What should be done if the mother is 20 weeks pregnant and finds out she has a baby who has severe spina bifida?

Whether or not you should get pregnant again is a personal decision only you can make. A woman who has no family history, and herself has never given birth to a child with Spina Bifida has a 0.1-0.2% chance of having a child with the condition. A woman who has either a family history or has herself had a previous child with Spina Bifida has about a 3% chance of having a child with Spina Bifida, though this can be reduced to about 1% if she takes at least 4 mg of folic acid per day. It is recommended all women who are contemplating getting pregnant should take folic acid supplementation for at least 3 months before conception and continue it for at least the first trimester of pregnancy.

A pregnant mother should eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and also ensure she gets enough calcium from dairy products.

Stop drinking. Your baby can have severe disabilities if you drink while pregnant.

Spina Bifida is an NTD (Neural Tube Defect) affecting the spinal column/cord. Folic Acid, also known as Vitamin B9 is known to help the develop the neural tube (spinal cord and brain) during fetal development. Women of child rearing age who are trying to get pregnant/are pregnant are encouraged to take higher than normal quantities of Folic Acid to help reduce the chances that their baby could have spina bifida. Women should start taking the higher dose at least 3 months before getting pregnant and then throughout their pregnancy, this is especially important for women who have a family history of spina bifida or have spina bifida themselves.

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. It does not seem to be inherited. But if it runs in the family, your doctor should be told this. He should up the dose of Folic Acid.

Yes she can be pregnant, and if she is pregnant and is bleeding she is at risk of a miscarriage, and should see a doctor immediately.

Severe vomiting, diarrhea and cramping. This is why pregnant women should avoid the kinds of food that you can get Salmonella from. The cramps can be so severe you miscarry. Also not being able to keep anything down and be sick for weeks in a hospital is not good..

You should tell them as soon as possible so the baby and mother can be the healthy as possible.

Because you will have small or IUGR babies.

If you were born with Spina Bifida and need a wheelchair you should consult with a Physical Therapist. They will measure you, assess your needs and recommend what you need. They will even help you with where to buy one.

means sometimes you could be pregnant or you could have damaged something you should get it cheked out right away

If you are having severe cramps that is not normal, and your doctor should exam you. My cervix began to soften around 8 months, but there was no severe cramps. If I was you I would go to the ER if you are experiencing severe cramps.

Is this a trick question? They're kids, treat them like kids. This is a no brainer. (Yes I have had two ex-girlfriends with spina bifida)

Not usually. There are safe ways to treat herpes while pregnant. Antiviral medication is safe to take and the mother should be taking it if she has herpes and is pregnant. If herpes was contracted a few weeks or months before getting pregnant then the mother could have a misscariage due to stress of a break out. But if the mother has had herpes long before she got pregnant then there shouldn't be any risk to the baby.

Depends on the kind of hay you give your guinea pig. If your guinea pig is a pregnant mother or a growing baby, then you should give him/her Alfafa hay. If your guinea pig is NOT a pregnant mother or a growing baby, then he/she should be given Timothy hay.

The reason sores don't heal on the lower body of a person with Spina Bifida has to do with there being less blood circulation in that area because of the Spina Bifida. But your son can see a specialist for wound care and that should help.

There is no such thing as an expectant mother Tetra. Tetras are egg layers and can not get pregnant so they do not have babies.

You must confine the same to your mother. She is your best friend. You can always rely on her. She will manage the problem. Mother is next to God.

A person with Spina Bifida should not fail to examine the lower half of his/her body daily for sores, because they may get sores and be unaware of them, and that can allow the sores to become serious. They should not fail to drink enough water daily, because people with Spina Bifida often have problems with urinary tract infections and constipation. They should not let themselves get depressed because of their inabilities, but should strive to be positive and focus on their abilities.

Yes you should separate a pregnant mother from the male and/or any other mice. Keep her that way till the babies are done nursing.

it is good to eat healthy foods if not look in a book all about pregnant people.

Due to the risk to the fetus and mother, a women pregnant with the IUD in place should have the IUD removed. The pregnancy may continue normally after that.

A person with Spina Bifida needs to be sure to drink at least 6 to 8 cups of water (8 oz. each) a day, because they can be prone to urinary tract infections (This is being answered by a person who has Spina Bifida).

Yes, but it's rare, and often the sign of hormonal imbalance. Not severe, but significant enough that if you experience it, you should check in with a doctor.

SEE YOUR DOCTOR. 38 weeks is full term.