[chris]

Anencephaly is a neural tube defect in which a baby is born without parts of the brain and skull. It develops when the upper end of the neural tube does not fully close early in pregnancy. It affects about 1 in every 4,762 US births.

The cause is not fully known. Genes and other factors can contribute, with increased risk linked to low folate, poorly controlled diabetes, certain medicines and overheating or fever. Folic acid can help prevent neural tube defects. Anencephaly can be detected through prenatal blood screening and ultrasound or diagnosed at birth. There is no known cure or standard treatment. Pregnancy loss is high, and almost all babies born with the condition die shortly after birth.

[GlassToTheArson]

Heartbreaking

[obravo]

Looks like a frog

[kaydeechio]

I feel for anyone who's child is given that diagnosis.

[Rusty666]

[coverdale0]

I'd be scared to have anymore after that!!! I would say poor baby, but they don't feel anything with no brain...

[Jere]

hairy little bugger

[Spiffyfable]

And it's got hairy shoulders like me

[Darkest Angel]

poor lil thing, looks like they had an ultrasound that told the story but i guess it was 2 late to abort @ that point?? RIP

[khathryn]

So sad.

I know of a couple whose baby was to be born with nothing more than a brain stem. They were aware of this when they were pregnant. They opted to take the pregnancy to term, so they could donate the baby's organs. I can't even imagine how difficult that would be!