You’ve probably heard the term spina bifida before. If pregnancy is part of your plans for the near future, it might be a good idea to learn more about this neural tube birth defect, which occurs when the bones of the spine don’t form properly around part of the baby’s spinal cord. There are three degrees of spina bifida that we know of, and they vary from mild to severe. Read on…
The mild form of spina bifida is quite common, but the good news is, it does not cause health problems and neither does it need any major treatment. There are usually no visible defects, but in some cases, there may be a hairy patch, a mark, or even a dimple on the back. Most of the time, the person who has this mild form of spina bifida will not even know about it until he or she has an x-ray taken for something else.
A more severe form of spina bifida is meningocele (pronounced as “muh-NIN-juh-seel”), where fluid leaks out of the spine and pushes against the skin around it, causing a visible bulge. There are usually no other symptoms other than that.
The most severe form of spina bifida and the one most people mean when they speak of neural tube birth defect is myelomeningocele (pronounced my-uh-loh-muh-NIN-juh-seel). Part of the spinal nerves push out of the spinal canal, and the nerves are often damaged or sometimes even exposed through an opening in the skin, or, there may be a bulge in the skin.
While the exact cause of this birth defect isn’t known, but it’s been known that women who have had one child with spina bifida are more likely to have another child with the same condition. Women who are obese or who have diabetes are also more likely to have a child with spina bifida.
Most children with mild spina bifida don’t have any problems from it and even children with meningocele may not have problematic symptoms. Children born with myelomeningocele, however, tend to have spine and brain issues that cause serious problems which may include:
- Inability to feel or move their legs, feet, or arms
- Fluid buildup in the brain (hydrocephalus) which may lead to seizures, learning problems, or vision problems
- A curve in the spine
- Bladder or bowel issues
How is spina bifida diagnosed?
During pregnancy, you can have a blood test (maternal serum triple or quadruple screen) and an ultrasound of the developing baby. These tests check for signs of spina bifida and other problems. If test results suggest a birth defect, you can choose to have an amniocentesis. This test helps confirm if the baby has spina bifida.
After birth, a doctor can usually tell if a baby has spina bifida by how the baby’s back looks. If spina bifida is suspected, the doctor may do an X-ray, an MRI, or a CT scan to see if the defect is mild or severe.
Treating spina bifida
Surgery: In the majority of cases, children with the mild form of spina bifida and even meningocele don’t need treatment. Children with myelomeningocele, the most severe form of spina bifida, usually require surgery to place in a drainage tube to help drain excess fluid into the belly.
Therapy: A child with severe spina bifida will have to be referred to a physical therapist and this usually takes place right after birth. These therapists are also the ones who will teach parents and caregivers the best ways to care for the child.
Other aids: A child with severe spina bifida may need a brace, or wheelchair, or other aids. A catheter may be needed to prevent infection and kidney damage if the child has bladder issues.
Bowel care: As soon as a baby with spina bifida starts eating solid food, bowel issues may arise and parents will be taught the best ways to manage bowel care for their child.
Additional future surgeries: As a child with severe spina bifida grows older, other treatments and surgeries may be needed to manage problems that arise.
Good parental support
Every baby and child needs scheduled check-ups with their doctor/doctors to ensure that they grow and develop well and children with spina bifida are exceptions and due to their unique circumstances, they will require extra special attention from their doctors. Hence, be diligent about keeping every scheduled appointment with the doctor. Other points to keep in mind are:
- Encourage your child to move his or her body as much as possible.
- Help your child be independent in any possible way.
- Ensure that your child drinks plenty of fluids and eat foods high in fiber to help prevent constipation.
- A child with severe spina bifida may not be able to feel sensations in their legs or feet, so always check for cuts, bruises, and pressure sores — if left untreated for too long, these may lead to infection.
- Due to their overall weakened condition, your child may also have weak eye muscles, so regular eye check-ups will be required.
- Watch for learning difficulties, and talk to your child’s doctor or teacher if you have any concerns.
- Reach out to family, friends, and support groups when you need help.
- Do not neglect your own needs too and take good care of yourself so that you’ll always be at your best in body and mind to tend to your child with special needs.
Preventing spina bifida
As a serious disease, as it is, experts do believe that with enough awareness and care, it’s possible to prevent spina bifida. Here are some important things to know if you are a woman of childbearing age.
- Ensure that you get sufficient folate (and/or folic acid) daily, before and during your pregnancy. Folate, also known as Vitamin B9, is found to be abundant in green leafy vegetables, broccoli, asparagus, lentils, and oranges. Folic acid, on the other hand, can be taken in the form of supplements and fortified foods such as bread, cereals, and some brands of orange juice.
- As soon as you’re pregnant, your doctor may recommend a prenatal daily vitamin with folic acid or a folic acid supplement — It’s important to not skip these.
- If you take medicine for seizures or acne, talk with your doctor before you get pregnant. Some of these medications have been linked to serious birth defects.
- Avoid the consumption of alcohol at all costs if you’re trying to get pregnant and/or if you’re already pregnant. Any amount of alcohol may increase the risk of having a baby with spina bifida and/or other health problems too.
- Avoid overheating your body during the first weeks of pregnancy, for instance from using a sauna or hot tub, as the heat could raise your baby’s risk for spina bifida. For that same reason, treat a high fever promptly too.
