Amniotic Band Syndrome? Heard of it? Seen it?

sunbeach73 · Sep 21, 2006

My cousin had amniotic bands but her baby was born healthy as can be.

The weirdest thing I seen on a newborn in clinicals was a polydactil baby. We were always taught to count the finger and toes and this time we counted six on each hand. I guess having more fingers is better than having a few missing.

Selke · Sep 21, 2006

Years ago I had a baby deliver with parts of both legs and part of one arm missing. Thank the goddess the child had one hand left. It was horribly sad. I can't remember if the parents knew beforehand via ultrasound, or not. Usually one limb is affected, or a few fingers.

unikuelady, RN · Sep 21, 2006

I just cared for a 24 wk demise due to amniotic band around the cord!

There were also visible bands wrapped around 3 fingers and on a lower leg.

Very unusual to actually see the bands/tissue that almost looks like a string tied around the body part. I have seen infant that have survived with missing fingers, arms and legs due to amniotic band syndrome-but this was the first to have the bands attached.

mayflower2000, RN · Sep 21, 2006

my friend who is pregnant, had an ultrasound and was found out that the baby has no left hand due to amniotic band syndrome. she and her husband

were in denial stage at first but right now they are looking forward to see their bundle of joy soon.:wink2:

babynurselsa, RN · Sep 21, 2006

I have seen this a few times. I have seen where they have had complete amputations or just stricture of an extermity due to the band.

It is not what I would call a common complication but it happens.

SmilingBluEyes · Sep 21, 2006

Yep saw it w/a friend's baby. No left hand. Everything else "normal". Have seen it once or twice as an OB Nurse in 9 years, too. Both times I can think of, it was associated with one or more defects.

SmilingBluEyes · Sep 21, 2006

Here is a great site for reference (ain't google grand):

http://www.amnioticbandsyndrome.com/

RebeccaJeanRN · Sep 21, 2006

Happened with my mother's pregnancy of my sister (who was born missing a few toes). Subsequently, my sister's son was born with a club foot...so I wonder if its inherited? But interestingly, my mother's first pregnancies went without a hitch, and my sister's first pregnancy too. It leads me to wonder if scar tissue from prior C-sections were the cause and if this can be confused with amniotic bands (for those who had other pregnancies without a problem)- OR if prior C-sections CAUSE bands? My sister was told most likely amniotic band syndrome, but I still wonder about connection with prior pregnancy with C-section.

Was this the mother's first pregnancy? Just curious.

nurse_atnite · Sep 21, 2006

I have only seen this 2 or 3 times in the 6 years that I have been doing OB. The worst case was a malformed hand, several fingers missing on the other hand, an amputated foot above the ankle and this baby also had some facial deformities as well. I didn't follow the case but I would guess there were some other anomolies as well.

mitchsmom · Sep 21, 2006

I visitor to my breastfeeding group just found out that her baby has this, around the left wrist. They are still watching and hoping it doesn't constrict enough to do damage at this point. She was going for a level II US this week so I'm sure they will know a lot more then.

I also had a pt with twins, one with polydactly. They were fully formed pinkies except they were only connected with skin, the ped tied them off.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Sep 21, 2006

I saw it on a baby who had a band around his lower trunk - it looked like someone had put a tight rubber band around his waist. Nothing else was affected, but plastic surgery was going to be involved later in "loosening" the banding so his growth wouldn't be affected.