We are Nursing Students at Baptist College of Health Sciences who have a passion for helping and healing others. During a clinical group project, we were given several pediatric disease processes to chose from, in which we chose Gastroschisis and Omphalocele. While researching these topics, it was difficult to find resources for families in the Mid-south who are affected by these diseases. As concerned students, we felt it would be beneficial to families if we provided them with an educational website. This website provides information that can carry the child and family from fetal development into their teenage years.
Heather Ingram, SN Shelby James, SN Amanda Huguley, SN Victoria Jordan, SN |
Gastroschisis
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ARE AFFECTED EVERY YEAR
Gastroschisis is a birth defect of the abdominal wall. The baby’s intestines stick outside of the baby’s body, through a hole beside the belly button. The hole can be small or large and sometimes other organs, such as the stomach and liver, can also stick outside of the baby’s body.
Gastroschisis occurs early during pregnancy when the muscles that make up the baby’s abdominal wall do not form correctly. A hole occurs which allows the intestines and other organs to extend outside of the body. Because the intestines are not covered in a protective sac and are exposed to the amniotic fluid, the bowel can become irritated, causing it to shorten, twist, or swell. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/gastroschisis.html |
Omphalocele
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ARE AFFECTED EACH YEAR
Omphalocele is a birth defect of the abdominal wall. The infant’s intestines, liver, or other organs stick outside of the belly through the belly button. The organs are covered in a thin, nearly transparent sac that hardly ever is open or broken.
As the baby develops during weeks six through ten of pregnancy, the intestines get longer and push out from the belly into the umbilical cord. By the eleventh week of pregnancy, the intestines normally go back into the belly. If this does not happen, an omphalocele occurs. The omphalocele can be small, with only or it can be large, with many organs outside of the belly. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/Omphalocele.html |