After dealing with unexplained abdominal pain and bloating, a woman sought medical help and received shocking news. Doctors performed a scan and were stunned to find a fetus growing in her bowel.
It all started with a dull pain in the woman’s abdomen, which eventually led to persistent bloating. Concerned about her symptoms, she decided to see a doctor. After a physical examination, an MRI scan revealed the surprising cause of her discomfort – a rare ectopic pregnancy.
Normally, when a fertilized egg does not implant in the uterus, it results in an ectopic pregnancy. This usually occurs in the fallopian tube, according to Health Direct. Ectopic pregnancies are typically considered a type of early pregnancy loss, often happening between six to eight weeks.
What makes this case extraordinary is that the woman was actually 23 weeks pregnant when doctors discovered the developing baby in her bowel. Against all odds, the baby survived. The woman, who traveled from Reunion Island to France for medical assistance, carried the baby until 29 weeks when it was safely delivered.
While babies born at 23 to 24 weeks may face health complications, their chances of survival increase significantly at 29 weeks gestation. In fact, 80 to 90 percent of babies delivered at this stage go on to develop normally.
After making an incision in the woman’s abdomen, doctors transferred the baby to the neonatal intensive care unit for immediate care. Twelve days later, the mother underwent separate surgery to remove the rest of her placenta.
This incredible outcome brought happiness to the woman, as she had previously suffered a miscarriage and already had two children. It goes to show that miracles can happen, even in the most unexpected circumstances.