What it is

Spina bifida is a birth disorder that occurs when a baby’s backbone or spinal cord doesn't fully close as it develops during the first month of pregnancy, leaving part of the spinal cord exposed. This neural-tube defect can cause nerve damage and, at its most severe, paralysis.


Symptoms vary depending on which type of spina bifida a child has. In its mildest form, called spina bifida occulta (or hidden spina bifida), one or more of the bones in your baby’s spinal column has a small gap, but the spinal cord and nerves are not affected. The only sign may be a dimple, birthmark, or hair tuft above the gap in the spine. Many people don’t even realize they have spina bifida unless they happen to have an X-ray.

In the rarest type ofspinabifida, calledmeningocele, the membranes that protect the spinal cord (calledmeninges) push out through an opening in the vertebrae, resulting in a cyst or fluid-filled sac on the back. Because the spinal cord itself is not pushed out — just the protective membranes — the spinal cord remains normal and there’s usually no damage to nerves, though some babies may have problems with their bladder or bowels.

In the most severe (and common) form of spina bifida, called myelomeningocele, the protective membranes and part of the spinal cord and nearby nerves push out through the vertebrae into a fluid-filled sac on a baby’s back. The sac may be covered by skin or it may be exposed, which puts your little one at serious risk of infection. Besides the sac on your baby’s back, symptoms can include weak muscle tone, leg paralysis, loss of bladder and bowel control, orthopedic problems, and hydrocephalus (fluid buildup in the brain that can cause brain damage).


As with many other birth disorders, the cause is probably a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Experts know that spina bifida can run in families because when one parent has spina bifida or parents already have a child with spina bifida, there’s a higher chance of having a baby with the disorder. The environmental factors that can up your risk of spina bifida while you’re expecting include: taking certain antiseizure medications (so check with your doctor if you take any), uncontrolled diabetes, obesity, and not taking enough folic acid. Making sure you get at least 600 mcg of daily folic acid from dietary sources and a folic acid supplement before and during pregnancy significantly lowers the risk of neural-tube defects.

How common it is

About 1,645 babies in the United States are born with spina bifida each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Latest treatments

Usually no treatment is necessary for spina bifida occulta. For meningocele, doctors can surgically remove the cyst and repair the opening in the back. For the most severe form of spina bifida, myelomeningocele, in which the spinal cord is often exposed, doctors need to perform surgery within 24 to 48 hours after birth to reduce the risk of infection and protect the spinal cord from extra trauma. In some cases, doctors may even perform the surgery before birth, while the baby is still in your uterus. If fluid has built up in your baby’s brain, which is common with this type of spina bifida, doctors can insert a shunt into the brain to drain the fluid and prevent brain damage. After surgery, babies with myelomeningocele will need therapy and continued care — while doctors can repair the opening in the back, they can’t repair the original nerve damage to the spinal cord, which often causes paralysis, among other things. Children with this form of spina bifida typically need physical therapy, leg braces, and crutches to walk. They may also need additional surgeries later in life to manage complications.

Hope for the future

Though there is no cure for the nerve damage that occurs with spina bifida once a baby is born, doctors are working on ways to minimize the nerve damage before birth. Prenatal testing (from blood tests to amniocentesis) can detect spina bifida early in pregnancy and give parents the opportunity to take action before delivery. For instance, doctors are performing surgery to repair myelomeningocele in the womb, which may be able to reduce paralysis and hydrocephalus. But because prenatal surgery carries a big risk of premature birth, it’s crucial to go over the pros and cons with your doctors. 

If you know your baby has spina bifida during pregnancy, discuss a C-section with your health-care provider, and try to deliver at a hospital with doctors who are experienced with surgical procedures for spina bifida. That way, you can give your little one the best chance at having an active, full life.

Where to find help

Learning that your baby has spina bifida during pregnancy or after birth can feel overwhelming. But there are many resources available to help you handle the situation including the Spina Bifida Association, the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, MD Junction Spina Bifida Support Group, Parents Helping Parents, Spina Bifida Family Support , and Daily Strength.