Understanding And Diagnosing Spina Bifida During your first ultrasounds while being pregnant, the doctor will check your fetus to see if it has spina bifida-this is a very terrible defect that can dramatically affect your baby and your pregnancy. When it occurs in a fetus, it means that the spinal cord or its coverings have not developed completely-the spine fails to join together, leaving an open area. When it is detected, it can be treated to the best of the doctors abilities. The reason it occurs in some fetuses and not in others is still a mystery. Some doctors feel that genes may play a role, but in most cases there is no familial connection. A high fever while you are pregnant may increase your chances of this defect occurring, for some reason. There are generally two forms of this defect, including spina bifida occulta, and spina bifida manifesta. The first is the mildest form-most children with this problem never have any health problems, and the spinal cord is often unaffected. The second type is much more serious, as it involves the meninges, the membranes responsible for covering and protecting the brain and spinal cord. If the meninges push through the hole in the vertebrae, the sac is called a meningocele. Because of the abnormal development of and damage to the spine, a baby with myelomeningocele will most likely have some paralysis. The degree of paralysis depends on where the opening occurs in the spine. If the opening is high on the back, paralysis will be more severe. The affected baby will have problems with bowel and bladder control as life goes on, and will probably develop attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Learning difficulties are common, as are problems with hand-eye coordination. This can make childhood pretty difficult for the child, and the parents alike. To diagnose a problem early on, prenatal tests can be done. If during your first ultrasound you can see your babys legs and arms moving, you know that your baby does not have this disorder. However, sometimes it can be harder to diagnose. There is a test which can be performed during the sixteenth and eighteenth week, which measures the amount of alpha-fetoprotein in the mothers bloodstream. This is a good indication of any developing problem. The test will usually be performed twice, and if the results are high and consistent in both, you may end up with a positive reading. Other tests may be done to confirm the diagnosis, so that they know how to proceed with any kind of treatment or counseling. Maternal folic acid deficiency has been linked to spina bifida, and researchers believe that many cases can be prevented if women of childbearing age consume 400 micrograms of folic acid every day, and continue to take it throughout the first trimester. If you are worried about preventing this defect before you become pregnant, this is a great way to try to control the results as much as possible. You can consume folic acid in your food, but you will probably not get quite enough without taking a supplement. Good sources of folic acid include eggs, orange juice, and dark green leafy vegetables. Make sure that your prenatal pills contain the highest amount of folic acid possible. If your baby is born with this problem, there may not be any signs of symptoms at first. The cord does not protrude through the skin, although there may be a birth mark on the low back. Other times there are obvious signs, in more severe cases, such as a fluid-filled sac that you can see on the back. The sac is often covered by a thin layer of skin, and can be as small as a grape or as large as a grapefruit. There are forms of treatment that you can discuss with your doctor, and specialists. The key is to learn as much as possible about this problem so that you know how to deal with it, and you can use your knowledge as power. Talk to your doctor about all of the different options, and try to remain as calm as possible. Your baby can grow up to live a full life, if you are careful to make your childs life as comfortable and normal as possible. Tom Selwick has worked in the field of chiropractics for 15 years and has written numerous articles on chiropractic therapy for treatment of automobile accident injuries. He recommends Utah Personal Injury for treatment of your autmobile accident injury. Contact Info: Tom Selwick TomSelwick09@gmail utahautoaccidents
Posted on: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 19:45:03 +0000