Care & understanding for babies with CDH, Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (橫隔膜缺損)
From the words - congenital diaphragmatic hernia, it can tell breifly about this kind of disorder - a hole, in the diaphragm, of the fetus. It is an illness found in babies which can usually be detected during the detailed ultrasound performed on the mummies-to-be.
In simple words, CDH refers to a situation where a hole is developed in the diaphragm of the fetus 'causing' the intestines (and sometimes the liver as well as the stomach) to grow in the lung cavity instead of the abdomen (or places where they should be), so much so that normal lung tissues are not given any spaces to grow.
It is a severe congenital illness which could develop on the right or left or both sides of the fetus' diaphragm, any of which would require 2 things:
1- parents would need to decide whether to continue or terminate the pregnancy; &
2- if continue with the pregnancy, the baby would need to have an operation once he or she is born for repairing the hole of the diaphragm.
The reason for this kind of illness is unknown but every 2500 to 3000 babies will have 1 sufferer. The fetus would not have any immediate danger as it is not at all relying on its lungs for survivial while in mummy's tummy. However, it is life-threatening to the baby after birth as they will have difficulty in breathing due to hypoplastic lungs.
This kind of illness may associate with some other severe congenital illness, e.g. heart disease, any usually the "aminio" test will be performed on the mummies-to-be who are also referred to other paediatric doctors and public hospitals for delivery.
I do not have any medical background. I had never heard of this illness until last August when my son was born.
Will talk more next time, if this would be of any interest to you.
From the words - congenital diaphragmatic hernia, it can tell breifly about this kind of disorder - a hole, in the diaphragm, of the fetus. It is an illness found in babies which can usually be detected during the detailed ultrasound performed on the mummies-to-be.
In simple words, CDH refers to a situation where a hole is developed in the diaphragm of the fetus 'causing' the intestines (and sometimes the liver as well as the stomach) to grow in the lung cavity instead of the abdomen (or places where they should be), so much so that normal lung tissues are not given any spaces to grow.
It is a severe congenital illness which could develop on the right or left or both sides of the fetus' diaphragm, any of which would require 2 things:
1- parents would need to decide whether to continue or terminate the pregnancy; &
2- if continue with the pregnancy, the baby would need to have an operation once he or she is born for repairing the hole of the diaphragm.
The reason for this kind of illness is unknown but every 2500 to 3000 babies will have 1 sufferer. The fetus would not have any immediate danger as it is not at all relying on its lungs for survivial while in mummy's tummy. However, it is life-threatening to the baby after birth as they will have difficulty in breathing due to hypoplastic lungs.
This kind of illness may associate with some other severe congenital illness, e.g. heart disease, any usually the "aminio" test will be performed on the mummies-to-be who are also referred to other paediatric doctors and public hospitals for delivery.
I do not have any medical background. I had never heard of this illness until last August when my son was born.
Will talk more next time, if this would be of any interest to you.