About.com Special Needs Parenting Guide Jody Swarbrick brings you excellent links for parents of children with neural tube defects.
Spina Bifida is a neural tube defect (NTD) in which the spine does not properly close and cover the spinal cord. This can lead to problems with mobility and with bowel and bladder functioning. Because spina bifida is a common problem, there is a lot of research going on, and new medical breakthroughs are happening often. Some doctors will even perform surgery in utero to close the fetal spine and reduce the effects of spina bifida.
Recent research indicates that if the mother has enough folic acid in her diet before pregnancy and in the early weeks of pregnancy, the incidence of NTDs can be reduced 75%.
Spina bifida's effects can vary in severity. Although children with spina bifida require a lot of medical care, therapy, and surgery, they can live full and satisfying lives. I only bring you a few of the many pages of children and adults with spina bifida. For more stories I recommend that you browse one of the many spina bifida Web Rings you'll find on the links below.
Amanda's
Page
Meet a little girl with spina bifida.
Christopher's
Page
Christopher has spina bifida, and is doing well.
David
M. Rushton
A young man with spina bifida describes its impact on his life,
and shares a photo of his lovely wife.
"Doctors
Give Little Ones a Hand"
Pioneering surgery for spina bifida performed on fetus -- who
shakes hands with the doctor as he returns to the womb.
Good Day!
This father of nine has spina bifida (yes -- the father of the
nine children is the one with the birth defect) and provides great mobility
links.
John's Spina Bifida Page
Information, chat, and links pulled together by someone living
with spina bifida.
Kimber's Spina
Bifida Story
Follow Kimberly's progress. Her mother tells her story.
Little
Ana's Page
This little girl had surgery in-utero for spina bifida.
My Life
With Spina Bifida
Ethan's mom tells his story. Follow his progress as he grows.
Our
Pride and Joy...Jamie
Jamie has spina bifida and requires a wheelchair for mobility,
but that doesn't stop him from skiing.
SANDI Homepage
Spina Bifida Assessment of Neurobehavioral Development, International.
An extensive research into the causes of spina bifida, with links for treatment.
Spina Bifada
About.com Special Needs Parenting Guide Jody Swarbrick brings you
excellent links for parents of children with neural tube defects.
Spina Bifida Association of America
Information on spina bifida, resources for families, and information
on prevention.
Summary
of My Life With Spina Bifida
This grandmother has spina bifida.
Welcome
to Our Journy With Spina Bifida
A mother tells her family's story as they deal with spina bifida.
Welcoming
Babies With Spina Bifida
What parents can expect.
For more information on congenital conditions:
Give us your input about providing options other than abortion to parents facing prenatal diagnoses at the Forum.
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