Bethan Simpson’s unborn daughter has been given a second chance at good health thanks to a brand new surgery being performed in European hospitals. Simpson, a 26-year-old soon to be mom, recently became the fourth woman in the UK to undergo a very unique procedure.
This special surgery treats an infant’s spina bifida before they are even born. The procedure to operate on an unborn baby was first pioneered in America at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and has now been brought over to Europe.
What is Spina Bifida?
It is a birth defect that hinders a child’s physical development, which generally results in paralysis and impaired motor function. Doctors usually advise mothers to terminate the pregnancy if a fetus is diagnosed with the defect.
Lead neurosurgeon, Dominic Thompson of GOSH, says:
“In spina bifida, the spinal canal does not close completely, leaving the spinal cord exposed from an early stage in pregnancy. This results in changes to the brain, as well as severe trauma-related injuries to the nerves on the lower half of the body.”
Their Story
Bethan and her husband Kieron were devastated to hear about the condition their daughter had developed. However, they did not lose hope. They heard about this groundbreaking new surgery that treats spina bifida outside the womb and realized that they could save their daughter’s life, and future well-being. She opted to undergo the surgery at 24-weeks-pregnant.
The surgery has been completed and it was a grand success! The mother-to-be from Essex is the happiest woman in the world. “I feel our baby kick me day in and day out, that’s never changed,” Simpson said “She’s extra special, she’s part of history and our daughter has shown just how much she deserves this life.”
Bethan is due to give birth in April 2019. She is one of a handful of lucky moms who have been treated by a team of Belgian and British surgeons at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
How Did The Doctors Do It?
The surgery is conducted in a similar fashion to a Cesarean section. The surgeons expose the fetus while the mother is under anesthetic. Then, the neurosurgeon cuts around the exposed spinal cord which is protruding through a hole in the back. After putting the spinal cord back into the spinal canal, a protective tube of muscles and skin is created around it to prevent spinal fluid from leaking.
Lead obstetrician Jan Deprest of UCLH and Belgian hospital UZ Leuven, explains:
“Operating in the womb involves opening the uterus, exposing the spina bifida without delivering the baby, closing the defect and then repairing the uterus to leave the baby safely inside.”
Watch this animation to find out more about this amazing surgery:
