Expectant parents may be able to find out if a baby has spina bifida by taking certain kinds of prenatal tests.
The alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test, performed between the 16th and 18th weeks of pregnancy, measures how much AFP, which the fetus produces, has passed in the mother's bloodstream. If the amount is high, the test is repeated because in many cases, high AFP readings are false. If the second result is high, other tests will be done to double-check and confirm the diagnosis.
Doctors also may use ultrasound , and in some cases a fetal MRI, to see if a baby has spina bifida; in some cases, the spinal defect can be seen on the ultrasound study. Amniocentesis also can help determine whether a baby has spina bifida. A needle is inserted through the mother's belly and into the uterus to collect fluid that is tested for AFP
Sometimes, spina bifida is not detected until after a baby has been born. To diagnose the condition in these cases, doctors may do an ultrasound on younger babies (less than 3 months old). For older babies, doctors may relay on tests such as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, computed tomography (CT) scan, or X-ray.
Maternal folic acid deficiency has been linked to spina bifida, and researchers believe that many cases can be prevented if women of childbearing age consume 0.4 milligrams (400 micrograms) of folic acid every day, and continue to take it throughout the first trimester.
It is important that folic acid consumption start before the onset of pregnancy to provide the best protection. Good sources of folic acid include eggs, orange juice, and dark green leafy vegetables. Many multivitamins contain the recommended dose of folic acid, too.