
Spina bifida is a birth defect that affects the spine and spinal cord. It occurs when the neural tube, or the part of the embryo that will eventually become the baby’s brain, spinal cord, and the protective tissues around them, does not develop correctly. Instead of forming and closing early in the pregnancy, a portion of the neural tube in babies with spina bifida does not close or develop completely, resulting in issues with the spinal cord and spine.