The month of October recognizes Spina Bifida Awareness Month. Spina bifida is the most common permanently disabling birth defect in the United States, affecting over 70,000 individuals.
Spina bifida is a defect that occurs when a baby’s spine fails to close during the first month of pregnancy. The cause of spina bifida is not known. In all cases, the affected individual experiences neurological damage and mobility impairment. Additional conditions associated with spina bifida vary but can include bowel and bladder complications, latex allergies, obesity, skin breakdown, gastrointestinal disorders, learning disabilities, depression, tendonitis, and social issues.
With over 60 million women in the United States capable of becoming pregnant, each one is at risk for having a baby born with spina bifida. Research has shown that if a woman takes 400 micrograms of folic acid every day prior to becoming pregnant, as well as during her pregnancy, she reduces her risk of having a baby born with spina bifida or another neural tube defect by as much as 70%.
The Spina Bifida Association (SBA) was developed to promote the prevention of spina bifida and to enhance the lives of those affected. Across the country, there are many local chapters of the SBA.
The Spina Bifida Association of Delaware Valley services the counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, as well as the counties of Gloucester, Camden, and Burlington in New Jersey. For more information on events being held by the Spina Bifida Association of Delaware Valley, please visit their website.