The On Neural Tube Deficiency

What I learn from the biological factors that influence the pre-conception and prenatal health and development, that whatever the mother consumes it will be dangerous for the baby. The brain is the important part if the development of the child. However, if the mother has a bad nutrition, her emotional conditions, and the exposure of drugs/toxins. For example, an environment where the mom is in a violence can affect the brain development of the baby. There are women that believe that because the baby is the womb he/she is protected from any danger of the environment. According to the book, 20%-30% missing arms and leg, cleft lips and cleft palates, and abnormally shaped heads or faces (p.100). The problems can be diagnosed through prenatal. Let’s say that the mother goes through fear situation, then the hormone cortisol would be present. The situation like anxiety, depression, and domestic violence can affect the baby.

In Canada, a clinical study by De Wals et al was performed to assess whether or not folic acid fortification has an effect on the recurrence of NTDs (neural tube defects), especially on upper and lower birth defects called spina bifida (De Wals et al., 2008). The study was performed in three different regions in Canada: the eastern, western and central provinces (De Wals et al., 2008). Furthermore, the population of the study was conducted on three different types of births which were livebirths, stillbirths, and termination of pregnancies, and the study was carried out through three periods included prefortification, partial fortification and full fortifications (De Wals et al., 2008). The researchers followed the scientific investigation

Deficiency of the micronutrient folate continues to significantly affect the health of pregnant women and their children, globally. A great cause of concern with folate deficiency is the occurrence of Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) in new-born babies due to abnormal early foetal development. According to Greene et al. (2016), NTDs are abnormalities to the formation of the brain, spinal cord or related structures from early foetal development. The rate of the prevalence of NTDs varies between countries from 0.3 to 199.4 cases per 10,000 births. In Australia specifically, approximately 19.5 cases of NTDs occurred per 10,000 cases between 2009 and 2010 (Zaganjoy et al.,

A birth defect is preventable if the mother would take folic acid prior of becoming pregnant (U.S. Department of Health and Services, 2016). These reduce the chances of having a defect by 50-70% for neural tube defects. Some recommendations such as having a healthy weight, not to use illegal drugs, getting vaccinated, taking prenatal and or during pregnancy vitamins, having recommended screening test, controlling

The prevalence went down from Oct 1998 to Dec 1999 was 2.02 per 10,000 live births. It reduced by 22.9% (Mark, 2016). Later in the years from 1999-2000 and 2003-2005, the prevalence of spina bifida falls by 6.9%. The reason of the decrease is still unknown. This decreases the prevalence of spina bifida with black population, but not within the white or Hispanic population. Those frequencies about spina bifida had been evaluated toward 1-2 cases for every 1000 population, with certain population hosting a greater frequency based on genetic predilection. Research showed folate can reduce spina bifida by 70% and decrease the severity of the disease. Myelomeningocele is the most common form of spina bifida. In the United States, approximately 1500 babies are born with myelomeningocele each year (Mark, 2016). The myelomeningocele and other neural tube defect had been declined since 20th century. According to CDC, the prevalence of spina bifida is higher in white and Hispanic population, than in the black population. According to Mark, spina bifida is detected 2 and 1.96 per in 10,000 live birth in Hispanic and white population and 1.74 per 10,000 live birth in black

The prevalence of low birth weight by different characteristics of mothers and births is shown in Table 2. The higher prevalence of low birth weight was among black women, which was (OR= 2.70%, 95% CI [2.45-2.95]) and lowest prevalence of low birth weight babies were among white women, which were (OR=1.30%, 95% CI [1.21-1.39]). The youngest age group (19

Nutritional status of an adolescent plays a role in the development of anemia during pregnancy. A systematic review published by Bio-Med Central analyzes the nutritional status of adolescent pregnant women. The review stated several areas of concern in

The increased morbidity, mortality, and cost of pregnancy outcome in the United States is strongly correlated with low birth weight infants. The two main reasons for infants being born with low-birth-weight is due to preterm delivery (birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy) and intrauterine growth restriction (Goldenberg & Culhane, 2007). Babies that are born way earlier before their full term have lower birth weight. In the United States, about 1 in 10 babies is born premature and 7 out of 10 of these preterm babies are of low birth weight (March of Dimes, 2014). According to the World Health organization, the global prevalence of neonatal deaths as a result of low birth weight is about 60%-80%. Babies that are born with a low birth weight have

Spina bifida, a type of birth defect meaning, “cleft spine” affects many babies around the globe in that their neural tube incorrectly closes and affects their spinal cord and brain. The three most common types of spina bifida are spina bifida occulta, meningocele, and myelomeningocele—in the order of least to the most debilitating. The birth defect is most commonly diagnosed with the Maternal Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein blood test, as well as other tests. The complications occurring with the most severe case of spina bifida include meningitis and the Chiari II malformation. Spina bifida can be treated with a wide variety and number of surgeries such as prenatal surgery, as well as prevented by intake of folic acid. The birth defect, spina

According to this chart, more than half of the babies born during this experiment were born with neural tube defects. This result was skewed because all but three of the babies born to the group that did not take folic acid until after conception were born with

A number of determinants place pregnant women at higher risk of poor nutritional status at antenatal periods including older maternal age, Indigenous status, ethnic background and family history, most of these risk factors are not modifiable. However, poor nutrition and diet related disease are frequently present in also association with other modifiable-socioeconomic and interpersonal determinants, The National Health Performance Framework indicated the important of social determinants to the health of disadvantage population, this framework includes socioeconomic and community factors, and individual factors Such as income, health literacy and educational attainment. Those determinants can be addressed

“The prevalence of neural tube defects is higher in Mexican-Americans than other U.S. populations” (Suarez, Felkner, Brender & Canfield, 2012, p. 844). This correlates with evidence that these malformations occur more frequently in poor, obese, or undernourished populations. These groups do not have access to, or do not consume, the necessary nutrients vital to proper neural tube formation. These vital nutrients, as well as some harmful exposures, will be examined more fully in the coming paragraph. (Suarez et al., 2012)

Neural tube defects can be split into two different types: open and closed (Mitchell, 2005). The most common of the “open” NTDs are anencephaly and myelomeningocele. These two types of NTDs are when an end of the neural tube does not properly close. Anencephaly is when the brain end of the neural tube fails to close properly (Mitchell, 2005). Babies born with this defect are missing parts of their brain and skull and surrounding areas. There are both mental and physical problems associated with anencephaly. This neural tube defect is particularly devastating because babies born with this type of defect will certainly die shortly after being born. Below is an image of an example of what happens when a fetus is affected with anencephaly. This

In Australia, the reasonableness and effectiveness of folic acid being mandatorily fortified to support healthy pregnancy when considering the occurrence of NTDS in Australian children due to the amount their mothers have consumed of folic acid during pregnancy. The main purpose for creating a mandatory policy to include folic acid to the wheat flour of non-organic bread in Australia is to reduce the incidence of NTDs across the nation. Substantial rates of NTDs occur worldwide as significantly more folate is needed early in pregnancy than in other life stages. This early stage of pregnancy is often when women are unaware that they are pregnant. The folate is required for the development of the embryonic neural tube, which develops into

It is a recognised certainty that nutrition is a fundamental requirement to sustain a healthy lifestyle and is also extremely valuable when recovering from an illness or an injury. Nutrients are absorbed in the body and this physiological process is essential for homeostasis and ensuring equilibrium is sustained within the body as without enough food and drink the body will not function correctly (Edwards & Thomas, 2009). This essay will provide information on folic acid and its properties, its role and the midwife’s role and responsibility in informing women in the early stages of pregnancy