What is Spina Bifida?

 Spina Bifida normally happens before or during birth. 

SB Spina Bifida is when the backbone is split

 into two that affects the Spinal cord,

 which happens in early pregnancy.

It normally happens in the Baby’s lower back.

It might rarely happen in the middle of the neck and the back. 

There are three types of Spina Bifida,

 Occulta, meningocele,

 and myelomeningocele.  

It can be a very serious condition it is not always as there may be

very mild forms of the condition. 

Different people have different forms and types.

It is along the spine if the neural tube does not close. 

The condition may vary from mild to service.

The person will probably need care and treatment more than support.

There are roughly 2’875 Spina Bifida births in the USA.

Here is more to learn. About Spina Bifida | Spina Bifida | CDC  Spina bifida - NHS

It is if the spine does not fully develop.

How it affects people with Spina Bifida may depends on the type of Spina Biffa, how damage of the spine is, 

Whether they can walk, stand up, both or neither; how mild, minor or major etc.

Some may not have any movement.

 Some people may need a lot of personal care such as washing,

 bathing, feeding, toileting and more

 as it may have an effect on some people’s bladder or and bowls.  

Some people may have little speech, may not be able to talk, others do. 

It is a condition that does not affect everyone who has it the same. 

Therefore, even some families need more support than others.

For example; I knew a lady years ago who had major Spina Bifida,

 she could not move at all, but she came from a very big family, 

that is not aways the way.

She was the youngest of twelve children, her Mum was elderly 

and her Dad had died but her brothers and sisters chipped into together. 

  This site should tell you about different types of Spina Bifida Spina bifida - NHS 

Meningocele is the minor type of SB, where there is a sack of fluid

 outside the opening of the back.

 The sack does not contain any part of the Spinal cord. 

The reason for this is because there is very little nerve damage.

Therefore’ How does Meningocele affect the person’s life? 

Meningocele can lead to infections and mobility problems,

 where the person will need treatment and care. 

They may face weakness to the legs,

 may have bowl and bladder problems. 

They may need Physical therapy to improve the mobility problems,

 possibly medication to try and treat the bladder and bowl problems. 

 Spina Bifida occulta is a mild type of SB.

 There may not be any disabilities, but it is a very hidden condition, 

where the problems may show later in the person’s life.

There is no opening to the spine 

There is no damage to the Spinal cord.

Therefore’ how does it affects the person’s life? 

No one knows what causes this type of SB

 because the symptoms are not shown.

There is a gap in the spine, it is normally covered in skin,

 with the spinal cord,

 it can vary to very few problems even no problems.

Potential complication is very rare.

Myelomeningocele is the most serious type of SB,

 where it causes damage to the muscles,

 where the person is not able to walk at all or control their muscles. 

This is because there is weakness and paralysis in their lower limbs. 

In this type of SB, the part of the spinal cord may be pushed

 out with meninges opening the form of the spine

 to form the sac on the baby’s back.

The spinal cord and nearby nerves may get damaged,

 it may cause paralysis, when the person does not feel they

 can move at all because every part of the body is completely stiff,

 which may cause them lifetime infections.

Babies may need surgery before or after birth

 within the first few days of life.

The spinal cord may be visible outside the body at birth. 

The neural may fail to close, the tissue is exposed 

to the baby’s back and it will look like a sticky sac.

It may start with opening and closing, 

in the first weeks of pregnancy.

 it may keep growing and folding;

 forming the brain and spinal cord.

If the tube fails to close as it should,

 the muscles and nerves should be working together 

to store and void the urine from the body.

It may affect the bladder muscles,

 where it may not work.

Where some conditions may cause the

 opposite, where they may not 

give people time to get to the bathroom.

People with SB may face neurogenic bladder problems

 where their bladder does not fill up as they should.

This called dedusted sphincter dyssynergia (DSD).

It is when the detrusor muscle and the Urethral 

Sphincters does not work together. 

I may not have fully understood what I have been

 researching but I have understood most. 

More information is on this site. Neurological dysfunction of the bladder from myelomeningocele  Spina Bifida And Incontinence | Bladder & Bowel Community