Prenatal surgery- for spina bifida (fetal surgery) takes place before the 26th week of pregnancy. Surgeons expose a pregnant mother's uterus surgically, open the uterus and repair the baby's spinal cord.

Cesarean Birth-Many babies with myelomeningocele tend to be in a feet-first (breech) position. If your baby is in this position or if your doctor has detected a large cyst or sac, cesarean birth may be a safer way to deliver your baby.

Meningocele- involves surgery to put the meninges back in place and close the opening in the vertebrae. Because the spinal cord develops normally in babies with meningocele, these membranes often can be removed by surgery with little or no damage to nerve pathways.

Myelomeningocele also requires surgery. Performing the surgery early can help minimize risk of infection that's associated with the exposed nerves and may also help protect the spinal cord from more trauma.

Maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) test. For the MSAFP test, a sample of the mother's blood is drawn and tested for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) — a protein produced by the baby. It's normal for a small amount of AFP to cross the placenta and enter the mother's bloodstream. But abnormally high levels of AFP suggest that the baby has a neural tube defect, such as spina bifida, though some spina bifida cases don't produce high levels of AFP.

Many obstetricians rely on ultrasonography to screen for spina bifida. If blood tests indicate high AFP levels, your doctor will suggest an ultrasound exam to help determine why. 

Amniocentesis- your doctor uses a needle to remove a sample of fluid from the amniotic sac that surrounds the baby.  

Other blood tests. Your doctor may perform the MSAFP test with two or three other blood tests. These tests are commonly done with the MSAFP test, but their objective is to screen for other abnormalities, such as trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), not neural tube defects.

Spina bifida (myelomeningocele, meningocele, occulta) - causes, symptoms...

Types of Spina Bifida 

Spina Bifida Occulta(sounds like: o-cult-tuh)-  Spina bifida occulta is the mildest type of spina bifida. It is sometimes called “hidden” spina bifida. With it, there is a small gap in the spine, but no opening or sac on the back. The spinal cord and the nerves usually are normal. Many times, spina bifida occulta is not discovered until late childhood or adulthood. This type of spina bifida usually does not cause any disabilities.

Meningocele (sounds like: ma-nin-jo-seal)- A sac of fluid can be seen on the baby's back.  It leaves the baby with little nerve damage. Can cause minor disabilities.

Myelomeningocele (sounds like: my-low-ma-nin-jo-seal)- Myelomeningocele is the most serious type of spina bifida.  A sac of fluid comes through an opening in the baby’s back. Part of the spinal cord and nerves are in this sac and are damaged. This type of spina bifida causes moderate to severe disabilities, such as problems affecting how the person goes to the bathroom, loss of feeling in the person’s legs or feet, and not being able to move the legs. 

My name is Michelle De Vore.  I am 30 years ago I was born with Spina Bifida and as a result I also have hydrocephalus. Which most if not all of people with Spina Bifida have. Hydrocephalus means I have fluid that will not drain on it's own from my brain. Now that we got that out the way back to Spina Bifida or as most people with it call it simply SB. Spina bifida is a condition that affects the spine and is apparent at birth. It is a type of neural tube defect. My blog will tell you about the types of SB and their treatments. Spina Bifida has no cure but a person with it can live a long life.