10/09/2026
This condition is called Anancephaly.
Anencephaly is a serious birth defect where a baby is born without major portions of the brain, skull, and scalp.
It happens when the top part of the neural tube—the structure that forms the baby's brain and skull—fails to close during the first month of pregnancy (usually between the 23rd and 26th day after conception).
Without this closure, the developing brain tissue is exposed to amniotic fluid and breaks down.
Risk factors and causes include:
Low levels of folate (vitamin B9) during early pregnancy
Genetic changes or gene mutations
Unmanaged pre-existing health conditions like diabetes
Use of certain antiseizure medications
Overheating, such as from a high fever or hot tub use
Anencephaly is fatal. Most affected pregnancies end in miscarriage or stillbirth, and infants who are born alive usually survive only a few hours or days.
The condition can often be detected during pregnancy using routine ultrasounds, maternal blood screenings, or amniocentesis.
