Facebook | Bethan Simpson

Doctors Perform Rare Spinal Surgery On Child Still In The Womb To Save Its Life

Updated September 7, 2021

When a couple tries to start a family, it's only natural to feel some nervousness about how the next nine months are going to unfold. Although most pregnancies unfold without any serious issues, the reason why doctors recommend so many appointments before the big day is that if something does arise, they can be ready for it.

Sadly, when something alarming does appear in an ultrasound, the prospective parents may have to make some difficult decisions.

But as soon as one British mom saw an opportunity, she considered it her only option.

20 weeks into her pregnancy, 26-year-old Bethan Simpson from Chelmsford, England went for what started as a routine scan.

Facebook | Bethan Simpson

According to Newsweek, she was told that her baby's head was unusually sized towards the end of her visit.

This may not sound particularly noteworthy, but it made doctors suspect that the baby had spina bifida.

Facebook | Bethan Simpson

According to University College London Hospitals, this condition prevents the spinal canal from closing as much as it's supposed to.

Not only does this leave the spinal cord exposed during the pregnancy, but it also causes changes to the brain and severely damages the nerves in the lower half of the body.

This often makes it impossible for babies to walk and requires multiple operations to drain fluid from the brain later in life.

Facebook | Bethan Simpson

As Simpson posted on Facebook, she and the father initially went to Broomfield Hospital, "where our first option was termination & our baby has spina bifida - this was our last option."

When they visited other doctors in London, however, they were given three options: Terminate the pregnancy, continue on with it knowing what was in store for the baby, or a new process called fetal surgery.

As far as Simpson was concerned, that last option was the only one, but both Simpson and her baby had to meet some seriously strict criteria.

Facebook | Bethan Simpson

Fortunately, after they went through amniosentisis, MRIs, and other scans, they were approved for the procedure on December 17.

It would be only the fourth time that fetal repair for spina bifida was ever performed in the UK.

In the past, spina bifida was treated after the baby was born, but this method prevents much of the damage done to the spine.

Facebook | Bethan Simpson

According to UCLH, this procedure involves opening the uterus without delivering the baby, closing the gap in the spinal canal, and then repairing the uterus to ensure the baby safely rides out the rest of the pregnancy.

Fortunately, it seems that the operation was successful.

Facebook | Bethan Simpson

Simpson said the baby ended up with only a small lesion and her brain's status seemed encouraging.

As she said, "I'm fragile and sore but as long as she is doing fine that all we care about."

And as the weeks went on, the baby's progress seemed even more encouraging.

Facebook | Bethan Simpson

Simpson said her head went from a lemon shape to a more appropriate size and shape. Her brain is also where it should be and no fluid is leaking out of her spine.

On a lighter note, she also seems to be growing well and enjoys putting the umbilical cord in her mouth.

As you might imagine, this experience has taught Simpson a lot about spina bifida.

Facebook | Bethan Simpson

She learned that 80% of pregnancies where this condition arises end up terminated in the U.K.

This led her to say, "It's not a death sentence. She has the same potential as every one of us. Yes there are risks of things going wrong but please think more about spina bifida. It's not what it used to be."

h/t: Facebook | Bethan Simpson

Filed Under: