tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28647376155702967472011-07-07T21:06:52.259-07:00is a hub of parents, doctors, and those with spina bifida themselves in the Philippines. This blog's author would like to create a network of those who are interested in this condition.kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03539589009576215726noreply@blogger.comBlogger21100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864737615570296747.post-66626374089697660802009-07-03T09:06:00.000-07:002009-07-03T10:36:05.953-07:00Of all the references I read, this is the clearest definition of spina bifida:<br /><blockquote>Spina bifida is a birth defect that involves the incomplete development of the spinal cord or its coverings. The term spina bifida comes from Latin and literally means "split" or "open" spine.<br /><br />Spina bifida occurs at the end of the first month of pregnancy when the two sides of the embryo's spine fail to join together, leaving an open area. In some cases, the spinal cord or other membranes may push through this opening in the back. The condition usually is detected before a baby is born and treated right away.</blockquote>(taken from <a href="http://www.kidshealth.org">http://www.kidshealth.org</a>)<br /><br /><br />Here is a video presentation of spina bifida done by a group of students in the United States:<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FaHT7fRqCu8&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FaHT7fRqCu8&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />When I asked my neurosurgeon what caused this, he told me that there is no definite cause yet. However, my ob-gyne and Anya's pedia advised me to take folic acid as part of my daily vitamin intake. Folic acid is known to reduce the cause of neutral tube defects such as spina bifida. <br /><br />The website <a href="http://www.kidshealth.org">http://www.kidshealth.org</a> provides good information on what to do before conception and during pregnancy.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2864737615570296747-6662637408969766080?l=spinabifidaphilippines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03539589009576215726noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864737615570296747.post-47314867434806995352009-06-29T08:46:00.000-07:002009-06-29T08:53:59.123-07:00I am Kaye, the mother of Anya, who was born with congenital hydrocephalus and myelomeningocele. Unfortunately, I lost Anya after 51 days. It has been my promise to Anya to create a network that will help us understand what spina bifida is, and develop a scheme that will promote initiatives on awareness and understanding of this condition. I am still searching and figuring out what happened to my daughter - how did she have it, what could be done, how can we take care of her? In our country where health care support is poor, where there is dearth of information on spina bifida, or, when moms or those with this condition just wanted to talk, it is my dream to fulfill this endeavor.<br /><br />I cannot promise anything right now. But what I can do is gather links, information, articles etc on spina bifida. <br /><br />If you know someone with this condition and would like to share things that he/she knows, then let them email to me. I do not want to own this site. If you would like to be one of the authors, just email me at ekdd14@gmail.com and I will give you administrative privileges.<br /><br />Thank you for your time. <br /><br />Kaye<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2864737615570296747-4731486743480699535?l=spinabifidaphilippines.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>kayehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03539589009576215726noreply@blogger.com0