Triumph over Neural Tube Defects | NTD Prevention and Care
Channel: MentalMettle TV
Date: 10/02/2024

Understanding Neural Tube Defects (NTD) | NTD Prevention and Care | Triumph over Neural Tube Defects | Maternal Health and NTD Awareness

Do you understand NTD?
Risk of birth defects: According to WHO, an estimated 3,03,000 newborns in the world die within 4 weeks of birth every year due to congenital abnormalities. Increasing maternal age along with changing lifestyle and career advancement, unplanned pregnancies, endogamy, genetic disorders, micronutrient deficiencies and high-risk behaviors increase the risk of birth defects.

First 4 weeks: Neural tube defects (NTD) occur in the first 4 weeks of pregnancy, so most women do not realize that they are pregnant. The cells of the neural plate fold back on themselves to form the neural tube, which becomes the brain, vertebral column, and spinal cord. Ancephaly occurs when the main vein and end of the neural tube fail to close. Spina bifida occurs when the neural tube remains open at the ends. Both anencephaly and spina bifida can be diagnosed. These defects occur early during pregnancy, when the neural tube does not close properly.
For a healthy pregnancy, take a folic acid supplement (400 mcg) every day starting one month before conceiving for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Common food sources of folate include legumes, such as cooked dried beans, peas, lentils and green soybeans, dark green vegetables, such as asparagus, avocado, spinach, broccoli, romaine lettuce, beets, Brussels sprouts, green peas, oranges. And its juice and wheat, sunflower seeds, peanuts. All prenatal multivitamins contain at least 0.4 mg of folic acid. This dosage should ensure adequate folate levels during organogenesis, which occurs primarily in the first trimester and also later in pregnancy, when folate is needed to meet developmental needs.


NTDs occur in the first 4 weeks, so women may not know that they are pregnant.

The baby growing in the womb may have 'neural tube defect', but this is not a reason to panic. With proper care a healthy child can be born.

family health history
■ If either parent has a family health history of a birth defect, developmental disability, or genetic disease, health problems may be detected and addressed earlier.
■ Mothers who have the MTFHR gene (inherited) have a higher risk of neural tube defects. Folic acid folate is the only option that is effective in preventing neural tube defects. Pregnant mothers should avoid using any antibiotics without medical advice.
■ To protect the baby from infection, pregnant mothers should immediately treat fever and avoid environments that increase body temperature.

Neural Tube Defects, NTD, Maternal Health, Pregnancy, Folic Acid, Birth Defects, Genetic Disorders, Prenatal Care, Reproductive Health, WHO, Medical Termination of Pregnancy

folic acid and neural tube defects mechanism,how does folic acid prevent neural tube defects,how to prevent neural tube defects during pregnancy,neural tube defects and the role of folic acid in lowering the risk ppt,folate vs folic acid neural tube defects,neural tube defects deficiency vitamin,natural form of an important b vitamin during pregnancy known to prevent,neural tube,defects,neural tube defects causes,signs of neural tube defects in pregnancy,closed neural tube defects,neural tube defects treatment,neural tube defects treatment pregnancy