Baby ‘born twice’ as rare surgery saves life in US

Houston, October 25

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A baby has been “born twice” after doctors took her out of the womb to remove a life-threatening tumour, and then put her back in again.

Margaret Boemer from Texas was 16 weeks pregnant with her third child when a routine ultrasound revealed a growth on the baby’s tailbone. 

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As the tumour got bigger, doctors realised the only way to save the girl was to operate. This involved lifting the foetus out of her mother for around 20 minutes. The tiny baby weighed only one pound and three ounces at the time. 

During the surgery, the foetus’ heart almost stopped, but was kept alive by a specialist while doctors removed most of the lump.

After being returned to the uterus, the foetus remained inside her mother for another 12 weeks. She was born for a second time at nearly 36 weeks — which is approaching full term — by caesarean section in June. She had grown to a small but healthy five pounds and five ounces. Boemer and her partner named the child, who is now four months old, LynLee Hope after both their grandmothers. — The Independent