Spina bifida or "cleft spine" can come about in a fetus due to incomplete brain or spinal cord development or because of a defect in the meninges, the protective covering for the brain and spinal cord. It affects nearly 2,000 newborns in the United States yearly and can leave its victims unable to walk or have normal urinary and bowel function. While the exact causes aren't known, researchers think there are several factors that may cause spina bifida.
Inadequate Folic Acid
One factor that may cause spina bifida is inadequate folic acid in the mother's diet. This substance, also called folate, can reduce the chances of giving birth to a baby with spina bifida according to a report by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, or NINDS. Folic acid is a needed component of B vitamins and is essential for healthy fetal development, especially in the area of neural tube defects including spina bifida. Expectant mothers are encouraged to take in 400 micrograms of folic acid daily. Natural foods that contain lots of folic acid include dark green vegetables and egg yolks. Supplemental multivitamins can also help ensure enough folic acid is ingested.
Genetic Factors
Family history and genetics may be one of the causes of spina bifida in newborns. The exact relationship isn't known and the March of Dimes states that 95 percent of babies born with spina bifida don't show any family history of the disease. But expectant mothers who already have had a child with spina bifida, have spina bifida themselves or had a child with another type of neural tube malformation should have extra folic acid before entering pregnancy according to NINDS.
Pre-existing Health Conditions
Women who have certain pre-existing health problems are more likely to have a baby born with spina bifida. Conditions such as obesity, diabetes that hasn't been properly controlled or using certain anti-seizure medications like valproic acid can increase the risk of giving birth to a baby with spina bifida. The March of Dimes recommends that women who want to have children and have these factors in place consult their doctor to see how they can reduce the chances of spina bifida in a newborn.
Ethnic Factors
Certain ethnic groups are at higher risk of having a child with spina bifida. The March of Dimes states that neural tube defects like spina bifida tend to be more likely with Hispanics and Caucasians. Groups who seem to have fewer spina bifida newborns include African-Americans, Asians and Ashkenazi Jews.
High Temperature
Mothers who run a high fever during pregnancy or are exposed to high temperatures are more likely to have a child with spina bifida. Rare Global Diseases states that a pregnant mother's exposure to high room temperature may put a fetus at risk and KidsHealth states that an expectant mother with a high fever prior to giving birth have both been linked to higher rates of spina bifida.
