4 months pregnant, baby has anencephaly

Question

the doctor had told me that i need to take folic acid for the first 30 days, and idid, but now my baby has anencephaly? (im having a baby girl and naming her Natalie..) my question is? even though my baby already has anencephaly, is it still safe and should i start taking folic acid again? i feel like since im pregnant at a young age and i was anemic my body is taking this pregnancy slow? and it may not be too late. im in desperate need of any help.

snagglepuss1 · Answer

you are very very brave for such a young person, i commend you. you are not alone in this, if you have facebook there is a site called anencephaly angels you might want to join for support too, there are women on the site going through exactly the same as you now, you can share your journey, tell your story if you feel up to it.

nanacabana · Answer

yes, i decided im going to carry her to term. the doctor had told me that my body was trying to miscarry her but she didnt want to leave.

sweetpea03 · Answer

I am very sorry to hear about this. Anencephaly is one of the Neural Tube Defect(NTD) spectrum and the brain and cranial vault are severely malformed. This leads to fetal loss, still birth, or neonatal loss. Cases of Anencephaly have different factors that can cause this defect with both genetic and environmental factors. The genes have yet to be identified, but environmental factors, like folic acid, maternal diabetes, maternal obesity or other maternal complications/health problems, toxins in corn meal, arsenic, and hypothermia have all been identified as stressors that increase the risk for Anencephaly. Do you plan to carry this baby to term? There really isn't anything you can do about it now to fix the problem. I am sorry again to hear the news.

snagglepuss1 · Answer

anencephaly has nothing to do with things you do or dont do in pregnancy, it's part of the neural tube that doesn't close properly, it is still relatively unheard of but so devastating as the baby can live whilst still inside of you but usually only live for a few hours once born and many are stillborn. give yourself time to come to terms with what has happened and get over the shock, so sorry for you.

snagglepuss1 · Answer

Hi

if you want to talk my first baby had anencephaly, there is nothing that can be done now sadly, but next time you are trying for a pregnancy you will need to take a higher dose of folic acid. do you intend to carry the pregnancy on to term?

have 2 kids · Answer

I'm very sorry you are going through this. From what I have read taking the folic acid now will not correct the problem.   Has the Dr given you any information on what to expect?