Skip to content
How It Works
Explore
Resources Ask a Question
Who It's For
Patients Caregivers Providers
Log In Ask a Question
PubMed This is a summary of 77 peer-reviewed journal articles Updated
Maternal-Fetal Medicine

A Parent's Guide to Gastroschisis

At a Glance

Gastroschisis is a treatable condition that requires surgical repair after birth. While a prenatal diagnosis means your baby will need a NICU stay, medical teams have well-established, highly successful protocols to coordinate care from pregnancy through recovery.

Welcome to this comprehensive resource guide on navigating a prenatal diagnosis of gastroschisis. Receiving this news can be an incredibly shocking and overwhelming experience. We understand that your mind is likely racing with questions about your baby’s future, the details of their care, and what this means for your pregnancy journey.

This guide was built specifically for parents and guardians to help translate complex medical information into clear, actionable steps. Our goal is to empower you with the facts so you can work effectively with your medical team and advocate for your child.

The information is divided into specific stages of the journey, allowing you to focus on the step immediately in front of you, or to look ahead as you feel ready.

Please explore the following pages to learn more:

01

Validation & Orientation: Understanding a Gastroschisis Diagnosis

Learn about a prenatal gastroschisis diagnosis. Understand the difference between simple and complex cases, survival rates, NICU stays, and what to expect.

02

The Biology of Gastroschisis: Diagnosis and Types

Learn how gastroschisis is diagnosed through ultrasound and MSAFP. Understand the differences between simple, complex, and vanishing gastroschisis types.

03

Pregnancy and Delivery Planning with Gastroschisis

Learn how to plan for delivery with gastroschisis. Understand optimal timing, vaginal birth versus C-section, and crucial third-trimester monitoring steps.

04

The NICU Journey and Surgical Repair of Gastroschisis

Learn what to expect during your baby's gastroschisis NICU stay and surgical repair. Understand primary, silo, and sutureless closures, and the feeding journey.

05

Navigating Complications and Long-Term Outlook

Learn about the long-term outlook for children with gastroschisis. Understand simple vs. complex cases, digestive challenges, growth, and quality of life.

Remember, you are not alone in this. While the path ahead includes challenges and a stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the medical community has well-established, highly successful protocols for treating gastroschisis. Take this journey one step, and one page, at a time.

Common questions in this guide

What should I do after a prenatal diagnosis of gastroschisis?
After receiving a diagnosis, your next step is to coordinate care with a maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist and a pediatric surgeon. Scheduling a prenatal consultation with the surgical team will help you understand the exact plan for your baby.
Will my baby need to stay in the NICU?
Yes, babies born with gastroschisis will require care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). This allows the medical team to monitor them closely while they undergo and recover from surgical repair.
Is gastroschisis treatable?
Yes, there are well-established and highly successful medical protocols for treating gastroschisis. The primary treatment involves surgical repair after birth, managed by a specialized pediatric surgical team.
Are there support resources for parents during the NICU stay?
Many hospitals offer dedicated resources for parents facing a long NICU stay. You can ask your doctor to connect you with hospital social workers or parent support groups to help you process the emotional impact of the diagnosis.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Curated prompts to bring to your next appointment.

  1. 1.Who will be the primary point of contact coordinating my care between the MFM and pediatric surgical teams?
  2. 2.Does the hospital have dedicated resources like social workers or support groups for parents facing long NICU stays?
  3. 3.Can we schedule a prenatal consultation with the pediatric surgeon to discuss the exact surgical plans?

Questions For You

Tap a prompt to share your answer — we'll use it plus this page's context to start a tailored conversation.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult your maternal-fetal medicine team and pediatric surgeon regarding your baby's specific care plan.

Get notified when new evidence is published on Gastroschisis.

We monitor PubMed for new peer-reviewed studies on this topic and email a short summary when something meaningful changes.