This heartbreaking image shows a newborn with anencephaly, a severe neural tube defect. 🧠 What is Anencephaly? • It occurs when the neural tube fails to close during early fetal development (around the 23rd–26th day after conception). • This leads to absence of major portions of the brain, skull, and scalp. • The exposed neural tissue is often covered by a thin membrane, as seen here on the top of the head. ⚠️ Clinical features: • Infants may be born with absent or rudimentary brain tissue. • A

“Today we received a difficult diagnosis: anencephaly. What is Anencephaly? Anencephaly is a serious birth defect in which a baby is born without parts of the brain and skull. It happens during early development in pregnancy, usually in the first 3–4 weeks. ⸻ Causes & Risk Factors: • Caused by a failure of the neural tube to close properly. • Exact cause is often unknown, but risk factors can include: • Low folic acid intake before/during early pregnancy • Genetic factors • Environmental exposur