Birth Defects Reporting and Information System

410-767-6737 

The Maryland State Birth Defects Reporting and Information System (BDRIS) works collaboratively with birth facilities and health care providers to confidentially document all birth conditions identified in infants born in Maryland. The reported data is used for two purposes: 1) to provide information and referral resources to those families affected by a birth condition; and 2) to monitor the occurrence of birth conditions so that information can be used to identify significant changes, evaluate possible causes, and eventually lead to prevention. Learn more about BDRIS Program History and ​Advisory Councils to the Hereditary and Congenital Disorders.

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), birth defects are estimated to affect more than 120,000 children in the United States every year. Approximately 3% of babies, or 1 of every 33, are born with a structural birth defect. Birth defects remain one of the leading causes of infant deaths. Babies born with birth defects have a greater chance of illness and long term disability than babies born without birth defects. Also, babies born with birth defects are more likely to be born preterm (before the 37th week of pregnancy) than babies without birth defects. Birth defects account for approximately 30% of all pediatric hospital admissions. Additional research is needed to study the links between environmental hazards and birth defects. As a result, BDRIS shares data with the Environmental Public Health Network to study the environmental causes of birth defects.

 

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For Parents  

• Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program
• Birth Defect Research For Children, INC. 
• The Parents' Place of Maryland 
• Kennedy Krieger Institute 
• March of Dimes Foundation 
• Spina Bifida Association 
• NIH Health information on Birth Defects 
• MotherToBaby(Organization for Teratology Information Services 
• National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) 
• Maryland Department Of Disabilities

 

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For Providers

• BDRIS Reporting Form (Word version)
• BDRIS Reporting Form (pdf version)
  

Birth Facilities Reporting 

• Birth Conditions Reporting Quick Guide  (training link)

Birth Defects Information And Statistics

• CDC National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
• National Birth Defect Prevention Network
• International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Surveillance and Research
• Folic Acid Information
• MotherToBaby(Organization for Teratology Information Services)
• National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) 
• Birth Defects Reported CDC Data 2002-2006
• Maryland Environmental Public Health Tracking