Spina bifida results from the failure of the spinal column to close. Anencephaly is the absence of most of the skull bones and brain. With spina bifida, the child may be mentally normal but may be paralyzed below the level of the defect. This can affect the ability of a baby to walk or control bowel or bladder function. Babies with anencephaly die before birth or shortly thereafter.
Any woman can have a child with a neural tube defect.
Neural tube defects form early in pregnancy. The spine develops three to four weeks after conception. This is usually the time of the first missed menstrual period. Because half of all pregnancies are unplanned and because the neural tube forms before most women know they are pregnant, all women of childbearing age should supplement their diet with 400 micrograms of folic acid. Adding folic acid to your diet is easy.