What to do about fetal hydrocephalus

Fetal hydrocephalus is more common in obstetric clinics. Many pregnant women fear that hydrocephalus will occur due to abnormal fetal brain development, causing unnecessary panic. The causes of hydrocephalus can be divided into normal physiological phenomena as well as abnormal phenomena. First of all, hydrocephalus caused by normal fetal physiological phenomena does not require special treatment. If hydrocephalus is found during prenatal examination, if the amount of hydrocephalus is small and the diameter is less than one centimeter, then it is recommended that the pregnant woman should undergo regular fetal system ultrasound to monitor the changes of hydrocephalus. If the hydrocephalus increases gradually and progresses continuously, then fetal MRI is recommended to rule out congenital developmental abnormalities. If there is no significant change in fetal hydrocephalus, then developmental abnormalities are not considered to be the cause for the time being. Some fetuses with hydrocephalus may resorb on their own after birth. Secondly, if hydrocephalus is caused by congenital developmental abnormalities, pregnant women are advised to consult a hospital qualified for prenatal diagnosis to identify the cause of hydrocephalus and, if necessary, to undergo fetal DNA testing. After the cause is identified, if the disease does not affect the normal growth and development of the fetus after birth, the pregnant woman can be advised to observe and treat the disease regularly. If the fetus has congenital developmental abnormalities, then induction of labor can be considered and the pregnancy can be abandoned if necessary. As mentioned above, there is no need to be overly alarmed when fetal hydrocephalus is detected. If the amount of hydrocephalus is small, treatment can be observed, but if the amount of hydrocephalus grows gradually and is large, immediate medical attention is needed.