What does it mean to be born with sirenomelia?
Babies that are born with this syndrome are either missing their leg bones or their legs are fused together. There may or may not be feet present. If they are present they are fused together often resembling flippers. These babies are also born with numerous internal issues including kidney problems and abnormalities to the bladder, rectum and genitals. In many cases the child’s lungs are also impaired. It is due to these abnormalities that most of the babies do not make it past their third or fourth day of life. So what causes such a terrible syndrome? Oddly enough doctors don’t know. They do speculate on possible causes such as poor prenatal health. They also think that illness during the pregnancy could possibly lead to the development of sirenomelia. Naturally the also feel that there could be a genetic predisposition to the condition. If they doctor’s can’t explain how or why it happens, it also means that they can’t offer any tips on how to avoid it. What the medical community do
