Causes of spina bifida

Depakote among causes of spina bifida

Each year, numerous babies are born with the harmful birth defect spina bifida. Babies with spina bifida are born with improperly formed spines that do not close correctly around their spinal cords. Spina bifida is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Many instances of spina bifida are thought to be caused by low levels of folic acid in the mother’s body. Expectant mothers are often instructed to take vitamin supplements to lower their chances of giving birth to a baby with spina bifida. Because of the link between vitamin deficiencies and spina bifida, risk of the condition appears to be higher for lower-income mothers, who may not receive the nutrition necessary to support healthy infant development.

Diabetic mothers whose blood sugars are uncontrolled early in pregnancy appear more likely to give birth to babies with spina bifida.

Various other risk factors have been linked to spina bifida occurrence, including a young age of the mother during pregnancy and positive history of miscarriage in the mother. First-born siblings also appear to be at higher risk of developing the disorder, as are children whose mothers have given birth to other children with spina bifida.

In addition to these reasons, the use of some medications during pregnancy has been linked to increased risk of giving birth to a child with spina bifida. These include certain drugs prescribed for seizures, including the drug Depakote.

Lawsuits against the makers of Depakote are in progress across the country. The lawsuits are based on the claim that Depakote caused spina bifida in the babies of mothers who took it during pregnancy. If you or a loved one took Depakote and gave birth to a child with spina bifida, contact us to see if you are eligible to participate in a Depakote lawsuit today.