Editing Infant mortality (section)

=== Prenatal care and maternal health ===
Certain steps can help to reduce the chance of complications during pregnancy. Attending regular [[prenatal care]] check-ups will help improve the baby's chances of being delivered in safer conditions and surviving.<ref>{{Cite journal |vauthors=Otundo Richard M |date=2019 |title=WHO Recommendations on Antenatal Care for a Positive Pregnancy Experience in Kenya |journal=SSRN Working Paper Series |doi=10.2139/ssrn.3449460 |issn=1556-5068 |s2cid=219379303}}</ref> Additionally, taking supplementation, including [[Folate|folic acid]], can help reduce the chances of birth defects, a leading cause of infant mortality.<ref name="cdc-2020" /> Many countries have instituted mandatory folic acid supplementation in their food supply, which has significantly reduced the occurrence of a birth defect known as [[spina bifida]] in newborns.<ref>{{Cite journal |display-authors=6 |vauthors=Atta CA, Fiest KM, Frolkis AD, Jette N, Pringsheim T, St Germaine-Smith C, Rajapakse T, Kaplan GG, Metcalfe A |date=January 2016 |title=Global Birth Prevalence of Spina Bifida by Folic Acid Fortification Status: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |journal=American Journal of Public Health |volume=106 |issue=1 |pages=e24-34 |doi=10.2105/AJPH.2015.302902 |pmc=4695937 |pmid=26562127}}</ref> Similarly, the fortification of salt with iodine, called [[salt iodization]], has helped reduce negative birth outcomes associated with low iodine levels during pregnancy.<ref name="ramakrishnan-2012">{{Cite journal |vauthors=Ramakrishnan U, Grant F, Goldenberg T, Zongrone A, Martorell R |date=July 2012 |title=Effect of women's nutrition before and during early pregnancy on maternal and infant outcomes: a systematic review |journal=Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology |volume=26 |issue=Suppl 1 |pages=285–301 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-3016.2012.01281.x |pmid=22742616 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

Abstinence from alcohol can also decrease the chances of harm to the fetus as drinking any amount of alcohol during pregnancy may lead to [[fetal alcohol spectrum disorder]]s (FASD) or other alcohol related birth defects.<ref>{{Cite journal |vauthors=Flak AL, Su S, Bertrand J, Denny CH, Kesmodel US, Cogswell ME |date=January 2014 |title=The association of mild, moderate, and binge prenatal alcohol exposure and child neuropsychological outcomes: a meta-analysis |journal=Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research |volume=38 |issue=1 |pages=214–26 |doi=10.1111/acer.12214 |pmid=23905882|doi-access=free }}</ref> Tobacco use during pregnancy has also been shown to significantly increase the risk of a preterm or low birth weight birth, both of which are leading causes of infant mortality.<ref>{{Cite journal |display-authors=6 |vauthors=Banderali G, Martelli A, Landi M, Moretti F, Betti F, Radaelli G, Lassandro C, Verduci E |date=October 2015 |title=Short and long term health effects of parental tobacco smoking during pregnancy and lactation: a descriptive review |journal=Journal of Translational Medicine |volume=13 |pages=327 |doi=10.1186/s12967-015-0690-y |pmc=4608184 |pmid=26472248 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Pregnant women should consult with their doctors to best manage any [[Pre-existing condition|pre-existing health conditions]] to avoid complications to both their health as well as the fetus's. Obese people are at an increased risk of developing complications during pregnancy, including [[gestational diabetes]] or pre-eclampsia. Additionally, they are more likely to experience a pre-term birth or have a child with birth defects.<ref>{{Cite journal |vauthors=Marchi J, Berg M, Dencker A, Olander EK, Begley C |date=August 2015 |title=Risks associated with obesity in pregnancy, for the mother and baby: a systematic review of reviews |url=http://openaccess.city.ac.uk/12304/1/Risks%20associated%20with%20obesity%20in%20pregnancy%20%28final%20accepted%20version%29.pdf |journal=Obesity Reviews |volume=16 |issue=8 |pages=621–38 |doi=10.1111/obr.12288 |pmid=26016557 |s2cid=206228471 |hdl-access=free |hdl=2262/75578}}</ref><ref name="ramakrishnan-2012" />