The daughter of a friend of mine is three months pregnant and the doctors just discovered that her unborn baby has spina bifida. We are all shocked and saddened, and I just wondered, how much hope is there for this baby? I would like to believe that the child will live and be able to have a full life--I know that the likelihood is high that he or she will be significantly disabled....what do you know about this? Thanks.
2006-11-03 13:38:09 · 12 answers · asked by peachy78 5 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
Thanks for the answers so far; I do plan on doing more web research but I wanted to gather info from those who have experienced it firsthand or knew someone with it, to get real-life research, not just what the medical books/websites say. :)
2006-11-03 13:52:49 · update #1
I know 2 people with spinal bifida.
1 has a very mild case, has use of her legs, walks, runs and does everyday normal things. while a baby they did a surgery and covered her spinal cord and she is fine.
my friend Janelle on the other hand has braces on her legs to help her walk. She has had countless surgeries, Chunts, (water on the brain)
and other procedures. She is currently 27 yrs old and married. She works at Wal Mart and drives a car and doesn't let her disablity get her down.
So depending how the baby is raised is how the baby will turn out.
Good luck to your friend.
2006-11-03 14:08:34 · answer #1 · answered by evrythnnxs 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Spina Bifida is a neural tube defect, which can be caused by not getting enough folic acid (a type of B vitamin) during pregnancy. As far as the prognosis for this child, it depends how severe it ends up being. I know a guy (age 28) who didn't even know he had it until they gave him a MRI for some other reason, then they discovered it.
I also know adults who are in wheelchairs and have a lot of medical issues. Typically, wherever the problem with the spine is, there are problems like paralysis below that part of the spine. So a person may not have bladder and bowel control.
I'm sure you know how to look up websites, but I'm including a Spina Bifida Association website in case you want to read more.
2006-11-03 21:43:42 · answer #2 · answered by sarcastro1976 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My parents own an accounting office. They both work there and so did I another girl. When she came to wok there her daughter was about 4 yrs old. She had Spina Bifida. She is a little go getter. She is fixing to turn 25. She is the sweetest person you'll ever met. This girl gets around on crutches , She has a shunt, and a bladder cath. She does drive. In my opinion, she did have things that was limited for her, but also she was very strong willed.
2006-11-03 21:55:10 · answer #3 · answered by kimberkrafty1130 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My baby was tested for SB ( I am 22 weeks preg.) because of my sezure medication but it came back negative but these are the side effects:
Spina bifida (SB) is a neural tube defect (a disorder involving incomplete development of the brain, spinal cord, and/or their protective coverings) caused by the failure of the fetus's spine to close properly during the first month of pregnancy. Infants born with SB sometimes have an open lesion on their spine where significant damage to the nerves and spinal cord has occurred. Although the spinal opening can be surgically repaired shortly after birth, the nerve damage is permanent, resulting in varying degrees of paralysis of the lower limbs. Even when there is no lesion present there may be improperly formed or missing vertebrae and accompanying nerve damage. In addition to physical and mobility difficulties, most individuals have some form of learning disability. The three most common types of SB are: myelomeningocele, the severest form, in which the spinal cord and its protective covering (the meninges) protrude from an opening in the spine; meningocele in which the spinal cord develops normally but the meninges protrude from a spinal opening; and occulta, the mildest form, in which one or more vertebrae are malformed and covered by a layer of skin. SB may also cause bowel and bladder complications, and many children with SB have hydrocephalus (excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain).
2006-11-03 21:45:51 · answer #4 · answered by Wendy V 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I was born with spina bifida. Now it is a very mild case of it. It is where the lower spinal cord dosen't develop . I have lead a full life with out a problem. I pray that your friend's baby will be just fine.
2006-11-03 21:43:14 · answer #5 · answered by LITTLE 1 :o) 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My aunt was born with spina bifida. At the time of her birth my grandpa was told that she probably wouldnt live past 10 years old she is now 40 years old and kikcking strong. She is disabled but thats okay
2006-11-03 21:41:11 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a student who has spina bifida. He has been catheterized, and uses canes to walk..he is a bright young man, and he's in the 11th grade. He has a nurse that comes to the school daily to give him some sort of treatments....but he seems to be leading a pretty full life.
2006-11-03 21:47:48 · answer #7 · answered by prettydebutante 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A friend from school was born with this, but back in the late 60's when he was born there was not much that could be done other than putting braces on their legs. He had a hard time controlling his bowels and had to wear adult diapers, which a lot of kids teased him about. Today the prognosis for babies born with this is much better. If she sees a specialist later in her pregnancy they can actually perform the surgery while the baby is still in the womb to close the spine and it lessens the effects on them. They can perform the surgery after they are born, but it is better for it to be done before.
2006-11-03 21:48:34 · answer #8 · answered by Ryan's mom 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They said adding folic acid to the diet (prenatal vitamins has lots) had made very seldom.
Yes, I know one child and she had many operations, and at 18 graduated from high school in Columbus Ohio, and told her mother she was going to Georgia Tech. (she had rich grandparents and 2 younger siblings). She went to Georgia Tech and got her degree, and took public transportation. She came home and announced she was getting a job. She did. She...asked her grandparents (again rich) for help and they bought her a car with hand...instruments. She saved her money got her own apartment, and drives. She was raised to think for herself...no excuses, no limits!
....I am no longer in touch with the parents, but they are extremely proud, and the other siblings finished college also!
She had only partial use of her right leg, and is shorter than many people in height only!
2006-11-03 21:49:07 · answer #9 · answered by May I help You? 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
my sister. I know that sometimes they can Operate on the baby while it is in the mothers womb and sometimes fix what is defective but not in all cases my sister has lived a long almost normal life she is 37
2006-11-03 21:42:01 · answer #10 · answered by The gr8t alien 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋