Question of the Month: I’m hoping you can help me with a question. I was told that there is a technique used at birth to lessen Spina Bifida. Can you tell me where I might find some information on this?

Spina bifida is not caused by anything that occurs during the birthing process. Spina Bifida is a fetal development problem that occurs very early in pregnancy – within the first month. There are several risk factors for Spina Bifida (which are reviewed in the June 2007 “Ask the Doctor” in the archives), but the exact cause or causes are not known. However, it is safe to say that the fetus will have already developed Spina Bifida before the delivery process.

If your developing baby has Spina Bifida, there are things that the delivery team can do to lessen complications during the birthing process. The optimal delivery team is a high-risk pregnancy specialist with experience managing a spina bifida pregnancy. Babies with open Spina Bifida (Spina Bifida aperta), where part of the spinal cord is outside the skin, are usually delivered by C-section to decrease the trauma to the exposed nerve tissue. Once the baby is delivered, she is wrapped in a protective covering and often started on antibiotics to decrease the chance for infection. The baby then goes to surgery to get the exposed nerve tissue covered by a skin layer. These babies are best cared for in intensive care nurseries in hospitals with on-staff neurosurgeons, urologists, and orthopedic doctors who have experience treating newborns with Spina Bifida. If you know you are carrying a baby with Spina Bifida, discuss with your obstetrician your options for meeting with these specialists before your baby is born.

To find the hospitals that have these teams, try contacting your local Spina Bifida Association or your nearest children’s hospital. Best wishes on your pregnancy.