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Children with myelomeningocele (My-el-oh-meh-NINN-joe-seal), the most severe form of spina bifida, may have:
Prenatal tests can check for spina bifida and other birth defects if you are pregnant. They include the following:
Your baby will be admitted to the infant medical surgical unit or newborn intensive care unit (NICU) at Primary Children’s Hospital.
If your baby develops hydrocephalus, the neurosurgeon will talk with you about treatment options. The options may include the following:
Your baby will have a urinary catheter. This is a small tube put in the bladder to drain urine out of the body. It makes sure your baby’s bladder empties during surgery. The tube will stay in the bladder for several days after surgery.
Your baby will have an ultrasound to see if their bladder empties and carefully monitored.
The hospital staff will teach you how to catheterize (KATH-ah-terr-eyes) your baby. You will place a urinary catheter at home once a day until your baby is 8 weeks old. The hospital staff will order the catheters for your baby, and they will be delivered to your home.
You will give your baby a low dose of antibiotic every day to prevent urinary tract infections. The doctor will write you a prescription for this medicine.
A urologist, orthopedic surgeon, and a physical therapist will examine your baby. The nurse practitioner from the spina bifida clinic will review their recommendations with you.
Once your baby leaves the hospital, you will need to schedule periodic checkups and continued care with the spina bifida clinic. These are the same doctors and therapists you will meet in the hospital.
Babies with spina bifida should be involved in an early intervention program through your local school district. This program provides physical and occupational therapy in your home. The hospital will refer you, and the program will contact you when your baby is home.
Reduce the risk of spina bifida by taking folic acid at least a month before conception. You should continue taking folic acid through your first trimester of pregnancy as well.
If you plan to become pregnant, take at least 400 mcg of folic acid each day. Eat a healthy diet and include foods rich in folate, including broccoli, spinach, beans, egg yolks, and citrus fruits and juices.
Rice, pasta, breakfast cereals, and bread are often fortified with folic acid as well. However, a supplement is recommended. Most people don’t get enough folate from diet alone.
You may need to take a higher dose of folic acid — up to 4 mg — if you have given birth to a child with spina bifida or have spina bifida. Ask your doctor before taking any supplements.
Spina bifida happens when a baby’s developing spine does not close and a sac forms on the baby’s back. The sac contains spinal fluid and the malformed spinal cord. Normally, the spinal cord sends nerves to the legs, bladder, and anus. Unfortunately, in spina bifida, some of these nerves may not connect to the legs, bladder and anus.
Spina bifida can cause several problems, including:
Babies with spina bifida will have surgery to close the sac. They will also have urinary catheters and receive physical and occupational therapy at home.