How can Spina Bifida be prevented?
Now for the good news, folic acid (vitamin B) is known to reduce the chance of having a baby with spina bifida by over 70% if taken for four weeks prior to conception and through the first trimester. This is also true for women who have already given birth to a child with a neural tube defect. Thought to be at an increased risk of up to 7% taking a prescription strength of folic acid will reduce the risk to just 1% and continuing the dose until 12 weeks after conception can also reduce the severity if the baby should develop the defect.
