This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/7427907.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Ovary baby survives against odds | Ovary baby survives against odds |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A woman in Australia has given birth to a healthy baby girl after a rare full-term ectopic pregnancy. | A woman in Australia has given birth to a healthy baby girl after a rare full-term ectopic pregnancy. |
Against all odds, baby Durga survived despite developing in her mother's ovary instead of her uterus. | Against all odds, baby Durga survived despite developing in her mother's ovary instead of her uterus. |
Her mother Meera Thangarajah, 34, had shown no signs of abnormality and doctors only realised when they performed a Caesarean section. | Her mother Meera Thangarajah, 34, had shown no signs of abnormality and doctors only realised when they performed a Caesarean section. |
Most ectopic pregnancies end in miscarriage or are terminated early because of the risk to the mother. | Most ectopic pregnancies end in miscarriage or are terminated early because of the risk to the mother. |
Just 1-2% of all pregnancies are ectopic, and in 95% of those cases the egg is fertilised in the fallopian tubes on its way to the uterus. | Just 1-2% of all pregnancies are ectopic, and in 95% of those cases the egg is fertilised in the fallopian tubes on its way to the uterus. |
In 0.5% of cases, including this one, the baby grows inside the ovary itself. | In 0.5% of cases, including this one, the baby grows inside the ovary itself. |
Pre-natal scan | Pre-natal scan |
Mrs Thangarajah gave birth on Thursday at the Darwin Private Hospital in Australia's Northern Territory. | Mrs Thangarajah gave birth on Thursday at the Darwin Private Hospital in Australia's Northern Territory. |
General manager Robyn Cahill told the Associated Press news agency that mother and baby were both doing well. | General manager Robyn Cahill told the Associated Press news agency that mother and baby were both doing well. |
There is a great risk in such a pregnancy of bleeding Dr Maggie BlottRoyal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists | There is a great risk in such a pregnancy of bleeding Dr Maggie BlottRoyal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists |
Normally, a woman with an ectopic pregnancy would present with severe pain and bleeding in the first few weeks after conception. | Normally, a woman with an ectopic pregnancy would present with severe pain and bleeding in the first few weeks after conception. |
But Ms Cahill said Mrs Thangarajah had experienced no symptoms, and the abnormality did not show up on a pre-natal scan. | But Ms Cahill said Mrs Thangarajah had experienced no symptoms, and the abnormality did not show up on a pre-natal scan. |
She said only 1 in 40,000 fertilisations implant in the ovary, and it was unheard of for one of those foetuses grow to full term.But despite those statistics, Durga - meaning Goddess - was born at 38 weeks weighing 6lb 3oz (2.8 kg). | |
"We're calling it a miracle," Ms Cahill said. | "We're calling it a miracle," Ms Cahill said. |
Risk of bleeding | Risk of bleeding |
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said the odds of survival in such a pregnancy were "no more than one in a million". | The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said the odds of survival in such a pregnancy were "no more than one in a million". |
Spokeswoman Dr Maggie Blott said: "One that goes to produce a live healthy baby is very unusual. | Spokeswoman Dr Maggie Blott said: "One that goes to produce a live healthy baby is very unusual. |
"There is a great risk in such a pregnancy of bleeding. | "There is a great risk in such a pregnancy of bleeding. |
"And had it been picked up at six to eight weeks, it would have been removed because of the risk to the mother. | "And had it been picked up at six to eight weeks, it would have been removed because of the risk to the mother. |
"This type of pregnancy is very rare indeed." | "This type of pregnancy is very rare indeed." |
It [the ovary wall] was so paper thin you could see the baby's hair Dr Andrew MillerObstetrician, Darwin Private Hospital | It [the ovary wall] was so paper thin you could see the baby's hair Dr Andrew MillerObstetrician, Darwin Private Hospital |
Obstetrician Dr Andrew Miller, who delivered Durga, told AFP news agency that he had not realised there was a problem until he saw the ovary stretched almost to breaking point. | Obstetrician Dr Andrew Miller, who delivered Durga, told AFP news agency that he had not realised there was a problem until he saw the ovary stretched almost to breaking point. |
"And you can't believe that the baby, just by normal movement, wouldn't have caused the sac [inside the ovary] to rupture," he said. | "And you can't believe that the baby, just by normal movement, wouldn't have caused the sac [inside the ovary] to rupture," he said. |
"It was so paper thin you could see the baby's hair." | "It was so paper thin you could see the baby's hair." |
The baby's father, Ravi, told local television that doctors had told him: "You're one of the luckiest men in the world at the moment." | The baby's father, Ravi, told local television that doctors had told him: "You're one of the luckiest men in the world at the moment." |
Advertisement | |
Dr Blott on the rare occurence of full-term ectopic pregnancies |