New Study Says Fetal Surgery Can Reduce Spina Bifida Complications
There is new hope on the horizon for babies diagnosed in the womb with the severe form of Spina bifida, Myelomeningocele. In this new study, doctors around the country have been intervening before birth in hopes that fetal surgery can reduce and even prevent the risks of future complications associated with this disease.
Babies with Myelomeningocele have a portion of their spinal cord exposed while in the womb. This exposure is considered toxic to the spinal cord when it comes into contact with waste floating in the amniotic fluid. In this new study, doctors performed fetal surgery on babies before the 26th week of pregnancy to essentially enclose the exposed part of the spinal cord. To test their findings, doctors also performed the same surgery on a different set of babies after they were born.
One year after their surgeries, the babies that went through the fetal surgery were half as likely to need brain shunts, and by age two and a half, they were twice as likely to walk without crutches or other walking devices. These babies also scored 21% higher on a test for motor skills.
However, even with such positive results, fetal surgery comes with high risks. Two babies that underwent the fetal surgery died. They were also born on average at about 34 weeks, and because of being born prematurely, 21% of these babies developed a breathing disorder. To add to this, the baby wasn’t the only one fetal surgery posed a risk to. 1/3 of the mothers that underwent the fetal surgery developed thinning and tearing to their uterus which can cause extreme complications and even ruptures with future pregnancies.
On average 1,500 babies are diagnosed annually with this severe form of Spina bifida. Even with the risk of possible complications, this study shows hope for this disease. Diane Farmer of the University California- San Francisco said, “This is a promising and exciting development for this disease, which is an otherwise relatively neglected disease.” The doctors involved in this study say that their positive results will likely encourage more hospitals and doctors to start performing more of these fetal surgeries.
To read more about this study, click HERE.
Amazing! The U.S. is so far behind on studying spinal cord defects and injuries, in general, that any progress is great progress.
There are babies born that are put in neonatal units that survive and do well. My thoughts what is better for the baby to be born and die in her mother’s arms or be aborted:
Used after 16 weeks (four months) when enough fluid has accumulated. A long needle injects a strong salt solution through the mother’s abdomen into the baby’s sac. The baby swallows this fluid and is poisoned by it. It also acts as a corrosive, burning off the outer layer of skin. It normally takes somewhat over an hour for the baby to die from this. Within 24 hours, labor will usually set in and the mother will give birth to a dead or dying baby. (There have been many cases of these babies being born alive. They are usually left unattended to die. However, a few have survived and later been adopted.)
My Opinion:I know this would have to be hurtful, but I am just wondering if the pain that a person go’s thru in a case like this, is it worse by livin with the decision that the person has made about it , such as, what they did do or what they didn’t do.What I mean is, by taking the baby’s life from it,before it was born, is this pain worse you feel? or the pain that you could have give it a chance at life, and didn’t .( Who knows but God, what was in store for it) Who will ever know now, what COULD have been for this child,because it’s chance at life was taken away, by man’s hands.The decision that was made to end this child’s life, in MY opinion, would be what would haunt me all the rest of the days of my life,I do believe.
although i could never say either way i honestly have to say that i could have never aborted mine in any way or circumstance. i am 30 yrs old and i have burried four children due to incompatant cervix so they thought. when i got pregnant with my fifth child i found a regular hometown doctor that did for me that specialist wouldnt do for me. to make a long story short he started me on progesterone shots and every week a nurse would come to my house and give me that shot in my hip. at 38 weeks i gave birth to a beautiful healthy baby boy whose name is angel because that is truly what he is. my other four children took their last breaths within my arms and yes i still live in pain. sometimes its not for others to understand what others go through but its just for us to believe and trust that god knows whats best and in the long run you may not understand in that moment but in time it shall be reveled to u. i can say that when i was going through their loss i may have not said that at that moment but today beings i have been through it i can say it today. GOD IS GREAT…..
It is a very heartwrenching thing to have a baby with such severe problems or to have one die right before or after birth. Whether they decide to let a very premature baby die or to fight to save it is a personal and very difficult decision. But changing the law to allow late term abortion is not the answer. It would be even more horrific to allow thousands to be murdered just to avoid pain for a few parents.
I do not agree with late term abortions, I realize if health of mother is in danger IT IS LEGAL but there has to be some type of law for special circumstances. I feel women should have the choice and my view just for myself no late term Im sure most religions are definitively against this BUT I do have a right to my opinion. I would hate for things to go back the way they were yrs ago. Botched abortions in alleys with no sterile surroundings and deaths for babies and their mothers. People will continue to control their lives and fates.
this makes me sooo mad!!! i dont get why people dont get it.. abortion is murder, they choose to kill their own flesh and blood! i dont get what monsters thought of abortion esp made a law about it! wow crazy people! and i also dont get why the parents and all these abortion doctors arnt in jail for life for many murders! how can you live with urself after such a thing. this lady rather have killed her baby then it die on its own, knowing it will anyways why not atleast have a clean contiouns! God gives life, NOONE but God can take it away! im totally against murder “abortion” as u ppl call it. its just not right to kill ur own child. so sad ppl fight for this law to be legall
Heidi: Personally, and I am a mom, I would rather go through the pain and emotional suffering and have my baby naturally, not aborted after 20 weeks to feel pain and a callous journey to death. I believe that even a baby as tiny as this one deserves to be born,if only to live 15 seconds in his or hers mother’s arms and deserves that moment and as a mother,I would want that moment despite the sadness and pain and see and feel my baby and love it eternally and know that we had those 15 seconds together, no matter how heart wrenching and tragic it is and was for that poor couple. I would never abort it after 20 weeks in this case and in my heart I feel that little infant girl just might have known that it was held in the loving arms of her mother and father to then pass on more peacefully and gracefully than to have been aborted so late in the pregnancy… My opinion… Many will beg to differ. Either way it is very very sad and God bless that family and their little one♥
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This story is very sad, but the law will help to prevent late term abortions which are none less than cold blooded murder. It is sad that these parents had to experience this situation, but the law will save so many little lives in the long run. The right to life is a battle and there will always be a few sad cases, but the overall outcome is well worth the sacrifice.
No matter how doctors term a fetus or candy coat abortion, the truth can not be ignored that by the time most realize they are pregnant: there is a living, feeling, growing baby in that womb.
My sister had twins . one passed very early in her pregnancy & miiscarried, but Micheal hung on and although he had multiple problems he lived to almost term. he had Potter’s syndrome, no kidneys so very little amniotic fluid and underdeveloped lungs. he was born alive and crying. i held him for 45 min, until he passed. hardest thing I have ever done. my sister knew after the 2nd ultrasound in May, he died on Nov 1. She knew then that he would not be able to live outside her,Montana law did not allow 2nd trimester abortion because her life was not in danger. a short time later she developed gallstones. they would not do surgery, because she was pregnant. So she suffered for 6 mons and Micheal suffered for 45 min. I know the pain is heartbreaking, but don’t let it divide you and husband. my love and prayers to you. Diane Cotton
Only a few days separated the decision to have an abortion or let the baby be born. Which was less painful for the baby? Being destroyed by the parents or being held and loved that 15 minutes?
I wouldn’t want a child to suffer and nor does the parents need to suffer. Simple as that.
Why is it my step daughter was born at 20 weeks and she was 1lb 3oz at birth. But this was 13 yrs ago and now its like she wasn’t even born that early. Why in the world could they save my step daughter no problem but not this family. Its like the drs didn’t even want to try. My personal daughter would be 12 this year but she died in the womb at 24 weeks but they forced me to carry her to term. Why is it ok for drs to traumatize us as mothers?
This family is NOT saying they want the Law repealed, they just want a clause in place so that in these VERY UNIQUE situations, the FAMILY can make the best decision for THEMSELVES. I am not talking about someone who finds their child to have a heart defect, or Downs Syndrome, or some other genetic disorder, I am talking about someone who, like this family, knows that because of such things as the mothers water breaking at 20 weeks being allowed to MAKE THEIR OWN DECISION.
For the record, I am totally against abortion. If you do not want it, you can always put the child up for adoption. I to feel for this family. Who knows, if she had been in the best hospital in the country, maybe they could have done something to try to save sweet Elizabeth. But often times, smaller hospitals just don’t have the ability, don’t have the right NICU staff or equipment, or maybe don’t know all the possibilities to try.
I feel for these parents and the baby i was pregnant with my first daughter and delivered at the same amount of weeks as this mother my daughter weighed 1 lb 10 oz and dropped to 1 lb 2 oz two days later i was talen to stanford hospital in palo alto calif by ambulance and stayed for 3 days until i delivered her with all the medications given to me to help stop the delivery she just wanted to be in this world i too was told she would not make it. Its been 24 years an my daughter was named “the miracle baby” thanks to the nurses n doctors in the NICU at stanford she is married with 2 dsughters of her own she maybe a tiny little thing still but she is healthy and my miracle baby today…it sadens my heart tremendously to know that this baby suffered and didnt have to shame on those doctors that did this an rest assure your day is numbered an your only judge is god. My prayers to the parents
i think that law sucks……………any decision concerning a child, should b left up to the parent(s).
First things first.
I am not a Parent nor have I ever been one.
I believe that LATE-TERM abortions are wrong wrong WRONG!
That’s almost as bad as when the Doctors in the Early days of Abortion would use a coat-hangar to KILL the harmless baby
This being said I do also support Abortion but no late term I mean COME ON!
If you wait any longer we wouldn’t be having this disussion now would we because the child would have made it into the World and if you were to kill it then you might find yourself up on a manslaughter charge!
So these parents feel traumatized because they were forced to hold their child while she died rather than kill her 8days earlier? Guess it’s not important that she died feeling comforted rather than being burned to death with saline or ripped apart by extraction. The law saved this child a great deal of suffering because the parents would have chosen to kill her and that’s real trauma!
For the record this wasn’t “a very unique” situation. Babies are born and die under these exact circumstances everyday all over this country. Sad to realize that without this law, this baby girl would have been poisened/burned to death so that this mother could have gotten back to her life 8 days sooner. Also sad that we need laws to assure compassion and empathy for a tiny babies but obviously, we do?
“Who in thier right mind”, after looking at the picture of “very developed” and “heart beating” infant, would allow a procedure that would either chop up or inject some poison into thier baby they so called loved …devastated ? Oh I don’t think so, it’s murder and there is no other way to put it. If the the child was going to pass when delivered at least out of the wound Drs could have made the process less painful and humane. I don’t have any pitty for them or anyone who thinks this is right. Ever heard of the “Silent Scream”? you otta see this short film, if you don’t pass out or violently vomit through it, your probably not human!
My heart goes out to the couple that watched their baby die. I had 2 miscarriages (1965 & 1966). I didn’t even get to see the babies. I was only 3 mo. pregnant. I think today I would see them. I pray for the couple who lost their daughter. A loss is a loss and the emptiness & curiosity is always there. I didn’t even know whether they were boy or girl. It’s hard to endure such tragedy.
An infants dna is developed at about 18 days making them unique individuals.At 20 weeks they are developed except for growing more independent of their Mothers and finally able to live outside of the womb.I cannot understand a decision to kill an infant whether in the womb (abortion) or outside of the womb (withholding medical or nutritional needs, physical abuse or neglect.) We call it murder by child abuse or neglect if they breath and than cease to breath.How can we NOT call it murder if they are in the womb?????It was hard on the Mother to hold her infant while it struggled to breath and than passed, I think it was assuring to the infant to be held my her Mother.I would take the pain of seeing my child pass from this world to the next than to think I caused the death of one because it was going to be an inconvience.Every life, no matter how short has it’s reason!!!!This I will believe until my soul leaves my body.
I know a relative who was told her child would be born with birth defects….she was told to abort…that was twenty years ago…that baby is studying to be a physucians assistant!!!!!!! You go God!!!!
We should never intrude on what GOD has created!!! Even if his or her life is so very short, Yes it is painful when we loose a child and all our hopes and dreams die with the child. With the help of family, friends,and maybe our chuch you can get through this terrible time. No, you will never “get over it” and know one should ever ask you to but you can get throught it..
May God Bless all that are going through this.
I had twins horn at 23 weeks 1lb 10 oz 1 lb 11 oz over 13 years ago and they are still here I can’t believe they wouldn’t even try to save it
My great nephew was born 1lb 11 oz. He is a healthy 2 yr old today and is walking and talking like any other 2 yr old. What an outrageous law and someday someone is going to stand before God and give an account for this baby death!!!
they should have to let the parents decide what is best for them that would be God will and why play with a precious life–it should totally be up to the parents to terminate or carry child to be born a loved even if fora short time
I wrote this comment on facebook when i read this…yahoo…news…
I guess that they would rather have her die inside of her, than to actually see the baby…personally, i would want to hold that baby…just to kiss and make sure as the baby passed she would be held with love…and also just if there was a chance it may live,,,an abortion…???this all doesnt make sense to me. I do not believe in abortion as a mean of birth control, because someone will be inconvenienced by a child, or because the baby isnt perfect..many wonderful children are born with disabilities and deserve to live…this law is crap to me…How selfish is the couple who dont even want to hold their baby, no matter hard it would be?????….selfish…all selfish..
I am in agreement with a couple/person;s right to free choice, but I am even more in agreement that an unborn child has rights as well.
When two women argued and fought over which one was the true mother, Solomon’s idea was to threaten to “Divide the Child in Half”! The true mother was willing to give her rights up to save her child’s life.
It is not my place or anyone else’s place to judge another person’s heart.
I have given birth to six children and lost two from miscarriage. One adult son passed away while serving in the military.
I would have given anything to have been able to hold those two precious babies I lost…even if for only 15 seconds!
I pray for this couple…may God in His wisdom comfort them in their time of grief. ( a grief that lasts a lifetime when a parent loses a child)
The 15 minutes would have meant more to me than anything in the world. I think it is a very selfish point of view of this mother. Maybe she would like to go into the nursing homes and kill the ones who have only days or hours to live. God have mercy on her.
Here is what I believe. It would be absolutely wrong to abort the baby. Hard for parents yes. If they were told the absolute truth of what abortion does to the baby, I find it difficult to believe that they would choose to do any of the horrific procedures that are abortion to the baby that they loved enough to name.
The death of a child is heartbreaking at any age, preborn or later. I have lost 2 preborn and one 15, you are changed. Abortion doesn’t change the heartbreak. Parents’ feelings should not trump the baby’s. Too often we hear abortion but too few consider what the procedures actually are, what they actually do to the mother and baby.
We are so brainwashed about abortion rights that no one talks about what the procedures are. The true risks and dangers and outcomes.