Spina Bifida

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Spina Bifida

• By Felicia Battiste

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What Is Spina Bifida?

• An incomplete closure of the spinal column.
• Occurs during the first month of pregnancy
• Spina Bifida is the most frequently occurring
  permanently disabling birth defect.
• Every day, an average of eight babies are
  affected by Spina Bifida or a similar birth
  defect of the brain and spine.

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What Causes Spina Bifida?

• The cause of Spina Bifida is not known with
  certainty.
• Scientists do believe that genetic, and
  environmental factors may act together to cause
  Spina Bifida. Or if the mother is on medication
  the child might also be at risk.
• Possible Factors
• If a woman doesn't have enough folic acid in her
  diet while she's pregnant, she may be more likely
  to have a baby with spina bifida.
• A woman who has a high fever early in her
  pregnancy also may be at higher risk of having a
  baby who has spina bifida.

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The Three Types of Spina Bifida

• Occulta
• 2.Meningocele
• 3.Myelomeningocele

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Occulta

• The opening in the person's back is covered by
  muscle and skin
• The spinal cord usually appears normal.
• There may be some problems with the spine, or
  there may be no problems at all.

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Meningocele

• The protective coatings come through the open
  part of the spine like a sac that is pushed out.
  Cerebrospinal fluid is in the sac and there is
  usually no nerve damage. Individuals may suffer
  minor disabilities. New problems can develop
  later in life.

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Myelomeningocele

• When most people talk about spina bifida, though,
  they mean myelomeningocele "spine" and
  "swelling.
• The baby is born with a sac protruding from the
  opening in the spine. This sac contains nerves
  and part of the spinal cord.
• About one in 1,000 babies born in the United
  States have this type of spina bifida.

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Myelomeningocele

• Many children with myelomeningocele, have
  hydrocephalus. This happens when there's too much
  fluid in the brain. Some people with spina bifida
  may have learning problems, but most have normal
  intelligence.
• Most kids with spina bifida have some problems
  with their bowels and bladder. The nerves that
  send and receive messages from the brain can't do
  their job, so it's hard for kids to know when
  they need to go to the bathroom.

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The Article

• Caring for a child with spina bifida
• This article is about James a boy who has
  Myelomeningocele, when James was born he also was
  diagnosed with hydrocephalus.
• Before Jackie (his mother) found out she was
  pregnant she
• was on medication.
• As soon as doctors realized she was pregnant
  they took
• her off the medication and started her on
  folic acid.
• At 18 weeks pregnant Jackie finds out that her
  son James has spina bifida.

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James

• Experiences Fits
• His vocabulary is limited
• He can hardly communicate with others
• He can move around in his wheel chair
• He is totally dependent on others for feeding
  and changing

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James

• Today James is eleven years old and is attending
  a special school for sever learning difficulties.