On average, 1 in 33 babies in the world has a birth defect, and birth defects are the leading cause of infant and child mortality. The high cost of diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of children with birth defects poses a significant public health challenge. In addition, even if these babies with birth defects survive, they are at increased risk of future disability. In 2005, the Chinese government decided to designate September 12 each year as “China Birth Defects Prevention Day” to carry out tertiary interventions for birth defects. From 2010 to 2012, Jiang Xiaoqing, director of the health department of Jiangsu Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital, conducted a survey on the status of preconception health care for a sample of 1,000 women of childbearing age in Yangzhou, Wuxi and Lianyungang cities of Jiangsu Province. This year, 12 leading global health organizations will be providing pre-pregnancy care. This year, 12 leading global health organizations have joined together to declare March 3 each year as World Birth Defects Day, with March 3, 2015 being the first World Birth Defects Day. The decision aims to raise awareness of birth defects, develop and implement primary prevention programs, and expand referral and health services for children with birth defects. Director Jiang Xiaoqing recommends the following nine steps women of childbearing age can take to prepare for a healthy pregnancy: 1. 400 mg of folic acid daily Folic acid is a B vitamin that can prevent the occurrence of major birth defects of the brain and spinal cord in infants (anencephaly and spina bifida) if a woman can ensure adequate folic acid in her body during the month prior to pregnancy. In addition to a varied diet rich in folic acid, women can also obtain folic acid from fortified foods and/or supplements. 2. Avoid alcohol at any time during pregnancy When a woman drinks alcohol, her unborn baby is also consuming alcohol. Alcohol in a woman’s blood can pass through the placenta and down the umbilical cord into the fetus. There is no absolute safe amount of alcohol to drink during pregnancy, and again no alcohol is safe and there is no safe time to drink alcohol during pregnancy. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause fetal alcohol syndrome (FASD), and it is recommended to stop drinking alcohol when you are preparing for pregnancy. 3. Avoid smoking The dangers of smoking during pregnancy include premature birth, certain birth defects (cleft lip or palate) and infant death. Regular exposure to tobacco smoke will harm women and their unborn babies, and it is best to stop smoking before you become pregnant. For women who are already pregnant, quitting early can still prevent certain health problems in the baby, such as low birth weight, and it is never too late to quit smoking. Preventing infections Some infections that occur during a woman’s pregnancy can be very harmful to the unborn baby and can even lead to birth defects. There are some very simple ways to prevent infections: wash your hands often, cook meat until done, and stay away from infected people. We know that certain medications can cause serious birth defects if taken during pregnancy. However, the safety of many medications used by pregnant women is difficult to determine. If a woman is pregnant or planning to become pregnant, she should not stop using the medications she needs and should not take new medications, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, health care drugs or herbal remedies, without first consulting a doctor. 6. Consult your doctor about vaccinations Most vaccines are safe and are recommended during pregnancy. Some infections can cause birth defects, and the appropriate vaccine can prevent these infections. Getting the right vaccine at the right time can help keep the mother and fetus healthy. Women should consult their doctors during pregnancy about which vaccines are available. 7. Achieve and maintain a healthy weight Women who are obese (body mass index of 30 or higher) before pregnancy are at increased risk of complications during pregnancy. Moreover, obesity increases the risk of serious birth defects in the fetus. If a woman is overweight or obese, she should consult her doctor before pregnancy how to achieve a healthy weight. 8, control of diabetes poor control of diabetes during pregnancy will not only increase the risk of birth defects or other problems in the fetus, but also cause serious complications for pregnant women. Reasonable health care before and during pregnancy can prevent birth defects and other adverse outcomes. 9. Regular prenatal care Women should always visit their doctor when planning a pregnancy and make sure they go for prenatal care once they think they are pregnant. It is important to see your doctor regularly throughout your pregnancy, so women should have regular prenatal care.