Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs when the bones in a baby’s spine do not fully form during early pregnancy. This results in an opening on the back, usually in the mid- to lower back.
Myelomeningocele, a type of “open spina bifida,” is the most serious form of the disease. In myelomeningocele, a portion of the baby’s spinal cord and surrounding nerves protrude through an opening in the spine into an exposed, flat disc or sac that is visible on the back.
This exposes the baby’s spinal cord to the amniotic fluid in the mother’s womb and can be harmful to the baby’s fetal development. Myelomeningocele is the only type of spina bifida that exposes the baby’s spinal cord to amniotic fluid.
For more information: http://www.fetalcarecenter.org
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