Neural Tube Defect: Frequently Asked Questions
Who can have a baby with a neural tube defect in the United States?
Sixty million women are of childbearing age in the United States; all those who are capable of becoming pregnant are at risk for having an NTD-affected pregnancy. It is not possible to predict which women will have a pregnancy affected by an NTD. Ninety-five percent of NTDs occur in women with no personal or family history of NTDs. However, some risk factors are known: An NTD-affected pregnancy increases a woman's chance to have another NTD-affected pregnancy approximately twenty times. ...
Source: www.weitzlux.com
Any woman in the United States can have a baby with an NTD. If a woman can get pregnant, she is at risk for having an NTD-affected pregnancy. No one can predict which women will have a pregnancy affected by an NTD. All women are at risk. Some things can increase a woman’s chance of having a baby with an NTD: Previous NTD-affected pregnancy. Diabetes when the blood sugar is out of control. Some medicines (like some of those that treat epilepsy). ...
Source: www.cdc.gov
What can be done to decrease the risk of having a child with neural tube defect (NTD)?
The increased intake of folic acid (5.0 mg per day) has been shown to decrease the chances of having a child with a NTD. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) recommends that women who are at risk of having a child with NTD take a prenatal multivitamin supplement with a high dose of folic acid (5.0 mg) at least 3 months before and following conception.
Source: pregvitfolic5.com
Can you please describe a neural tube defect?
The neural tube is the part of the body that carries the nerves from the brain down the spine. Any defect in the skull (anenecephaly) or the spine of the baby (spina bifida) is called a neural tube defect. Spina bifida describes the condition when the spine is improperly formed, leaving it open and the spinal column protruding. Research suggests that nearly 95% of all babies born with anencephaly or spina bifida are born to parents with no family history of neural tube defects.
Source: www.babypartner.com
I have a neural tube defect. Is the risk of my baby having a neural tube defect increased?
The risk of neural tube defects for parents with no prior family history is 1--2 per 1,000 pregnancies (0.1%--0.2%). If you or your partner has a neural tube defect, the risk rises to 5%.
Source: www.babypartner.com
What are my chances of having a baby with a neural tube defect?
In the US, about 1,600 to 2,000 babies are born with spina bifida each year. About 800 are born with anencephaly. (from American Baby, jul 93) The cause(s) are unknown. Having one child with a neural tube defect does increase the probability of having another. Yet, over 95% of babies with neural tube defects are born to families in which there is no history of birth defects or pregnancy problems.
Source: www.alsirat.com
In the US, about 1,600 to 2,000 babies are born with spina bifida
Source: stason.org
In the Pacific Northwest, neural tube defects occur in about one in one thousand births. The cause is unknown at the present time. Over 95% of babies with neural tube defects are born to families in which there is no history of birth defects or pregnancy problems.
Source: www.womensclinicseattle.com
WHICH GROUP OR GROUPS OF WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES ARE AT RISK OF HAVING A BABY WITH A NEURAL TUBE DEFECT (NTD)?
Any woman in the can have a baby with an NTD. If a woman can get pregnant, she is at risk for having an NTD-affected pregnancy. No one can predict which women will have a pregnancy affected by an NTD. All women are at risk .
Source: www.wchd.org
What is Neural Tube Defect?
Development of brain in embryo starts at during the 4th to 6th week after conception. It starts with the formation of the neural tube that later becomes the spinal cord, spine, brain, and the skull of the developing baby. A neural tube defect (NTD) occurs when the development of the neural tube is interrupted due to many factors that may vary from nutrient deficiency to accidental early death of the baby after delivery or may even result in the delivery of a dead baby. ...
Source: www.testcountry.com
This term includes spina bifida (open spine) and anencephaly. Spina bifida results from a failure of the spinal column to fully close. The problems associated with spina bifida will vary with the size, location and nature of the opening in the spine. Problems range from mild backaches to severe mental retardation, paralysis, bowel and bladder control problems and leg deformities. Generally speaking, serum screening detects the more severe forms of spina bifida. ...
Source: www.womensclinicseattle.com
What can I do to prevent my baby from having a neural tube defect?
Research suggests that supplemental folic acid during pregnancy can prevent many first time cases of neural tube defects. The US Public Health Service goes one step further, suggesting that all women of childbearing age and capable of becoming pregnant take 0.4 milligrams of supplemental folic acid. Whatever you choose to do, be sure to eat a well balanced diet, especially foods containing folic acid such as citrus, fortified breakfast cereals, green leafy vegetables and liver.
Source: www.babypartner.com
My baby has a neural tube defect. How can I reduce the risk of having another baby with a neural tube defect?
There is some research that suggests a daily 4 milligram dose of folic acid before you become pregnant and during early pregnancy can reduce the recurrence of neural tube defects by nearly 71%.
Source: www.babypartner.com
Can an 11-13 week scan tell if the baby has spina bifida (neural tube defect)?
Only if it is severely effected.
Source: www.prenataldiagnosis.co.uk
I have already had a child with a neural tube defect. Is the risk of having another increased?
If you have already had a child with a neural tube defect, the risk of recurrence is 2%. The risk increases to 6%--10% if you have two or more children with neural tube defects. Evidence suggests that nearly 95% of all babies with anencephaly and spina bifida are born to parents with no family history of neural tube defects.
Source: www.babypartner.com
My alphafetaprotein (AFP) test returned high levels of AFP. What is the risk that my baby has a neural tube defect?
The risk of a neural tube defect is about 1 or 2 for every 1,000 pregnancies (0.1%-0.2%). The test returns a high positive value in 5 out of 100 pregnancies (5%). A high value will indicate the need for additional tests. You may be further along in your pregnancy that you previously thought, or you may be carrying twins. AFP tests will detect all cases of anencephaly. It will also detect 80% of spina bifida cases.
Source: www.babypartner.com
The results of my alphafetaprotein (AFP) test were high. The amniocentesis and ultrasound show no sign of a neural tube defect. Is there anything else I should worry about?
There are many issues which could cause a high AFP result. It could be caused by intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), stillbirth, placenta accreta, preterm labor, premature rupture of the membranes, or oligohydramnios (abnormally low levels of amniotic fluid). Your doctor will suggest that you undergo weekly non-stress tests and ultrasounds to monitor the health of your baby.
Source: www.babypartner.com
