Is Spina Bifida inherited or not?

Answer 1

Although doctors are unclear what causes spina bifida, they believe it is a mixture of genetics and environmental factors. Having a parent or sibling with spina bifida slightly increases the chance of a baby being born with a neural tube defect. Most babies with spina bifida are born to parents who have no history of neural tube defects.

Folate deficiency (Vitamin B) is a known factor in women giving birth to a baby with a neural tube defect. One of the known preventative measures is to increase the amount of folic acid starting prior to conception. Ask your doctor or midwife if a high dose of folic acid is indicated for you.

Spina bifida and other defects can occur before a women knows she is pregnant. Spina Bifida happens in the middle of the 4th week (by day 28) after conception when the two sides of developing fetus fail to develop or close properly, causing defects.

A rise in the body temperature of more than four degrees Fahrenheit (2 Celsius) is another known factor in neural tube defects, women who think they may be pregnant are cautioned not to use hot tubs or to soak in a hot bath.

Obesity prior to pregnancy and uncontrolled Diabetes are another known factor in neural tube defects. As are some prescription medications. Talk to your doctor about any prescription medications you take.










We are seeking mothers of children with Spina Bifida to participate in our study:
http://www.sbgenetics.org/

Answer 2

Yes, My daughter was born in 1972 with Spina Bifida and her daughter was born in 1996 with Spina bifida. I also found out that my paternal grandmother had a daughter with a spina defect which I am sure was probably Spina Bifida.

However the baby died shortly after birth.