How can people avoid getting this Spina Bifida disorder?

Answer 1

There is no means of definitely preventing Spina Bifida, however taking folic acid leading up to and throughout the pregnancy can assist in normal growth of the spinal cord and is therefore a good preventative measure to take. There is about a 0.1-0.2% chance an infant will be diagnosed with Spina Bifida, and not all cases are serious.

Answer 2

Spina Bifida is a birth defect, so the only way to avoid it is to take the doctor recommended amount of folic acid in the first trimester of pregnancy. You can't "get" Spina Bifida after you are born, it is something a person is born with.

Answer 3

Since they are not completely sure all of the factors that cause spina bifida it cannot be completely prevented, but it is known that the risk increases if there is a deficient folic acid intake. So it is recommended that all women who are in their first trimester of pregnancy, and all those who wish to become pregnant take folic acid supplements.

Answer 4

You can make it less LIKELY to happen by the mother having good nutrition during pregnancy, including taking the doctor-recommended amount of folic acid both before and during pregnancy. There is no known way to guarantee that you can prevent Spina Bifida.

Answer 5

With all they know researchers have still not figured out how to completely prevent Spina Bifida. The reason for this is the majority of moms giving birth to a baby with spina bifida do not fall into any of the known risk categories.

Here's what they do know; the defects are first seen in the 21st to 28th day after conception when the neural tubes should come together forming an early nervous system that will grow up to be the spine and brain. For reasons not yet understood the neural tube fails to completely fuse leaving gaps. The gaps persist and will be seen along the spine of the baby.

Mothers over 40 have a higher risk of having a baby with spina bifida, as do diabetics and women taking certain anticonvulsants to prevent seizures. A woman on any anticonvulsants needs to talk to her doctor before becoming pregnant to see if she needs to change to a medication found to be safe.

Obesity, smoking cigarettes, second hand smoke and drinking alcohol are all felt to be risk factors in developing spina bifida and are to be avoided.

Now for the good news, folic acid (vitamin B9) is known to reduce the chance of having a baby with spina bifida by over 70% if taken for four weeks prior to conception and through the first trimester. This is also true for women who have already given birth to a child with a neural tube defect. Thought to be at an increased risk of up to 7% taking a prescription strength of folic acid will reduce the risk to just 1% and continuing the dose until 12 weeks after conception can also reduce the severity if the baby should develop the defect.

Answer 6

There is no way to completely stop Spina Bifida from happening. However, taking folic acid or prenatal vitamins the minute you plan to start having children lessens your chances. You can't wait until you are pregnant because Spina Bifida happens and has already done it's damage in the first 2 weeks of pregnancy.

Answer 7

You cannot "get" Spina Bifida after you are born. It is a birth defect, which means you are born with it, and that is the only way a person can "get" Spina Bifida.

Answer 8

Folic acid taken before and during pregnancy.