Chances of Infant Born With Intestines Outside of Body

A year and a half ago my first grandchild was born with his intestines outside of the body.  He was taken into surgery the day he was born and the surgeon closed him (although he had said he wouldn't if the fit was too tight).  He had to be taken back in to surgey two days later to reopen him.  The little guy didn't make it and died after many surgeries almost every week of his short 7 weeks of life.   They are expecting again and I was wondering what the chances are for this new baby to have the same problem.  The paternal grandfather had been born with this problem.

[Thane A Blinman, MD, FAAP]

So sorry to hear about your trouble.

It is no more likely for this next baby to have gastroschisis.  It certainly could still happen....it is just that the probability does not appear to be increased merely because it has happened in the family before (at least that science has so far identified; on one interesting note, the overall risk of this disease has tripled in English-speaking countries over the last decade....but it is unclear why).

In the off chance that this baby does have this or other problem, consider following the fetal development and delivering at a place with extensive fetal surgery experience (e.g. UCSF in the west, Vanderbilt in the South, CHOP in the east, Rocky Mountain in the mountain region, or any of  several other excellent programs)