This group was started by Athene, who has Spina Bifida and who knows what it feels like when you dont know what to do, or who to tern to. She understands the frustration, the pain, and the torment. No matter your age we are always Here to help. For a little Backround info on SB..here you go!Spina Bifida is the most common of all birth defects. Its name means "clef spine," or a failure of a fetal spine to close properly. It occurs very early in pregnancy, roughly 3-4 weeks after conception, before most women know that they are pregnant. Any woman can have an affected pregnancy. The vast majority (95%) of women who bear Spina Bifida-affected children have no family history of Spina Bifida.Spina Bifida can be mild, moderate, or severe. Two forms of the defect (meningocele and myelomeningocele) affect approximately one out of every 1,000 newborns in the United States, resulting in serious physical and learning disabilties. Patients' legs and feet are often paralyzed, and many have problems with bowel and bladder control. Learning disabilities are common and mental retardation sometimes occurs. However, modern medical advances allow most children born with these types of Spina Bifida to live into adulthood. In contrast, the mildest form of this condition, Spina Bifida occulta, may affect 40% of all Americans. Its symptoms can be nonexistent or few. Therefore, a person can have this condition and yet never know it.The cause of Spina Bifida is unknown. However, consuming too little folic acid before conception and during the first few weeks of pregnancy is the one known factor that increases risk. All women of childbearing age should consume 0.4 mg of folic acid daily before becoming pregnant and during the first trimester of pregnancy. If all women eliminated this risk, then the number of new cases of Spina Bifida caused by folic-acid deficiency could be reduced by 75%. Women can get folic acid by taking a multivitamin daily; eating enriched flour and cereal-grain products; and eating foods naturally rich in folates, such as dark green leafy vegetables, orange juice, dried peas, beans, and lentils.