, immune, nervous system and is essential in the fetal neurological formation (brain and spinal cord). It reduces the risk of diabetes, hypertension, obesity, prostate cancer and cervical.
