What happens to babies born with neural tube defects?
A baby born with a defect to the skull (anencephaly) usually dies within 48 hours after being born. Defects to the spine (spina bifida) can be more or less serious depending on the location, size and how much of the exposed nerves are covered with skin. Most babies born with spina bifida are very weak or paralyzed from the waist down. This results in a lack of bladder or bowel control. They usually suffer from mental retardation, and in many cases eventually develop hydrocephalus (water on the brain).
