What can 1990-1991 Gulf War veterans do to protect themselves from having children with birth defects?
A. 1990-1991 Gulf War veterans should follow the normal practices to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Pregnant, women should seek early and regular prenatal care, refrain from smoking, alcohol and drug use, get sufficient maternal nutrition, and follow the U.S. Public Health Service’s recommendations to consume 0.4 mg of folic acid every day. All parents should be aware that, unfortunately, about three percent of all infants have birth defects, and the causes of 2/3 of these birth defects are still unknown.
