How is spina bifida diagnosed?
Around 15 weeks gestation, an OBGYN will draw a mother’s blood to test for different chemical markers that occur naturally during pregnancy. If the test comes back positive (marker levels are too high), the baby has a higher chance of having a birth defect such as myelomeningocele, Down syndrome or other brain or spinal condition.
Following a positive result, the OBGYN will decide if an ultrasound should be done to diagnose the baby correctly, or if the mother should be sent to a high-risk pregnancy institute like the Colorado Institute of Maternal and Fetal Health.