0
This is a type of spina bifida but the mildest form. Usually no nerve damage occurs. It usually is seen with a tuff of hair.
What else can I help you with?
How can a person be high risk for Spina Bifida?
You cannot "get" Spina Bifida after birth, it is a birth defect. An unborn child can be at risk for Spina Bifida by his/her mother not getting enough folic acid during and before pregnancy, and also if there is a family history of Spina Bifida.
Your first child had Spina Bifida could your unborn child have it too?
There is a slight increase of about 3% to 7% over the general population for mothers who have had a child with Spina Bifida to have another child with the defect. This risk can be reduced to 1% by taking folic acid(vitamin D) in prescription strength starting four weeks prior to conception through the first trimester.In the event the fetus does have Spina Bifida taking folic acid will also help reduce the severity of the defect.
What is the pattern of inheritance of Spina Bifida?
Spina bifida doesn't follow a strict inheritance pattern, but hereditary factors do play some role, though it is not completely understood yet. Mothers who have had one child with spina bifida have a 3-4% chance of their next child having spina bifida, while the general population only has a 0.1-0.2% chance. In the case a pregnant woman has a family history of spina bifida, it is recommended that they take a higher dose of folic acid than other pregnant women. Here again, folic acid plays a role in preventing neural tube defects (like spina bifida), but the mechanism is not well understood. Also, for an unknown reason, it is more prevalent in female children than in male children.
Is Spina Bifida an autosomal recessive disorder?
It is not exactly known what causes Spina Bifida, but believed that genes and the environment play a role. Women who have given birth to children who have Spina Bifida are at a higher risk for having more children with the disorder. Before and during pregnancy, if one desires to have children, one can take steps to prevent Spina Bifida in one's child. By simply taking in 400 mcg of folic acid a day, or 4,000 mcg in women at a higher risk, not drinking alcohol, and not overheating your body, one can greatly reduce the chances of one's child being born with Spina Bifida. Also, one's doctor should be consulted before one gets pregnant if one takes medication for epilepsy, such as Depakote, or medication for acne, as some medications may cause birth defects.
Is Spina Bifida hereditary?
Spina bifida doesn't follow a strict inheritance pattern, but hereditary factors do play some role, though it is not completely understood yet. Mothers who have had one child with spina bifida have a 3-4% chance of their next child having spina bifida, while the general population only has a 0.1-0.2% chance. In the case a pregnant woman has a family history of spina bifida, it is recommended that they take a higher dose of folic acid than other pregnant women. Here again, folic acid plays a role in preventing neural tube defects (like spina bifida), but the mechanism is not well understood. Also, for an unknown reason, it is more prevalent in female children than in male children.
Is it safe to go in hot springs when pregnant?
No, especially not in the first trimester. It is known to be one of the risk factors for having a baby born with a birth defect called Spina Bifida. Using anything, including a heating pad, on the abdomen area during the first trimester of pregnancy can cause the child to be born with Spina Bifida.
12 wks pregnant diagnosed with Spina Bifida 10 years ago what risk do you have?
If the mother was not taking folic acid supplements at least 3 months prior to conception and continued taking them through the first trimester of her pregnancy, then her chances of having a child with spina bifida is approximately 3%. If she had been taking at least 4 mg of folic acid per day, her risk is reduced to 1%.
What are the chances of having a baby with spina bifida?
It depends on who the particular "you" is. For people who have no family history, the worldwide average is about 0.1 - 0.2%, but for those who do have a family history it can be as high as 3% without folic acid supplementation. In the US, we recommend that all pregnant women, and all women who are considering getting pregnant, take 0.4 mg of folic acid per day. If the woman has a family history of spina bifida or other neural tube defects, we recommend she takes 4 mg per day. This has the effect of lowering the 3% down to 1%.
What are the tests needed to determine spina bifida prenatally?
Taking vitamin B (folic acid) before getting pregnant will lower the risk of Spina Bifida. Ultra sound, Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP) and amniocentesis are the tests used in early pregnancy to rule out such abnormalities.
Is anencephaly a result of incomplete formation of the vertebral arches and can be caused by inadequate folic acid in the maternal diet?
False, that's spina bifida. Both spina bifida and anencephaly are neural tube defects whose risk decreases with adequate folic acid intake.
What is one strategy that may reduce the risk of Spina Bifida?
Folic acid supplementation beginning at least 3 months before conception and continued through at least the first trimester of fetal development has been shown to reduce the incidence of spina bifida by almost 75%.
Why is low foliate intake of particular concern for women of child bearing age?
Low foliate intake in pregnancy is a particular concern since it is highly associated with an increased risk of the foetus developing Spina Bifida.
