what is amniotic band?

Question

i have just had a phone call off my midwife telling me i have to go for a scan the morrow as they have found a amniotic band and want to make sure its not growing what is that is there a propblem with my baby?

Answer 1

There are two membranes which surround the fluid around your baby, the inner of these can burst and the outer remain intact. A band from the ruptured inner membrane can get caught around the legs, arms, toes or fingers of the baby.

Answer 2

First off, I am a woman who had a child whose stomach never closed during the pregnancy, so I feel you, I really do. That said, the research I found regarding what they refer to as amniotic band syndrome says that 1 out of 1200 births have this. Apparently, the baby's fingers, toes or some other appendage has a constricting band around it that can cause swelling. The treatment is generally surgery after birth. I am getting my info from the website listed below, and I am not a nurse or medical expert, so I don't feel qualified to say much more about ABS. However, I can tell you that my daughter's condition, known medically as an oomphalacele, put her at a 70% chance for having abnormal chromosomes that would cause her to be still born. Those are not good odds. But luckily, she was in the 30% and didn't have them. Still, she's had 9 surgeries, been trached and had a feeding tube. She came home this way and lived on a respirator for the first 2 years of her life. Now, she is a healthy, girl, turning 9 next month, and the only way you can tell about her medical past is if you happen to see her scars. Medical stuff with your kids is scary, but you can get through it, I promise you. Write down any/all questions you have and bring them to your appointment. Fear of the unknown will cripple you if you let it, but being as well informed as humanly possible can help ease that a bit. All my best to you.