Search Results for: blog what is spina bifida and who is at risk

The Risks of Not Knowing You’re Pregnant (Part 2)

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Yesterday I talked about the risks of not knowing you are pregnant, as is in the case of the women on the show I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant. I talked about the risks associated with continuing birth control or not taking prenatal vitamins during pregnancy. Turns out the risks associated with not taking prenatal vitamins are low if you are eating a well balanced diet. Taking birth control during pregnancy does pose a risk, but not in terms of birth defects. Today I’m going to talk about the risks associated with drinking alcohol, smoking, and risky activity, such as … Continue reading →

Congenital Abnormalities and Obesity

There is abundant evidence that obesity has risks during pregnancy. These include a higher incidence of developing complications, such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, large baby and complications during labor and birth, including c section. A new study suggests there may be additional and more long lasting risks. According to research conducted in the UK, women who are classified as obese have a higher incidence of congenital abnormalities compared with women of normal weight. The research involved analyzing articles of observational studies from nearly 2,000 sources. The analysis showed women with a BMI over 30 had double the risk of … Continue reading →

Understanding the Language of Pregnancy

When you become pregnant, you will soon learn that pregnancy has a vocabulary all its own. When you visit your doctor or midwife, you will hear new words and may be nervous to ask. Learning some of the commonly used terms can help you feel more confident about your pregnancy and in communicating with your health care provider. Alpha Fetoprotein Test is a blood test done early in the second trimester to detect the level of alpha fetoprotein in the pregnant woman’s blood. High levels can indicate a brain or spinal cord defect. Low levels can indicate an increased risk … Continue reading →

What is Spina Bifida, and Who is at Risk?

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What is Spina Bifida? Every year, about 3,000 infants are born with spina bifida, a neural tube defect which occurs during the first month of pregnancy. The spinal column of an unborn child begins to form early, often before a woman even realizes she is pregnant. If the spine does not fuse together properly, it leaves the delicate nerves of the spinal cord exposed or damaged. This is spina bifida. In severe cases, there may be brain involvement, causing fluid on the brain and requiring a permanent shunt for drainage. Spina bifida typically causes varying degrees of disability, from partial … Continue reading →

Should You Limit Folic Acid Supplements in Late Pregnancy?

It really amazes me how much medical advice and knowledge surrounding pregnancy changes from year to year, even month to month. Just when you think you know what you need for a healthy pregnancy, someone throws a curve call. This time, that ball is coming from experts at the University of Adelaide in Australia who conducted a study on Folic acid supplements and their effects on children born to mothers who take the supplements late in pregnancy. They studied 557 expectant mothers and how many of their children had asthma three and a half and five and a half years … Continue reading →

Types of Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is an umbrella that encompasses many specialties. Here are a few of the most common areas of specialization for physical therapists. Pediatric physical therapy deals with congenital, developmental, neuromuscular, neuroskeletal, and other disorders in infants, children, and adolescents. A pediatric physical therapist can help detect, diagnose, treat, and manage a wide variety of conditions, including: Cerebral palsy Spina bifida Developmental delays Pediatric physical therapy focuses on balance and coordination, improving motor skills (both fine motor and gross motor), building strength and endurance, and sensory integration. At the other end of life, geriatric physical therapists deals with aging and … Continue reading →

Is Green Tea Safe?

Green tea has been getting a lot of attention in recent years for its abundant health benefits. Green tea is helpful in diets intended to reduce cholesterol levels and is said to have benefits for cancer prevention. For this reason, more people than ever are choosing green tea, including women of child bearing age. For this group, green tea may not be beneficial. There is some evidence to suggest that high levels of green tea intake could result in a higher risk of having a baby with neural tube defects, such as spina bifida. This information comes from a study … Continue reading →

Optimizing Development of Your Baby

We all want a happy, healthy baby and. although the uterus is an exceptionally safe and comfortable environment for your growing baby, there are additional precautions that all expectant mothers can undertake to ensure that their baby receives the best start in life. Eat an adequate and balanced diet before and during pregnancy The nutritional needs of your developing baby as well as your own depend on a sound diet. Serious malnutrition, not only from lack of food but lack of nutritious food, can interfere with normal prenatal growth and may limit your baby’s intelligence. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption Studies … Continue reading →

Chorionic Villus Sampling

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) is a prenatal test that is useful for detecting certain genetic disorders. The test is used for the same reasons an amniocentesis may be done. The main advantage of CVS is that it can be done much earlier than an amnio. CVS tests can be done as early as the eleventh week of pregnancy. During the test, a sample of the chorionic villi is taken. The chorionic villi sample can be taken abdominally or vaginally. The sample will be sent out and will grow in a lab before the results are read. You will get the … Continue reading →

“If Only We Had Known…” Couples Sue over Wrongful Life

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Is having a special needs child worse than death? Apparently for some parents, it is. A number of couples are now suing their obstetricians for not informing them about testing procedures available during their pregnancy, which would have exposed fetal conditions such as spina bifida. In other words, they lost the opportunity to make an informed choice about continuing the pregnancy. According to the law in many states, physicians must inform expectant couples of all their prenatal testing options. Personally, I don’t blame parents for wanting to know about the health of their unborn child. And prenatal testing can provide … Continue reading →