What is Spina Bifida?
Every year, about 3,000 infants are born with spina bifida, a neural tube defect which occurs during the first month of pregnancy. The spinal column of an unborn child begins to form early, often before a woman even realizes she is pregnant. If the spine does not fuse together properly, it leaves the delicate nerves of the spinal cord exposed or damaged. This is spina bifida.
In severe cases, there may be brain involvement, causing fluid on the brain and requiring a permanent shunt for drainage. Spina bifida typically causes varying degrees of disability, from partial to complete paralysis, and often includes learning disabilities. Some individuals with spina bifida have mild symptoms that are mostly a nuisance, and others are severely disabled. Spina bifida is the most common birth defect causing permanent physical disability in humans. A quarter of a million people are living with spina bifida in the word today, including 70,000 people in the United States.
There are three different kinds of spina bifida:
- Occulta – This form is often referred to as “hidden spina bifida” and is the mildest form. Often there is only a small defect or gap in a few of the spinal vertebrae. Some children have no symptoms until late childhood, when problems begin to develop. Typically disabilities involved are mild.
- Meningocele – The protective coating of the spinal cord pushes through the opening of the spine, but typically nerves are not damaged. Minor disabilities can occur.
- Myelomeningocele – This is the most severe form, where the protective coating and the spinal nerves come through the opening in the spine, causing permanent damage.
Who is at risk for having a child with spina bifida?
Every woman of childbearing years. There are 60 million women of childbearing years in the United States alone, and each one is at risk. Ethnicity plays a role. Caucasians have a higher incidence of spina bifida than do African-Americans. And Hispanics have a higher frequency than both. Studies have shown that, for reasons not completely understood, low income couples seem to be at greater risk. The numbers of newborns with spina bifida have recently decreased, but researchers don’t know whether this may be related to the fact that spina bifida is frequently underreported. A mother having one child with spina bifida has a twenty times higher chance of having a second child with the condition. Mothers with diabetes, obesity, and those taking certain drugs during pregnancy are also at greater risk.
Is there anything that can be done to prevent spina bifida?
Although you can’t entirely prevent spina bifida, you can greatly reduce your risk. Since the spinal column forms in the first weeks of pregnancy, prevention efforts must start prior to conception. All women of childbearing years who could potentially become pregnant should take a daily multivitamin which includes the B-vitamin folic acid. Folic acid does not remain in the system longer than 24 hours, so it’s important to take a dose of 400 micrograms daily. By taking a daily folic acid supplement, you reduce your risk of having a baby with spina bifida by 70%. A mother who has had a previous child with spina bifida will need to take an even larger dose of folic acid. Keep yourself fit, and avoid exposure to prolonged heat during the early months of pregnancy, i.e. fever, hot showers, Jacuzzis, etc.
Tests are available during pregnancy to determine whether your child might have spina bifida or other birth defects. However, you should consider carefully what you would do with the information that your unborn baby has the condition. Ask your obstetrician for information.
What is the prognosis?
Due to modern technology and medical breakthroughs, most people with spina bifida can live full and productive lives. People with spina bifida can marry, have children, work, and live independently, with some adaptations to assist them with their mobility. On an interesting note, more than 70% of people with spina bifida have moderate to severe latex allergies, due to contact with latex during birth and surgical procedures.
For more information, support, news, and research, visit the Spina Bifida Association Website.
