What is Spina Bifida???

Spina bifida is a neural tube birth defect that occurs when the bones in a baby’s spine do not fully form during early pregnancy. This happens between

day 20 and day 28 of gestation, usually before a woman knows she is pregnant. This results in an opening on the baby's back that leaves a section of the spinal cord and spinal nerves exposed. The exposed spinal cord and nerves are contained in a sac that is exposed to amniotic fluid. Continuous bathing of the fragile developing spinal cord in amniotic fluid over the course of gestation time is thought to result in a progressive neural tube birth defect such as Spina Bifida.