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Omphalocele - Abdominal Wall Birth Defect
Omphalocele occurs when the bowel, liver, and sometimes other organs remain outside the belly in a sac.
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, in the United States about 775 babies a year are born with this birth defect.
(om′fal-ō-sēl) Omphalocele is a congenital defect in the abdominal wall in which variable amounts of abdominal contents protrude into the base of the umbilical cord. Until about week 10 of pregnancy, it is normal for the bowel to be outside of the baby’s belly. After 10 weeks the bowel or intestine should be inside the belly.
One of the causes of omphalocele is taking antidepressants during pregnancy. Some brands of antidepressants include Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa, Asentra.
More causes of omphalocele include:
- Heavy cigarette smokers
- Consuming alcohol while pregnant
- Overweight or obese while pregnant
What is omphalocele treatment?
If the birth defect is small, surgery can be considered soon after birth. The surgeon puts the bowel and other organs in the sac into the belly and closes the opening. If the birth defect is larger, the belly will need to grow or be stretched enough before the surgery occurs. The omphalocele surgery would happen in stages. If the sac ruptures before repair, it’s critical for your baby to have surgery as soon as possible.
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Although approximately only 775 babies will suffer from omphalocele, if one of those 775 is your baby, you may qualify for an abdominal wall birth defect lawsuit if you took antidepressants while pregnant.
Please contact the personal injury law firm Anapol Schwartz to find out what your legal options are to receive a settlement for your baby’s pain and suffering and medical expenses.
