Baby Without a Brain: 1st Birthday a Big Milestone

A baby without a brain was born last year, a few days before Christmas. Unlike many children that are born with the same ailment, little Nicholas Coke has been able to survive an entire year. This is an amazing feat, as most children die within hours of being born. What type of birth defect caused baby Nicholas's condition? It's called Anencephaly.

Anencephaly is a neural tube defect that causes a baby to be born with a brain stem, but no brain. Typically, it causes death within hours , days at best. There's no chance that Nicholas will be able to function normally, although he does express emotions. He can't sit up, crawl, hear, suck, or see. There's no known cause of the illness, although pregnant women should take a doctor recommended dose of folic acid daily to minimize the risk of these types of defects.

Having a baby is always a scary time for new parents. There are so many variables, things that could go wrong, and general fears. While the vast majority of babies are born with absolutely no problems, the sheer chance of life threatening complications and more is enough to make any parent nervous.

Even seasoned parents aren't immune to pregnancy problems. Recently, Michelle Duggar gave birth to her 19^th baby 15 weeks early. She had a life threatening complication, pre-eclampsia. This ailment happens in at least 5-8% of all pregnancies and likely doesn't have anything to do with the number of children that Mrs. Duggar has given birth to.

What can a woman do to minimize her risk of birth defects? Simply put, she can follow her doctor's orders. Don't smoke, don't drink, get moderate exercise if recommended, and take your prenatal vitamin. Read about potential symptoms of problems and report any strange feelings to your OBGYN's office ASAP to minimize potential complications. Never be ashamed to call the doctor or go to the emergency room - your body is carrying precious cargo. That being said, some complications can't be avoided, and many times the mother isn't to blame for birth defects and problems.

Nicholas Coke's parents are lucky they got to spend a year with their baby. His life is truly a miracle, and it's wonderful that he has made it this long. Even though he may not reach special milestones, this baby born without a brain really has strength and determination. He has taught many people more than he will ever know.

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