At 37 weeks, Amy DeSantis gave birth to twins. She found out one of her babies had a heart defect requiring life-saving surgery and Down syndrome.
DeSantis, who has no relation to the Florida governor, tells her story and all the thoughts that went through her head.
But her story is not uncommon. One in 33 babies are born in the United States with a birth defect, says Dr. Elizabeth Cherot.
“Just feel like the wind is knocked out of you,” sis DeSantis. “A lot of fear, a lot of anxiety, fear of the unknown… You don’t know what your child’s life is going to look like.”
To prevent the high risk, it is important to have healthy behaviors even before pregnancy. Pregnant women should also take 400 microgram of folic acid daily and prenatal vitamins to lower risks.
