After birth the baby will be taken to the neonatal intensive care
unit to be prepared for the operation. Sometimes the babies have breathing difficulties
and may need to be put on a ventilator.
The operation is usually carried out during the first day of life.
In the operating theatre the baby is given a general anaesthetic. The surgeon tries to
push the sac back inside the abdomen and close the defect with stitches. When the sac is
very big and the abdomen very small, the surgeon puts a plastic bag over the hernia.
During the next 5-10 days the bag is gradually squeezed and when all the organs are in the
abdomen the final operation is carried out to close the defect with stitches.
After the operation the baby is nursed in the intensive care unit
and for the first few days will need to be on a ventilator. It takes 2-3 weeks for the
abdomen to heal and during this time the baby receives fluid and nutrients through a drip.
They usually stay in hospital for a total of 3-6 weeks.
If you have any further questions we will be happy to talk to you.