Search Results for 'anencephaly'

A recent study by Irish doctors based in UCD and the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital has found an increasing number of babies born with neural tube defects (NTD) such as spina bifida, anencephaly, and encephalocoele. Although NTDs are very rare, folic acid intake reduces the risk by promoting the development of a healthy spinal cord. It is a worry that almost 15 per cent of new mums had never taken folic acid. The study also found that only 14 per cent of women had taken folic acid pre-conception and nearly a half of women had only started to take folic acid after conception. It seems timely to get the message back out there.