Rare birth defect on the rise

While some birth defects are declining because of better nutrition and prenatal care, a few are on the rise. I’ve been researching one of those defects: gastroschisis. It’s a rare condition in which the abdomen never closes around the intestines of the developing fetus. Babies with the defect are born with part of their bowels outside their bodies.

The good news is that ultrasound detection and improvements in treatment mean most of these babies survive and live normal lives. The bad news is researchers think the rate, once one in 5,000 births, is increasing, especially among teenage mothers. Aspirin use in early pregnancy is thought to be a risk factor.

Here's a link to my story in Sunday's Spokesman-Review.