Question
A few days ago, I went to the hospital for a thorough check-up and they said the baby’s head has a bit of fluid, but not much. I’m concerned about how this might harm the child?
Answer
Hydrocephalus in the fetus can be caused by genetic factors, viral infections, or nutritional deficiencies. It is recommended to actively check and observe the fetus’s condition. If the fluid accumulation increases gradually, it may be necessary to terminate early pregnancy. Hydrocephalus can affect the development of brain substance and impact the child’s intelligence. If the hydrocephalus is not caused by chromosomal abnormalities, surgery can be performed after birth to repair it, but the results cannot guarantee that the newborn’s intelligence will be normal. Terminating early pregnancy is harmless. Folic acid can prevent neural tube defects, but malnutrition may not be the cause of this fetal abnormality. Taking folic acid a few months before the next pregnancy can increase the likelihood of having a normal child. The risk of neural tube defects during subsequent pregnancies is usually less than 10%.