The exact cause of spina bifida remains a mystery. No one knows what disrupts complete closure of the neural tube, causing a malformation to develop. Scientists suspect that the cause is multifactoral: genetic, nutritional, and environmental factors play a role. Research studies indicate that insufficient intake of folic acid -- a common B vitamin -- in the mother's diet is a key factor in causing spina bifida and other neural tube defects. Prenatal vitamins that are prescribed for the pregnant mother typically contain folic acid as well as other vitamins.
The birth defect Spina bifida is a neural tube defect. Almost 3,000 women are affected by this defect during their pregnancy. This is a neural tube defect which is developed in the first trimester of the pregnancy. In this time the spinal cord does not completely close.
Hello, the effect of spina bifida is different on each baby. There are babies who suffer from worst form of spina bifida and have fluid on the brain called as hydrocephalus. They have to be treated with surgery.
In hydrocephalus treatment the doctors insert a shunt which helps in draining the fluid from the brain. This shunt is placed in the brain for a lifetime in the baby. There are other conditions which cause full or half paralysis, learning disabilities, latex allergy, bladder and bowel control difficulties, depression.
Hi, all the pregnant women are at risk of having a baby with neural tube defect. If there has been a history of neural tube defects then are increased chances of having spina bifida.
According to the CDC the factors which can increase the risk of having neural tube defect are if the mother like diabetic, if you have been previously affected with neural tube defect in your pregnancy or if you use any kind of medication for anti-seizure.
This defect can be screened by the triple marker test or the AFP. In the test if the levels of alpha fetoprotein are high then there might be a chance that the baby can have neural tube defects. But there is no need to worry as it shows abnormality if AFP levels are high, but actually only 1 to 2 babies are affected with the defect.
Spina bifida can be prevented by taking folic acid every day in your daily diet. At least 400 micrograms of folic acid should be taken every day in the diet. You can also take a multivitamin which has vitamin B folic acid, this reduces the risk of having neural tube defect up to 70 percent. Consult your doctors before taking any multivitamin.