Spina Bifida Occulta

Spina bifida is a latin term meaning split spine. It is the name given to a group of birth defects which interfere with the development of the central nervous system: the brain, the spinal cord and the nerve tissues.

How it starts



the central nervous system begins to develop from the ectoderm (the layer of cells from which the brain and spinal cord develop) in the third week following fertilisation when the embryo is only 3-5mm long. Prior to this the ectoderm resembles a flat group of cells running down the middle of the embryo. This flat sheet begins to change, however, and folds to form a groove. (diagrams (a) and (b).) the edges of the sheet eventually come together to form a tube which later develops into the spinal cord and the brain. (diagrams (c) and (d)) this structure is called the neural tube. Once the neural tube closes it sinks into the embryo and is covered by a layer of skin. The spinal vertebrae (bony covering) then begin to form around the tube.

Normally the neural tube closes by the twenty-eighth day after conception. However, if the tube fails to close properly, a neural tube defect will occur. Neural tube defects include the conditions of anencephaly, encephalocele, and spina bifida.

Having enough folic acid (a b vitamin) in your diet is an important part of preventing spina bifida and other neural tube defects. However, to be effective, it needs to be consumed before a baby is conceived. To reduce the risk of spina bifida, most women need 400 ug of folic acid a day. Women who are at risk (such as those who have already had a child with spina bifida) should take 4,000 ug of folic acid a day.4, 5 folic acid may be obtained from vitamin supplements and by eating foods rich in folic acid, such as avocados, black beans, and asparagus. Since 1998, the united states government has required that foods made from grains and sold in the united states be supplemented with folic acid to help reduce the risk for spina bifida.

If you take medications for epilepsy or acne, talk with your doctor before you become pregnant about the risk for having a baby with spina bifida.

Do not drink while pregnant. Women who drink large amounts of alcohol during their pregnancy have an increased risk of having a child with physical and mental effects from alcohol exposure.5 no amount of alcohol is considered safe during pregnancy.

Avoid exposure to excessive heat, such as saunas or soaking in a very hot bath, during the first weeks of your pregnancy. A high fever during the first weeks of pregnancy could also lead to your baby developing spina bifida

Hi, I am heather. I am 16 weeks preggy now and my last appt. Was on feb. 5th. They took blood to check for spina bifida, cystic fibrosis, down-syndrome and also another defect. My aunt kathy also had spina bifida, so because it is in the family, they are checking for it. Also in the ultrasound, we looked at the babies neuro tube. The 3rd one I had we could see the baby's spinal cord and she said it looked okay, but the spina bifida they are checking for. They give everybody this test between 15 and 20 weeks so don't worry and don't forget to take those vitamins. They include the folic acid that the baby needs. That is why my aunt had spina bifida. My mamaw did not take her vitamins and spina bifida can be caused by lack of folic acid which is the main ingrediant. Dont forget.