Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Tag:

pregnancy complications

Neural tube defects (NTDs)

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are serious birth defects of the brain, spine, or spinal cord. They occur during the first month of pregnancy, often before a woman even knows she's pregnant. The neural tube is the embryonic structure that eventually develops into the baby's brain and spinal cord and the tissues that enclose them. When this tube does not close completely, it results in neural tube defects.