Symptoms of Myelomeningocele
A baby with a myelomeningocele has a sac holding parts of the spinal cord area sticking though the back. This can cause symptoms that include:
- Problems with physical movement
- Loss of sensation; for example, the baby can't sense hot or cold
- Loss of bowel and bladder control
- Twisted or abnormal legs and feet, for example, clubfoot
- Too much cerebrospinal fluid in the head (hydrocephalus)
- Problems with formation of the brain (Chiari 2 malformation)
Myelomeningocele Diagnosis
Your community doctor may find the condition before your baby is born. A blood test for pregnant women called the quadruple screen may show you have more of a protein called maternal alpha fetoprotein (AFP) in your blood than normal. This is a sign that a developing baby may have spina bifida.
If the blood test shows high levels of AFP, you may have tests to make sure of the diagnosis. These include:
Doctors can also find a myelomeningocele after the baby is born. Your baby may have imaging tests that let doctors see the spine. They include:
- X-rays
- Ultrasound
- CT (computed tomography) scan
- MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)