A recent new article stated that one baby defied the odds, against medical advice, to survive hypoplastic left heart syndrome – the child in question has just half a heart. Her parents were told that she had just a 50/50 chance of surviving the condition, but following two major operations, she is now a thriving 9 month old with a bright future. She has amazed medical professionals, who initially advised a termination as her chances of survival didn’t stretch beyond a few days following her birth. She had her first operation at just five days old, with the success proving that the condition is fightable. The condition was discovered at the 20-week scan, where the child’s parents were told that the left side of her heart hadn’t developed in the womb.
In order to help the heart work more effectively, surgeons put an artificial tube inside the body to help blood to flow to the heart, then at the eight month stage, a vein was attached from the neck to the heart. As the heart grows, the child will need a following operation to ensure her heart works as efficiently as possible. This congenital condition is extremely rare, with just one in 4000 developing the problem. It’s believed that babies born between April and July are more likely to have the defect, which suggests that here is strong evidence to support seasonality and environment being a large factor in the risk status. There are several forms of surgery available to help treat it, should your baby be diagnosed with the condition. It’s vital to stay as healthy as possible during pregnancy in order to reduce the risk of developmental issues occurring – this means avoiding smoking and alcohol, as well as eating a balanced diet which is rich in nutrients such as folic acid.
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