Do you know what Spina Bifida is? Have you ever heard of Spina Bifida?

Most people have not!

Spina Bifida happens during the first 28 days of pregnancy, when the brain and spinal cord of the baby embryo form. For reasons not understood, this development is interrupted in some babies and the birth defect Spina Bifida occurs. Spina Bifida is one of a number of conditions called “neural tube defects” that occur when the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) of the developing baby fails to form normally at some point along its length.

Today Spina Bifida occurs in about 1 out of 1,000 pregnancies in the United States. A simple test can be done to check for Spina Bifida. The AFP (Alpha Fetoprotein Test) test checks for neural tube defects.

Twelve years ago my daughter, Makayla, was born with Spina Bifida. Since then I have learned a lot about Spina Bifida, including that research shows that folic acid, a common B vitamin, can help reduce the risk of having a child with Spina Bifida. All women of child-bearing age should take 400mcg of folic acid every day- even if you are not trying to become pregnant. If you are at a high risk for Spina Bifida, you should take 4,00mcg of folic acid by prescription for 1 to 3 months before pregnancy.

Any family can have a baby with a birth defect, so do what you can to help reduce your chances. Take the B vitamin - folic acid! Plan ahead - do what you can!

Angie Moore

Houston Resident