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Know what anencephaly is

Anencephaly is a dangerous disease that attacks infants, where it is born without many parts of the brain and skull bones. The risk of a baby being born with this disease increases if the mother has a deficiency of folic acid during pregnancy.

Anencephaly is an abnormality of fetal nerve tube formation. This disease prevents the formation of the baby's brain, skull, spine, or spinal cord normally.

It's important to know how to reduce the risk of anencephaly, given the lack of treatment methods to save babies from this disease.



Causes of anencephaly
The exact cause of anencephaly is not known with certainty, but it is thought that a number of factors increase the risk that the baby will suffer from this disease, namely:

  • Genetic disorders.
  • Lack of certain nutrients, especially folic acid.
  • Exposure to toxic substances and drugs or food consumed by the mother during pregnancy.
  • Born to mothers who suffer from obesity or diabetes.
  • Mothers are often exposed to high temperatures, for example when soaking in hot water, taking a steam bath (sauna) or experiencing a fever.
Folic acid deficiency is often cited as the cause of this condition. Folic acid (vitamin B9) is a type of nutrient found in many types of foods and supplements. Pregnant women need this substance to contribute to the production of red blood cells, fetal development and prevention of disability.

Can anencephaly be treated?

Until now, there were no treatment methods that could be used to treat anencephaly. Almost all babies with this disease will die a few hours or a few days after birth.

Therefore, preventive measures are very important to do. A pregnant woman needs adequate nutrition from balanced and nutritious foods, especially foods high in folic acid.

Women who have the potential to give birth to children who are planning a pregnancy are advised to consume at least 400 micrograms of folic acid per day. Pregnant women need to consume about 400 to 600 micrograms of folic acid a day.

In women who have babies with neural tube defects, folic acid must be consumed at least 4 milligrams (4,000 micrograms) per day, starting in the month before conception.

Folic acid can be obtained from pregnancy or food supplements. Some foods high in folic acid are:

  • Green leafy vegetables
  • nuts
  • Cow liver
  • orange
  • rice
  • Bread
  • Cereals
  • Pasta

Routine pregnancy control by an obstetrician is also an important step in anticipating anencephaly at an early age. The doctor will give folic acid supplements and indicate what types of food should be consumed during pregnancy to prevent anencephaly in the fetus.

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