Jack and Jill present for a preconception health counseling session. Jack is 34, Jill is 33, and they have a 5-year-old son, Jak
e. Jake is the product of an uncomplicated pregnancy and labor. At birth, Jake had an open neural tube defect and now has spina bifida with a loss of function of his lower extremities. Jack and Jill want another child and ask if there is anything they can do to prevent the recurrence of a neural tube defect in future pregnancies. What is your best response to this couple?
Answer:Take 4mg/day of folic acid beginning before conception and after one has conceived.
Explanation:
Neural tube defect is a birth defect which affect the infant's brain and spinal cord. This defect begins at the early stage of pregnancy as early as the first month of pregnancy. There are two prevalent neural tube defects namely a spina bifida and anencephaly. Anencephaly the major parts of the infant's brain and skull is undeveloped. Spina bifida result to partial closed spinal column, folic acid is crucial to take before and after one has conceived to avoid this defects affecting your child.
