A Baby Born With Spina Bifida Myelomeningocele Will Need:

Spina bifida is a condition that affects the spine and is usually apparent at birth. Information technology is a blazon of neural tube defect (NTD).

Spina bifida can happen anywhere along the spine if the neural tube does not close all the manner. When the neural tube doesn't close all the way, the backbone that protects the spinal cord doesn't grade and shut as it should. This often results in damage to the spinal cord and nerves.

Spina bifida might cause physical and intellectual disabilities that range from balmy to astringent. The severity depends on:

• The size and location of the opening in the spine.
• Whether function of the spinal cord and nerves are afflicted.

Types of Spina Bifida

The three most common types of spina bifida are:

Myelomeningocele (sounds like: my-low-ma-nin-jo-seal; hear how "myelomeningocele" soundsexternal icon)
When people talk about spina bifida, well-nigh often they are referring to myelomeningocele. Myelomeningocele is the most serious type of spina bifida. With this status, a sac of fluid comes through an opening in the baby's back. Role of the spinal cord and fretfulness are in this sac and are damaged. This blazon of spina bifida causes moderate to severe disabilities, such as bug affecting how the person goes to the bathroom, loss of feeling in the person's legs or anxiety, and not existence able to move the legs.

Meningocele (sounds similar: ma-nin-jo-seal; hear how "meningocele" soundsexternal icon)
Another type of spina bifida is meningocele. With meningocele a sac of fluid comes through an opening in the baby's back. Only, the spinal cord is non in this sac. There is usually trivial or no nerve impairment. This type of spina bifida tin crusade minor disabilities.

Spina Bifida Occulta (sounds similar: o-cult-tuh; hear how "occulta" soundsexternal icon)
Spina bifida occulta is the mildest type of spina bifida. Information technology is sometimes called "hidden" spina bifida. With information technology, there is a minor gap in the spine, but no opening or sac on the back. The spinal cord and the fretfulness usually are normal. Many times, spina bifida occulta is not discovered until belatedly childhood or adulthood. This type of spina bifida ordinarily does non cause any disabilities.

Diagnosis

Spina bifida tin can be diagnosed during pregnancy or afterward the infant is built-in. Spina bifida occulta might not be diagnosed until late babyhood or machismo, or might never exist diagnosed.

During Pregnancy

During pregnancy there are screening tests (prenatal tests) to bank check for spina bifida and other nativity defects. Talk with your dr. about any questions or concerns you lot have almost this prenatal testing.

• AFP – AFP stands for blastoff-fetoprotein (sounds like: al-fa–fee-toe-pro-teen), a protein the unborn baby produces. This is a simple blood test that measures how much AFP has passed into the mother'due south bloodstream from the babe. A high level of AFP might mean that the babe has spina bifida. An AFP test might be part of a test called the "triple screen" that looks for neural tube defects and other bug.
• Ultrasound – An ultrasound is a type of picture of the babe. In some cases, the md can run into if the baby has spina bifida or find other reasons that there might be a high level of AFP. Frequently, spina bifida can exist seen with this exam.
• Amniocentesis (sounds like: am-knee-oh-sin-te-sus; hear how "amniocentesis" soundsexternal icon) – For this test, the doctor takes a modest sample of the amniotic fluid surrounding the infant in the womb. Higher than boilerplate levels of AFP in the fluid might hateful that the infant has spina bifida.

After the Baby Is Built-in

In some cases, spina bifida might non be diagnosed until afterward the baby is built-in.

Sometimes in that location is a hairy patch of peel or a dimple on the baby'south back that is first seen after the baby is born. A doctor can utilise an prototype scan, such as an, X-ray, MRI, or CT, to go a clearer view of the baby's spine and the basic in the back.

Sometimes spina bifida is not diagnosed until afterward the babe is born because the female parent did not receive prenatal intendance or an ultrasound did not show clear pictures of the afflicted part of the spine.

Treatments

Not all people built-in with spina bifida have the same needs, so handling will be different for each person. Some people have issues that are more serious than others. People with myelomeningocele and meningocele will demand more treatments than people with spina bifida occulta.

To learn more nearly treatments, visit the Treatments page.

Causes and Prevention

We practise not know all of the causes of spina bifida. The part that genetics and the surroundings play in causing spina bifida needs to exist studied farther.

Even so, we do know that in that location are ways for women to reduce the risk of having a infant with spina bifida both earlier and during her pregnancy.

If you lot are meaning or could get significant, use the following tips to assistance prevent your baby from having spina bifida:

• Take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day. If y'all have already had a pregnancy afflicted by spina bifida, yous may demand to have a college dose of folic acid before pregnancy and during early on pregnancy. Talk to your physician to discuss what'due south best for you.
• Talk to your medico or pharmacist about whatsoever prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements y'all are taking. Learn about medication and pregnancy »
• If you lot have a medical condition―such as diabetes or obesity―exist certain it is nether control before yous become pregnant.
• Avoid overheating your body, every bit might happen if you employ a hot tub or sauna.
• Treat any fever y'all take right abroad with Tylenol® (or store make acetaminophen).

Remember!

Spina bifida happens in the first few weeks of pregnancy, oftentimes earlier a adult female knows she'southward pregnant. Although folic acid is not a guarantee that a woman will have a healthy pregnancy, taking folic acid can help reduce a woman'due south take chances of having a pregnancy affected by spina bifida. Because half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned, it is of import that all women who can become meaning take 400 mcg of folic acrid daily.

Living with Spina Bifida

Spina bifida can range from mild to astringent. Some people may have little to no disability. Other people may be limited in the way they motion or function. Some people may even be paralyzed or unable to walk or move parts of their body.

Even so, with the right care, most people affected by spina bifida atomic number 82 full, productive lives.

Learn near living with spina bifida at different ages »

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Source: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/spinabifida/facts.html

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