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 and analyzes data on birth defects in children ages 0-3 to better understand how many, where, why, and how frequently birth defects occur in Louisiana. 
  • uses data and to inform and guide birth defects prevention programs and policy
  • provides information to families of children with birth defects on locally available medical, social, and educational services
  • 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 us find out if there are any environmental conditions, pharmaceutical side effects, or personal behaviors and actions that increase the risk of birth defects among Louisiana's newborns. LBDMN also 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. 

 

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. 

Partners For Family Health Data Center
View our fact sheets and data reports. You can also gain access to our data request form here.

 

Our Partners
Learn more about other programs within the Bureau of Family Health.