The baby that was born twice!

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Check out the link below about this family that underwent fetal surgery to remove a very large tumor that was growing on the baby and would have killed her had the surgery not been performed. An amazing story!!!! Does anyone know how they close the amniotic sac after the surgery? I don't understand that part of it. Or does mom just continue to leak fluid for the rest of the pregnancy? The amniotic sac seems so delicate that I wouldn't think you'd be able to suture it up afterward. Your thoughts???

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24999650/

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Specializes in ICU, PACU, Cath Lab.

I know I have been told that small tears can heal themselves..not sure this would constitue a small tear. Wow..that is an amazing story!! Thanks for sharing.

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

They explain on there that they went throught the uterus and then sutured the uterus up so that it was water tight, I think if I understand it right they didn't go through the amniotic sac.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
They explain on there that they went throught the uterus and then sutured the uterus up so that it was water tight, I think if I understand it right they didn't go through the amniotic sac.

They have to penetrate the amniotic sac to reach the baby.

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Was the baby born via c-section?

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Yes. They don't want a mom to labor with a recent uterine scar.

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It makes sense, I just wonderd because nothign was mentioned in the article.

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I actually know this family through a friend of mine that is close to them. Medical science is amazing. However, this family would be the first to tell you that their strong faith in the Lord is what got them through such a difficult pregnancy. Macy was only given a 10% chance of surviving the surgery, thus Macy's middle name of "Hope"

Macy Hope you are truly a blessing from God! May you always be strengthened by the tremendous amount of prayers that were and are said on your behalf.

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Specializes in ICU, SDU, OR, RR, Ortho, Hospice RN.

I do not work in L&D but that article was precious. Thank you :)

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Fetal surgery has been going on for quite some time. I've heard of it being used for hydrocephalus, spina bifida (by far the most common), and a blocked bladder.

There have been a few cases where they had to deliver the baby because it started breathing, but usually the pregnancies can go to term or nearly so. Mom of course has to be on bed rest until delivery.

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Thank you JESUS!! His wonderous works cease to amaze me!! He is the man with the master plan.

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Specializes in L&D.

As I recall from 10 years ago when I worked at a big city medical center that did fetal surgeries, the uterus was sutured with a gadget that used absorbable staples. The incision is somewhere in the uterine body, depending on the baby's position, not the lower uterine segment. Since the amniotic membrane is adherent to the uterine wall, I believe that it is included in the uterine repair, not repaired separately. Future deliveries will be by C/S since the incision is not in the lower segment and the chance of uterine rupture with labor is much greater.

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