Prenatal screening, which involves testing before a baby is born, can check for diseases like spina bifida. There are flaws in the tests. Consider consulting KD Blossom, a maternity hospital in Ahmedabad about the dangers of prenatal testing and the implications of the results.
Diagnosis
Positive blood test results can also indicate that a baby does not have spina bifida. There’s still a slim probability that spina bifida is present, even in the event of negative results.
Blood Tests
Blood tests can be used to screen for spina bifida during pregnancy, but ultrasound exams are usually used to make the diagnosis.
- Maternal Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein Test (MSAFP) Test: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels in the blood are measured as part of the MSAFP test. This is a protein that the infant makes. A small quantity of AFP usually crosses the placenta and gets into the bloodstream of the expectant parent. However, elevated AFP levels raise the possibility that the infant has a neural tube abnormality like spina bifida. Nonetheless, spina bifida does not necessarily result in elevated AFP levels.
- Test To Confirm: Other circumstances, such as the presence of numerous babies or an inaccurate estimation of the unborn baby’s age, can also contribute to varying levels of AFP. A follow-up blood test might be necessary to validate the findings. If your AFP levels are still elevated, you require more testing, such as an ultrasound examination.
- Other Blood Tests: The MSAFP test may be conducted in conjunction with two or three other blood tests by your healthcare provider. These examinations check for a variety of illnesses, including trisomy 21 syndrome, commonly referred to as Down syndrome. The MSAFP exam is frequently used for them.
Ultrasound
The most reliable method of identifying spina bifida in your unborn child before delivery is an ultrasound. During the first trimester, which lasts from 11 to 14 weeks of pregnancy, an ultrasound may be performed. Or it can be performed in the second trimester, which is between 18 and 22 weeks. An ultrasound examination performed in the second trimester can more precisely detect spina bifida. This examination is essential to detect and rule out disorders that might be present from birth.
Advanced ultrasound technology can identify signs of spina bifida, including an open spine and abnormalities in the developing brain. Your healthcare provider may occasionally use ultrasound to determine the severity of your spina bifida.
Amniocentesis
If the prenatal ultrasound supports the spina bifida diagnosis, your physician can ask for an amniocentesis test. A sample of fluid is taken using a needle during this examination from the baby’s surrounding amniotic sac. This examination might be crucial in ruling out hereditary illnesses.
Consult your healthcare provider about the possible hazards associated with amniocentesis. There is a slim chance that the pregnancy won’t end.
Treatment
Treatment for spina bifida is based on how severe your baby’s condition is. Treatment is usually not necessary for spina bifida occulta, although it is for other kinds of spina bifida.
Surgery Before Birth
If spina bifida is not addressed, the condition might worsen a baby’s nerve function. Fetal surgery, sometimes referred to as prenatal surgery, is performed for spina bifida before the 26th week of pregnancy. First, the pregnant patient’s stomach is opened by surgeons, and then the uterus, or womb, is shown. The spinal cord of the fetus is restored. The stomach and uterus are then closed by the surgeon. A fetoscope is a specialized surgical instrument that can occasionally be used to do this treatment less invasively. To operate on the fetus, small ports allow the insertion of instruments into the uterus.
According to research, fetal surgery may reduce the impairment and requirement for crutches or other walking aids in children with spina bifida. Hydrocephalus risk may potentially be decreased by fetal surgery. Find out from your medical practitioner if this surgery is appropriate for you. Inquire about the possible advantages. Inquire about the hazards to you and your unborn child as well, such as early birth and other issues.
A thorough assessment is necessary to ascertain the feasibility of fetal surgery. Only a medical center with skilled fetal surgeons, a multispecialty team, and neonatal intensive care should do this specialist procedure. Fetal surgeons, pediatric neurosurgeons, specialists in maternal-fetal medicine, fetal cardiologists, and neonatologists usually make up the team.
Cesarean Birth
Babies that with myelomeningocele frequently present breech, or with their feet facing forward. If your baby is breech or has a huge cyst or sac, it might be safer to deliver the infant via cesarean section.
Surgery After Birth
Within 72 hours after birth, surgery is necessary to close the incision in the baby’s back due to myelomeningocele. The chance of infection from the exposed nerves can be reduced with early surgery. Additionally, it might shield the spinal cord from additional damage.
A neurosurgeon inserts the exposed spinal cord and tissue within the baby’s body during the surgery, covering it with skin and muscle. To manage hydrocephalus, the neurosurgeon could also implant a shunt in the infant’s brain at the same moment.
Conclusion
To prepare for the doctor’s appointment, try to ask them if there is anything you need to do before the appointment. For instance, you may need to consume more water before an ultrasound. Additionally, make a list of the medicines you took before and during your pregnancy and in what quantity.
