Welcome to the Louisiana Birth Defects Monitoring Network (LBDMN)

The Louisiana Birth Defects Monitoring Network (LBDMN)'s mission is to prevent birth defects and birth defect-related disabilities in Louisiana's children. Our program:

• collects data on birth defects in children ages 0-3
• provides information to families of children with birth defects on locally available medical, social, and educational services
• performs analysis of collected data to determine the frequency and distribution of birth defects in the state
• uses collected data to plan and target birth defects prevention programs
• strives to be an active partner in birth defects education and prevention efforts in Louisiana

Birth defects are more common and more costly than you may realize:

• More than 120,000 babies are born with birth defects in the United States each year (about 1 in 33 births).
• Hospital costs for treatment of birth defect-related conditions exceed $2.5 billion annually.
• In Louisiana, birth defects are a leading cause of infant mortality - roughly 20% of infant deaths each year are due to birth defects.

Who We Serve

The Louisiana Birth Defects Monitoring Network assesses the outcomes of more than 62,000 Louisiana births annually. This helps to ensure that there are no unknown environmental conditions, pharmaceutical side effects, or behavioral risk factors threatening Louisiana's newborns. The risk of having a child born with a congenital disability affects all men and women of reproductive age, not just those families that are directly impacted. Monitoring birth defects also serves corporate citizens concerned about the environmental impact on the citizens of Louisiana. Finally, LBDMN supports scientific research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, other states and universities.

	About Us Find out more about what we do, how we're funded, and how to contact us.  Read More
	For Healthcare Professionals and Providers Explore the services we offer, data products, and recommended resources for clinical guidance and patient support. You can also access our data request form here.  Read More
	For Families and Caregivers Find out how to apply for services, use our interactive map to locate clinics, and check out our recommended resources for families of children with birth defects. Read More

	Resource Hub Check out our Resource Hub for national, state, and diagnosis-specific resources and supports for children and youth with special health care needs and their families. Read More
	Partners For Family Health Data Center View our fact sheets and data reports. You can also gain access to our data request form here. Read More
	Our Partners Learn more about other programs within the Bureau of Family Health. Read More