Gastroschisis is a birth defect that affects the internal organs of the baby.When an infant has gastroschisis, the intestines are outside the abdominal wall, through a hole in the umbilical cord, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The hole doesn't have a definite size, sometimes if the hole is too big, other organs like the stomach and liver sticks out of the baby's body too.
According to recent information received by the CDC, the number of babies born with gastroschisis disturbingly increased in number. What made it even disturbing is no one can identify what's causing the defect and why the number keeps rising. It was also found out that between the years 1995 and 2005, the number of babies born with the condition doubled and continues to increase.
CDC also found out that 1,871 babies are born with the defect. Parents.com reported that Coleen Boyle of CDC said that not knowing why more and more babies are born with this kind of defect concerns them greatly. She also said that in order to figure out how or why this defect is happening, more public research should be done immediately.
Experts are still trying to conduct an in depth study regarding this issue. Doctors and scientists are still unable to tell if the defect is brought about by genetics, ingestion, or exposure to something during the course of the pregnancy, or a combination of both.
Although the defect may seem too much, it can actually be corrected once the baby is born. A surgical procedure may be done to place the organs back inside the baby's body and to repair the abdominal wall. However, the baby may still suffer the effects of the defect such as feeding and digestion problems, as well as the absorption of nutrients their body needs.
Video Credit: youtube.com/UCSFFetalTreatmentCenter
