The cause of spina bifida is unknown, but a number of factors can increase the risk of a baby developing the condition.
These include:
- low folic acid intake during pregnancy
- having a family history of spina bifida
- medicines – taking certain medicines such as valproic acid (used to prevent seizures) during pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of having a baby with spina bifida
Read more about the causes of spina bifida.
