Later in the day there was another shock as we were told that they also thought he may have Downs Syndrome; exomphalos can sometimes result from chromosome abnormalities. After blood tests this was confirmed. The drama didn't end there as after surgery, he went into bladder retention, which led to kidney failure. Over the next few weeks we witnessed the amazing resilience of small humans as our baby overcame one hurdle after another.

He was drip fed for the first week, then moved onto a g-tube. I was encouraged to use the "cow" (milking machine) in SCBU to keep my milk going as everyone assured me that he should be able to breast feed normally. He was first introduced to the breast after 3 weeks and took to it immediately. Four weeks later on Christmas Eve, he was discharged from hospital with very little to show for his adventures.

For the first year he had an impressive umbilical hernia, which has now shrunk to the size of a small marble. He also has a large gap in his stomach muscles and a bit of a potbelly. Otherwise he is doing brilliantly getting on with all the normal 3 year old things like playgroup. We have had no ongoing problems with his exomphalos or digestive system at all.