• Question: when a baby is born with the bowel on the outside why does this happen and why??

    Asked by naomibrereton to Kev on 12 Nov 2012.
    • Photo: Kevin Lomasney

      Kevin Lomasney answered on 12 Nov 2012:

      @naomibrereton

      This is very good question and quite a challenging one as there is very little known about it. The disorder you are referring to is known as gastroshisis and from what I’ve learned it may have something to do with high estrogen (female sex homone) levels in the women giving birth. Apparently this occurs more in younger and first time mothers who are believed to have higher levels of estrogen at the beginning of pregnancy. Some scientists think that these high estrogen levels can cause blood clots and these blood clots may affect the development of the baby by releasing a substance known as palmitic acid. Also, things such as increased alcohol intake, smoking and exposure to some chemicals (atrazine, a weed-killer for example) are all thought to be involved. However, at the moment this is just a very educated guess and it seems that there is not much really known for sure.

      I hope this answers your question, if not please let me know and I will do my best to make everything as clear as possible!

Comments

  • Photo: naomibrereton

    naomibrereton commented on :

    hey thanks yes this kind of does but my sister was born with her bowel on the outside she was 7 1/2 weeks premiture and had to be operated on imigiently… she now has a bowel the size of a pocket and a very weak blader is this beacuse of her being so premiture?? thanks again for the help 🙂 did you study anything about the brain?? thanks

    • Photo: Kev

      Kev commented on :

      Hello again!

      I’m very sorry to hear about your sister. I hope she is ok and has good care from the doctors. A lot of babies with gastroshisis are born pre-maturely so it may be a cause but it might be just another effect of the high estrogen levels I mentioned before. Unfortunately I cannot tell you for sure. I wish I could.

      The brain is not my main area of study but I do know a bit about it because the bowel and the brain actually talk to each other so I need to know what they are saying! That’s what my lab studies and so I’d be glad to try and answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to ask me!