Prevention of Spina Bifida

Since there is not an exact known cause for SB many researchers suggest that increasing your intake of folic acid AT LEAST one month prior to conception can decrease your risk of having a child with SB or other neural tube defects. It is alos recommended to have enough folic acid during the early weeks of pregnancy. Since many women do not found out have a pregnancy until around 8 weeks or more after conception, making sure you get enough folic acid (400mcg) during your child bearing years is essential.

Besides taking a multivitamin or a vitamin specifically for folic acid, there are many food that are rich in it. Here is a quick list:

• - Dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, romaine lettuce)
• - Asparagus
• - Broccoli
• - Citrus Fruits (grapefruit, oranges, papaya)
• - Beans (garbanzo, black, green)
• - Avocado
• - Okra
• - Brussel sprouts
• - Seeds and nuts (sunflower, peanuts, flax)
• - Cauliflower
• - Squash

For more infomation on what foods are high in folic acid, please check out the Global Healing Center.

Treatment of Spina Bifida

The treatment of Spina Bifida is determined by a case by case basis. Not all forms of SB require treatment, while other require major surgery.

Forms meningocele and myelomeningocele both require surgery. Both forms need surgery to put the meninges back in place and to close the opening in the back. The surgery is oftern performed with int 24-48 hours of delivery to minimize the risk of infection and to help prevent any further trauma. Sometimes additional surgery is done to place a shunt near the brain to control the excess fluid that builds up and doesn't drain properly.

With the medical advances today, pernatal surgery can aslo be done. It is usually performed around the 26th week of pregnancy. Please click HERE to watch a video about prenatal surgery on Spina Bifida patients.

Treatment usually does not end with one or two initial surgeries. Most patients with SB require ongoing care. Some may need phisical therapy, while others require mulitiple surgeries to fix additional complications. Many people who SB have a team of doctors from multiple backgrounds contributing to ongoing care.

Please ceck out the Spina Bifida Association's website for more information about treatment and ongoing care!

Spina Bifida Complications

Like most birth defects, Spina Bifida comes with other complications. Since there are many levels of severity, complications can range from minor physical issues to very severe physical and mental disabilities. 

Physical complications - Some physical complications of Spina Bifida could be leg weakness/numbness or even paralysis, orthopedic abnormalities (club foot, hip dislocation, scoliosis), problems controlling bladder and bowel functions, skin irritations and latex allergies. 

Neurological complications - Spina Bifida can often cause complications with the cerebellum called the Arnold Chiari II malformation and hydrocephalus. There can also be abnormalities of the cortex where some parts of the brain are thicker or thinner than expected. 

Cognitive function complications - Many children with Spina Bifida and hydrocephalus have demonstrated attention difficulties, including ADHD. Studies have also shown that some individuals have increased difficulty with problem-solving, planning, organization and memory functions. Because of those cognitive complications, individuals with Spina Bifida often struggle academically usually in math and reading. 

Social complications - Many children with Spina Bifida are often socially immature and tend to be more passive in social situations. Children with Spina Bifida usually do not have a lot of friends and tend to spend less time with them. They often maintain social difficulties well into adulthood. 

For more information about Spina Bifida complications, visit the Mayo Clinic's website!

Causes of Spina Bifida

With today's advanced medical field it is interesting to know that the cause of Spina Bifida still remains a mystery.

Many researchers believe it is a combination of several factors - genetics, nutrition and environment. Several research studies have found that a lack of folic acid in the mother's diet during the "child bearing years" plays a role in causing Spina Bifida and other neural tube defects. Research also shows that women who are considered obese or diabetic have an increased risk of having a child with Spina Bifida. Other risk factors have been identified, such as race (most common in caucasian and hispanics), family history of neural tube defects, certain medications and increased body temperature.

For more infomation on causes of Spina Bifida check out these helpful information sheets done by the Spina Bifida Association HERE.

On a personal note - because I have a sibling wtih Spina Bifida, it was recommended to me by my primary care provider and OB/GYN that I take double the recommended daily amount of folic acid during my "child bearing years."

Types of Spina Bifida

In continuing our mission to help education people on what Spina Bifida (SB) is, this post is dedicated to the types of SB. There are actually 4 types of SB - occulta, closed neural tube defects, meningocele, and myelomeningocele.

Occulta is the mildest and most common form of SB. The word "occulta" actually means hidden. With SB occulta the malformation or spinal defect is covered by a layer of skin. With SB occulta, most people have little to no effects or disabilities. Often it is not discovered until later in childhood or adulthood. 


Closed Neural Tube Defects is the second form of SB. With the closed neural tube defects, the spinal cord is marked by a deformity of fat, bone or membranes. Like SB occulta, individuals with the closed neural tube defect SB experience little to no symptoms. Sometimes the deformity can cause bladder or bowl dysfunction or mild mobility impairments. 

Meningocele is the third type of SB. With meningocele, spinal fluid and meninges (membranes that envelope the central nervous system) form a sac on the back of a baby. There is usually no nerve damage and the individual experiences little to no symptoms. In some cases meningocele can cause minor disabilities. 

Myelomeningocele is the final form of SB and it is also considered the most severe. It occurs when the spinal cord, nerves and other nerve elements physically protrude through an opening in the back. Depending on where the opening is, depends on how severe the disability could be. It can cause paralysis, bowel and bladder dysfunction and other disabilities including Hydrocephalus. 

Photo credit:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/spinabifida/facts.html

Alex's Army is most familiar with the Myelomeningocele for of SB because that is what Alex was diagnosed with when he was born. His SB is located at the T11/T12 area of his vertebra. He has no movement from the waste down and does experience the other symptoms discussed above. 

For more information about the types of SB, please check out these helpful websites:

• http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/spinabifida/facts.html
• http://www.spinabifidaassociation.org/site/c.evKRI7OXIoJ8H/b.8277225/k.5A79/What_is_Spina_Bifida.htm
• http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/spina_bifida/detail_spina_bifida.htm#220593258

What is Spina Bifida?

This question has been brought up to me a lot recently. It all started on the golf course when myself along with a couple volunteers were talking about how there is not a lot of education about Spina Bifida (SB). Our conversation turned into learning about SB, to talking about how little most people know about it. To be completely honest, SB is one of the most common birth defects, occurring in about 1 in ever 1000 births! According the the March of Dimes, its one of the most common defects along with congenital heart defects, clef palate and downs syndrome. Knowing that information, why do we rarely hear so much about it? 

I was only 10 and a half years old when Alex was born, so of course I wasn't really going to know too much about ANY birth defect, but as I got older I noticed that most people didn't know what SB was. There was a lot of information out there about Autism, Down Syndrome, Cystic Fibrosis and Cerebral Palsy. Where is the information about SB?

So, what is Spina Bifida? The words spina bifida actually mean "cleft spine." It is caused by the incomplete development of the brain, spine and meninges. It is classified as a neural tube defect that happens in the first month of pregnancy when the spine does not close all the way, thus creating an opening or lesion on the spinal column. SB is considered the most common type of neural tube defect and it currently affects about 166,000 Americans. There are four different types of SB and several complications associated with it. Some of the complications associated with SB include mobility impairments, bowel/bladder complications, latex allergy, obesity, skin breakdown, gastrointestinal disorders, learning disabilities, social issues and depression. 


If you need any further information about SB, we highly encourage you to check out the Spina Bifida Association's website, www.sbaa.org. Their website is full of really important information about SB, how you can help prevent it and resources for you if your child is diagnosed with SB.