1. Why is there a need to take folic acid?
2. I am pregnant with a baby with Spina Bifida and/or Hydrocephalus what should I do?
3. Why is this happening to us?
4. We have decided to keep our baby is there anything we can do now to improve our babies situation?
5. What is Anencephaly?
Folic acid does not guarantee a healthy baby but research indicates that taking this 28 days prior to conception and throughout the first trimester will reduce the risks of birth defects such as Spina Bifida and Anencephaly* by up to 75%. It is recommended that all women consume 0.4 milligrams (400 micrograms) each day. Women with a family history of Spina Bifida or Anencephaly are advised to take a 5-milligram tablet of folic acid per day, which is available from their GP via a prescription.
* Anencephaly is an abnormal development of the brain and skull, which occurs during the first 28, says of pregnancy. The upper part of the brain and its protective skullcap are missing and the lower part of the brain and the base of the skull are not properly formed. Sadly this is always a fatal condition. Whatever anybody does the bay cannot and will not survive.
Give yourself time to absorb what is happening to you and your partner both as individuals and also as a couple. Allow time to make informed, unhurried decisions which feel right to you. Try and talk about how you are feeling and take time to listen to each other during this difficult time. Try to be together when receiving any medical information and don’t be hurried into any decision.
This information may appear stark and may alarm you or it may be necessary to ask for it to be repeated. It is sometimes difficult for Doctors to assess accurately the degree of disability that may affect your child even when they are specialists within their field. You may wish to contact an organisation such as our own with practical experience of these conditions or to have someone to listen to you. We are pleased to help you in any way we can and will be respectful of any decision you make. The Internet is also a good resource and a website such as Ante Natal testing link may aid you with your decision.
The main thing to remember is that this is not your fault. Scientific research has shown that many factors contribute to Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.
Listed below are a few suggestions, which you may find useful:-
Take time to listen to both your own and your partner’s feelings.
Find out everything you can about Spina Bifida and/or Hydrocephalus and share this information with family and friends as this will help to prepare you and increase your support network.
Try to link in with an Association such as KASBAH and find out about the experiences of other parents in situations similar to your own.
Find out about specialists within the fields of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. Your baby may require an operation as soon as it is born which may involve the closure of the back. It is therefore important that a skilled neurosurgeon is available as this may reduce the level of disability.
Remember you are not alone, expert advice is available from KASBAH.
These are just a sample of the many unanswered questions you may have. Should you wish to share your thoughts or to talk with someone then please do get in touch.
Anencephaly is a defect in the closure of the neural tube during fetal development. The neural tube is a narrow channel that folds and closes between the 3rd and 4th weeks of pregnancy to form the brain and spinal cord of the embryo. Anencephaly occurs when the "cephalic" or head end of the neural tube fails to close, resulting in the absence of a major portion of the brain, skull, and scalp. Infants with this disorder are born without a forebrain (the front part of the brain) and a cerebrum (the thinking and coordinating part of the brain). The remaining brain tissue is often exposed--not covered by bone or skin. A baby born with anencephaly is usually blind, deaf, unconscious, and unable to feel pain. Although some individuals with anencephaly may be born with a rudimentary brain stem, the lack of a functioning cerebrum permanently rules out the possibility of ever gaining consciousness. Reflex actions such as breathing and responses to sound or touch may occur.
The cause of anencephaly is unknown. Although it is thought that a mother’s diet and vitamin intake may play a role, scientists believe that many other factors are also involved.
Recent studies have shown that the addition of folic acid (vitamin B9) to the diet of women of childbearing age may significantly reduce the incidence of neural tube defects. Therefore it is recommended that all women of childbearing age consume 0.4 mg of folic acid daily.
Our Advisor can be contacted by telephone on
01474 536202 or 536501 for Christine Cunningham
or in writing to KASBAH 7, The Hive, Northfleet, Kent DA11 9DE |
