The single most important thing you can do to prevent spina bifida in your baby is to take folic acid (folate) supplements before and during pregnancy. Folic acid can significantly reduce the risk of spina bifida and other neural tube defects, but...
Spina bifida is a neural tube defect that results in the malformation of the vertebrae that cover the spinal cord. This condition can cause life-threatening complications, which can make surgery or medications necessary. Learning about spina...
Folic acid is a B vitamin also known as folate. It is found naturally in some foods such as spinach, kale, citrus fruits and whole grains. It is also found in fortified breakfast cereals and prenatal supplements. If you are trying to become...
An estimated one out of every 800 babies in the U.S. are born with spina bifida myelomeningocele, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus service. Spina bifida myelomeningocele is a medical condition in which the spine and...
Latex is a kind of natural rubber made from fluid from the rubber tree. Some people are allergic to latex. These allergies are especially common among children with spina bifida. Patients subjected to multiple medical procedures or people who...
Folic acid, also referred to as vitamin B-9 or folate, is an essential for the health of a developing baby. Pregnant women need additional amounts of folic acid when pregnant or breastfeeding. A pregnant woman needs 600mcg of folic acid daily, and...
The immune system normally functions to help the body get rid of harmful invaders, such as bacteria and viruses. In a child with allergies, the immune system overreacts to normally harmless substances such as food or pollen and treats them as it...
B vitamins are a group of vitamins that include thiamine, or B1; riboflavin, B2; niacin, B3; pantothenic acid, B5; pyroxidine, B6; biotin, B7; folic acid or folate, B9; and cobalamin, B12. B vitamins are water-soluble vitamins that are not stored...
High arches can cause pain and make walking difficult for your child. The condition, known as cavus foot, rarely is present at birth and usually develops over the first 10 years of a child’s life, reports the Seattle Children’s...
Natural rubber latex is a widely used extract from the rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis. According to a 2010 review in “Allergology International,” about 1 percent of the general population has some kind of sensitivity to this...
An estimated 10 percent or more of birth defects are the result of maternal drug exposure, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians, or AAFP. If you’re pregnant, it’s important to ask your doctor before using any...
Spina bifida is a birth defect involving the neural tube, resulting in an incomplete formation of the spine. Get expert tips and advice on treating and understanding spina bifida or split spine in this video.
