Mothers Taking Zoloft Linked To Clubfoot In Babies

We don't know exactly what causes clubfoot in babies

, but studies have shown that taking the anti-depressant drug Zoloft during pregnancy has been found to increase the risk of several birth defects. These birth defects include clubfoot in babies. If taken during pregnancy, Zoloft can cross the placental barrier and enter the fetal blood stream, where the drug may interfere with normal growth development.

Clubfoot is when your baby's foot is twisted out of shape or position. The term "clubfoot" refers to the way the foot is positioned at a sharp angle to the ankle, like the head of a golf club. Clubfoot is a relatively common birth defect and is usually an isolated problem for an otherwise healthy newborn.

In some cases, clubfoot can be associated with other abnormalities of the skeleton, such as spina bifida, a serious birth defect that occurs when the tissue surrounding the developing spinal cord of a fetus doesn't close properly.

Environmental factors (such as Zoloft and other SSRI drugs) can also play a role in causing clubfoot. Studies have also linked clubfoot to cigarette smoking during pregnancy, especially when a family history of clubfoot is already present.

Clubfoot can be mild or severe, affecting one or both feet. Clubfoot will hinder your child's development once it's time for your child to walk, so treating clubfoot soon after birth is generally recommended.

Left untreated, clubfoot can become a burden. Not only is your child likely to have arthritis, but the unusual appearance of the foot may cause a body image problem during the teen years. The twist of the ankle may not allow your child to walk on the soles of the feet.

To compensate, he or she may walk on the balls of the feet, the outside of the feet or even the top of the feet in severe cases. These adjustments may interfere with natural growth of the calf muscles, cause large sores or calluses on the feet, and result in an awkward walk.

It's possible to clearly see some cases of clubfoot before birth during a baby's ultrasound examination. If clubfoot affects both feet, it's more likely to be apparent in an ultrasound. While nothing can be done before birth to solve the problem, knowing about the defect may give you time to learn more about clubfoot and get in touch with a foot and ankle specialist.

After birth, clubfoot can be corrected via the Ponseti Method, which has become the accepted first-line of treatment for clubfoot. If your child has clubfoot, you should seek a foot and ankle specialist who is trained in the Ponseti Method of clubfoot correction.

by: Dr Alireza Khosroabadi DPM

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