diaphamatic hernia

[anisha]

I went for my 20 week scan last week and my baby has diaphamatic hernia, does anyone have know of this condition or have experience of it?

My niece had this - only dicovered at birth, back in the days when they didn't have scans.

It will be monitored very carefully, and at delivery - which should be planned - the baby will be kept head - up, transferred to special care, and, depending on the degree/size of the hernia, surgery may be planned/necessary.

It is very early days at 20 weeks to know exactly what will happen. This is something you will need to discuss with your consultant.Try not to worry - easier said than done, I know, but at least it has been spotted early, which can only be good.

My niece is in her 30s and had a massive hernia that was only spotted by a very clued up paediatrician at delivery. She had surgery soon after birth and she is absolutely fine. She had to be kept sitting up/propped up at all times in the early days.

I am probably a bit out of date - maybe someone better qualifies than me will be along soon.

You will have more ultrasounds to monitor how things progress, so extra photo opportunities , and it will have to be a hospital delivery rather than a home birth.

I have found this link to the Great Ormond Street fact sheet but I presume that the repair could be done at your regional paediatric referral centre.

For you this is totally unexpected, but for the medical staff it is all in a days work. They will be able to talk you through things, but the best thing would be to write down your questions beforehand and take someone else with you so if you miss something being said, they can help out by being an extra pair of ears.

Let us know how you're getting on and we send you big hugs.

A friend had a baby boy last year and he was born with this - not picked up on scans either here in Budapest or in UK where she had her baby.

He was rushed to GOSH and operated on and was in intensive care for a few days. Then transferred back to their local hosp. He is now 1 and totally gorgeous and healthy and happy - the smiliest baby I have ever met!

Thank you for your posts, they are really appreciated. as you can imamgine I was devastated with the diagnosis, and still coming to terms with it.

I will let you know how we get on. Thanks again.