I am 11 weeks pregnant and I have spina
bifida occulta. I also have a retroverted
uterus. What problems can be associated
with this situation
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Neva Whittaker
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 31 Dec 2003 Posts: 169 Location: FLORIDA
Hope This Helps Posted: 01-20-04 22:30pm
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
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hearenbaby8504
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Feb 2004 Posts: 197 Location: Cinn. Ohio
Hey There Posted: 02-08-04 01:45am
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.
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Bjean7
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Posts: 4 Location: United States
Re: Spina Bifida Occulta Posted: 04-10-04 12:44pm
cinna
wrote:
i am 11 weeks pregnant and I
have spina bifida occulta. I also have a
retroverted uterus. What problems can be
associated with this situation
i just found out my 15 year old daughter
has spinal bifida occulta. How did you
discover that you had it and has it caused
you any problem?
She was in the hospital over thanksgiving
due to a kidney infection and very bad
back pain. Once that was resolved she
continued to have lower back pain
actulally more central now but immediately
after this infection. She has been a
very active teenager and never any
problems until now.
From an mri I was told she has a herniated
/bulging disk just above the area on her
back with the spina bifida occulta. The
doc ~`a pediatric neruo surgeon is not
sure if the spina bifida has anything to
due with this disk problem and all the
constant pain. She is missing school and
in tears with the pain. He just did an
epidural injection on wed.
All very new to me and would love and info
you may have.
Bj
