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“Then when the doctor said Anencephaly only happens to 1 in 3000, I thought I am
not that lucky, so this shouldn't have happened to me, and if I was that lucky
then why haven't I been gambling more”
Anencephaly is a neural tube
defect (a disorder involving incomplete development of the brain, spinal cord,
and/or their protective coverings). The neural tube is a narrow sheath that
folds and closes between the 3rd and 4th week of pregnancy to form the brain and
spinal cord of the embryo.
Anencephaly occurs when the
head end of the neural tube fails to close, resulting in the
absence of a major portion of the brain, skull, and scalp. Babies with this
disorder are born without both the front part of the brain and a
cerebrum (the thinking and coordinating area of the brain). The brain
tissue is often not covered by bone or skin. The baby is usually blind, deaf,
unconscious, and unable to feel pain. Although some individuals with anencephaly
may be born with a rudimentary brain stem, the lack of a functioning cerebrum
permanently rules out the possibility of ever gaining consciousness. Reflex
actions such as breathing and responses to sound or touch may occur. The cause
of this disorder is unknown. Although it is believed that the mother's diet and
vitamin intake may play a part, researchers believe that many other factors are
also responsible.
Potter's syndrome
Anencephaly Down
syndrome
Hypoplastic
left heart syndrome Spina
bifida
Diaphragmatic Hernia
Trisomies (13,18..)
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