s/o Midline birth defects - am I to blame?

[Anonymous]

Was discussing another post regarding spina bifida with a co worker. My DS has a sacral dimple and tongue tie. Our pediatrician said this was a genetic issue although we don't know of any in our families. DS is little so no delays to speak of yet but we are closely watching. My co worker says to me that these defects are definitely from lack of vitamins in prenatal care.

I do a quick Dr Google search which links this as a possible cause? I am about to hyperventilate thinking that I could have caused these issues with my child. I did everything textbook and followed every rule while pregnant. But what if those four weeks before I got my positive result I was deficient and didn't realize? I just feel sick and am wondering if anyone else has heard of this.

[Anonymous]

Our coworker is awful. No. You didn't cause it. Most women don't start prenatals until they get a positive test.

[Anonymous]

Tell your co-worker to go to hell. It is not your fault. Some things just happen even if every precaution is taken. I have epilepsy and it is not my parents fault. I may have been born with it and it may have been a head injury. Who knows. It just is.

Whatever happens with your son, do your best to teach him that he is a person that also has a condition. I have epilepsy. I am not an epileptic. It doesn't define me and never has. If you let his issues define him and define your relationship with him, it may impact him more in life than it needs to. Just my two cents.

[Anonymous]

A couple of points.

First, genetic disorders occur when sperm meets egg, at the genetic level. You can't cause them. You can't prevent them. They occur prior to you taking vitamins, prior to prenatal care. They literally happen at creation.

Second, it doesn't matter that your family doesn't have signs/symptoms. Genetics is complex and variable. Signs and symptoms can be hidden. Genetic defects can also be mutations that arise spontaneously.

[Anonymous]

15:18 again. Also, be aware that pediatricians actually know very little about genetic disorders. You need to consult a neurogeneticist. If you are in this area, go to Kennedy-Krieger.

[Anonymous]

OP here. According to my co worker she "has a friend" who went through this and the doctors told her it was a neural issue caused around four weeks pregnant and is due to vitamin deficiency and easily prevented. My head is spinning.

[Anonymous]

Finally, many women who don't take prenatal vitamins don't have children with SB. It's not a causal relationship.

[Anonymous]

Folic acid

[Anonymous]

What is Spina Bifida?
Spina Bifida is the most common permanently disabling birth defect in the United States.

What is Spina Bifida?
Spina Bifida literally means “split spine.” Spina Bifida happens when a baby is in the womb and the spinal column does not close all of the way. Every day, about eight babies born in the United States have Spina Bifida or a similar birth defect of the brain and spine.

What causes Spina Bifida?
No one knows for sure. Scientists believe that genetic and environmental factors act together to cause the condition.

[Anonymous]

Wow, your coworker knows better than the Spina Bifida Assocation.

[Anonymous]

Your coworker is partially right. Folic Acid does prevent spina bifida. That is why doctors suggests to start prenatal vitamin if you are trying to get pregnant.

However, she was wrong in saying it is definitely caused by lack of vitamin. That is just not true. Plus, so much of our food is fortified with folic acid. The vast majority of women are not deficient in it.

[Anonymous]

I thought there was a pretty clear link between lack of folic acid and spina bifida, especially in early pregnancy?

OP the reason to be aware of this possible link is in case you were deficient in folic acid prior to getting pregnant -- that would be something to know, and rectify, if you want to get pregnant again. I woudl think it could also be reassuring, to think that this might NOT be genetic (outside of your control)

LOTS of women don't know they are pregnant and don't sart taking extra folic acid in the early months. This is one reason why some want more folic acid in our bread and flour.

[Anonymous]

A link is not causation. And the fact that folic acid can prevent SB does not mean that if you don't take folic acid, you caused SB in your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought there was a pretty clear link between lack of folic acid and spina bifida, especially in early pregnancy?

OP the reason to be aware of this possible link is in case you were deficient in folic acid prior to getting pregnant -- that would be something to know, and rectify, if you want to get pregnant again. I woudl think it could also be reassuring, to think that this might NOT be genetic (outside of your control)

LOTS of women don't know they are pregnant and don't sart taking extra folic acid in the early months. This is one reason why some want more folic acid in our bread and flour.

OP here. Thanks but it really doesn't make me feel better to think that if it isn't genetics it's something that I caused, and could have prevented.

[Anonymous]

the sacral dimple is not spina bifida.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sacral-dimple/basics/definition/con-20025266

People are not perfect. We are born with all kinds of differences, from those sacral dimples to tongue ties. This is nature. i have weird ears that I have since learned is a "birth defect." Really? I had no idea growing up and it hasn't bothered me one bit. Glad I didn't know I had a birth defect.