In a revolutionary new operation, an unborn baby has been removed from its mother's womb, and then returned.
After it was discovered 26-year-old Bethan Simpson's baby had spina bifida, she and her husband Kieron were given the option to terminate their pregnancy, before they learned of the new procedure.
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The expecting mother, from Essex wrote on Facebook that the choice was easy.
The expecting mother, from Essex wrote on Facebook that the choice was easy.
"We were told our little girl had spina bifida. We were offered continuing pregnancy, ending pregnancy or a new option called fetal surgery - fixing her before she's born. We had to do it."
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Once Ms Simpson reached 24 weeks, the operation took place.
Surgeons from University College Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital performed the surgery.
They removed the foetus from Ms Simpson's womb, repaired its spinal cord, and then put it back in for the remainder of the pregnancy.
Ms Simpson is the fourth mother in the UK to receive the surgery.
"I had the most recognised surgeons from around the world from University College London Hospital and Belgium looking after me," she wrote on Facebook.
"We were a success. Her lesion was small and she smashes surgery like you wouldn't believe," she continued "I'm fragile and sore but as long as she's doing fine, that's all we care about."
Newshub.
