All About Spina Bifida

What is Spina Bifida?
Spina bifida is a birth defect that involves the brain and spine. There are three types of spina bifida. Spina bifida occulta is the least severe and many people never realize they have it. It effects the vertebrae in the back with little to no symptoms. Spina Bifida Meningocele involves the bones and tissues but not the actual spinal cord. Spina Bifida Myelomeningocele is the most severe and involves an open spot on the babies back that has nerves and the spinal cord showing through. Surgery after birth is very important for this kind of spina bifida. Our little guy has myelomeningocele as his nerves and cord are pushing out of his back. Most people effected with this type of spina bifida also have hydrocephalus.

What is Hydrocephalus?
Hydrocephalus is common in people living with spina bifida. It means that there is fluid on the brain. This happens when the fluid filled ventricles in the brain do not have a way to drain causing a buildup of fluid. This is commonly due to something called an Chiai II malformation where the brain is pulled back and down "corking" the back of the neck so that fluid may not drain down the spine. To correct this problem a shunt is put in the brain and ran down into the stomach to permit the fluid to drain off the brain.

What does Spina Bifida effect?
Spina bifida effects every person on different levels. Physical disability ranging from mild to paralysis is the one thing every person deals with. Along with the physical problems (e.g. walking), bowel and bladder control, sexual function, and latex allergies can also be a concern. Spina Bifida does NOT effect intelligence, although attention disorders tend to be more prevalent in people with spina bifida. People with spina bifida vary so much it is hard to say how a child will do until they are born although the lower the opening is on the back, the better the prognosis. Our baby has a low lesion and we are told to expect weak ankles probably needing ankle braces to walk, possible loss of sensation in the feet, and there is a very small chance he could have bladder problems. This is all subject to change as damage to the exposed nerves is very possible until the lesion is closed. For more information on spina bifida i like the website www.sbaa.org

What Causes Spina Bifida?
The exact cause of spina bifida is unknown. It occurs within the first 28 days after conception and has not been linked to any specific factors. The one thing that researchers have found is that a folic acid deficiency increases your chances of having a baby with spina bifida. It is encouraged that women trying to conceive take folic acid supplements and this could reduce the chance of having a baby with spina bifida by more than 70%