PREVENTION

Folic acid supplements may be effective at reducing the risk of NTD such as myelomeningocele. Folic acid (folate) deficiencies must be corrected BEFORE becoming pregnant as the defects develop very early. Prospective mothers may be screened to determine their serum folate level. It is recommended that any woman considering becoming pregnant take 0.4mg of folic acid a day.  Pregnant women need 1 mg per day. During the first trimester, pregnant women can have a blood test called  a triple screen. This test screens for spina bifida, Down Syndrome, and  other congenital diseases in the baby. Eighty-five percent of women carrying  a fetus with spina bifida will show elevated maternal serum alpha fetoprotein (one of the three proteins measured in this blood test). The triple screen has a high false positive rate, so if it is positive, further testing is required to confirm the diagnosis. A prenatal ultrasound is then done and is usually a reliable test for spina bifida. Occasionally amniocentesis (test of the amniotic fluid) is done.