What does a small head mean for a baby?

What does a small head mean for a baby?

Microcephaly is a condition where a baby’s head is much smaller than expected. During pregnancy, a baby’s head grows because the baby’s brain grows. Microcephaly can occur because a baby’s brain has not developed properly during pregnancy or has stopped growing after birth, which results in a smaller head size.

What causes a baby’s head not to grow?

Microcephaly is a rare nervous system disorder that causes a baby’s head to be small and not fully developed. The child’s brain stops growing as it should. This can happen while the baby is still in the mother’s womb or within the first few years of birth.

Can a baby with a small head be normal?

Some children with small heads have normal intelligence. Microcephaly may be caused by problems during a woman’s pregnancy. In some cases, it may be caused by inheriting an abnormal gene. Microcephaly is a lifelong condition that has no cure.

Can a baby grow out of microcephaly?

There’s no cure for microcephaly. Treatment options depend on how severe your baby’s condition is. Babies with mild microcephaly often don’t have other health problems, but they still need regular check-ups so their health care provider can check their growth and development.

Does small head circumference mean small brain?

Preliminary studies have suggested links between brain size, head size, and IQ, but head circumference isn’t directly correlated with intellect. Among the many things that expectant parents hope for in a newborn is, a big head — maybe not so much at birth, but shortly thereafter.

Do microcephaly babies survive?

The prognosis for a child who has microcephaly depends on the other medical conditions the child has. In general, life expectancy for children who have microcephaly is reduced, and the prospects of attaining normal brain function is poor.

Can someone with microcephaly live a normal life?

There is no standard life expectancy for microcephalic babies because outcomes depend on so many factors, and the severity of the condition can range from mild to severe. Babies with mild microcephaly may still meet the same milestones like speaking, sitting and walking as a child without the disorder.