Anencephaly, another type of neural tube defect, results from the failure of the neural tube to close properly at the upper end, causing a fatal condition in which most of the brain is absent. Infants born with anencephaly usually die at birth or within the first days after birth. All women capable of becoming pregnant are at risk of having a child born with spina bifida. Ninety-five percent of neural tube defects occur in women with no history of neural tube affected pregnancies. A woman who has already had a baby born with spina bifida or anencephaly is more likely to have another affected pregnancy.
Timing is important.
NTD's occur early in pregnancy, often before a woman knows she is pregnant. Since half of the pregnancies in the United States are unplanned, women need to take folic acid throughout their reproductive years. Folic acid, a common water-soluble B vitamin, is essential for the functioning of the human body. During periods of rapid growth, such as pregnancy and fetal development, the body's requirement for this vitamin increases. There are four ways for women to receive sufficient amounts of folic acid in their diet.