FAQ
What are the costs associated with spina bifida?
On average to bring up a child with Spina bifida it will cost the parents between £300,000 and £600,000.
How often does Spina bifida occur?
In the United States Spina bifida occurs in 7 out of every 10,000 live births.
Who is at risk for Spina bifida?
Every woman that conceives is at risk of bearing a child with Spina bifida. Although a woman who has previously had a child affected with such a neural tube defect is around 20 times more likely to experience the same thing during their next pregnancy. It has been found that Spina bifida has a higher incidence in white women than black women.
How often does Anencephaly occur?
In the United States Anencephaly occurs in about 1 out of every 4,000 births.
During pregnancy is the mother’s health jeopardised by carrying a foetus with anencephaly?
No, the mother’s health is not affected during pregnancy. However the mother will possess certain features such as polyhydraminos, where there is too much amniotic fluid, and high levels of alpha-fetoprotein.
What is the life expectancy of a baby with anencephaly?
Around 75% of anencephalic babies are still born and the other 25% survive just a matter of hours in most cases and occasionally a few days maximum.