“Today we received a difficult diagnosis: anencephaly. What is Anencephaly? Anencephaly is a serious birth defect in which a baby is born without parts of the brain and skull. It happens during early development in pregnancy, usually in the first 3–4 weeks. ⸻ Causes & Risk Factors: • Caused by a failure of the neural tube to close properly. • Exact cause is often unknown, but risk factors can include: • Low folic acid intake before/during early pregnancy • Genetic factors • Environmental exposur