All you need to know about: Foetal abnormalities Premium

Foetal abnormalities, their causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention methods to reduce the impact on newborns and families.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), congenital disorders affect approximately 6% of newborns worldwide, leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths each year. However, the true prevalence may be even higher, as many cases, including stillbirths and terminated pregnancies, often go unreported. 

Foetal abnormalities, also known as congenital disorders, congenital anomalies, or birth defects, are structural or functional anomalies that develop during pregnancy. These conditions, which pose health risks during foetal development, can impact the foetus’ bodily functions. They can affect various parts of the body, including the heart, brain, limbs, and internal organs.

While some abnormalities are mild and manageable, others can cause severe complications, impacting a child’s quality of life or even leading to stillbirth. 

These can result from genetic, environmental, or unknown factors. Some conditions arise due to inherited genetic mutations or chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down Syndrome. Environmental factors, including exposure to alcohol, drugs, radiation, or infections like rubella and Zika virus during pregnancy, can also increase the risk.

Maternal health conditions, such as uncontrolled diabetes or nutritional deficiencies (particularly folic acid deficiency), may contribute to the development of neural tube defects-- birth defects of the brain, spine, or spinal cord that occur when the neural tube(the precursor to the brain and spinal cord) doesn’t close properly during early pregnancy and other abnormalities.

In many cases, the exact cause remains unclear, but a combination of genetic and environmental influences is often responsible.  

The signs and symptoms of foetal abnormalities vary depending on the condition. Some physical deformities, like cleft lip, clubfoot, or missing limbs, are visible at birth. Internal organ malformations, such as congenital heart defects or kidney abnormalities, may require medical imaging for diagnosis. Neurological disorders, including spina bifida and microcephaly, can affect brain development and lead to intellectual or motor impairments. Some congenital disorders cause developmental delays, speech difficulties, or growth restrictions, making early intervention crucial for improving outcomes.