In some babies, the wall of the abdomen does not close properly during pregnancy, meaning that some of the organs sit outside the body at birth.
There are two main types: gastroschisis, where the organs sit freely outside through a small opening next to the belly button, and omphalocele (also called exomphalos), where the organs are covered by a thin membrane. Both conditions are treated with surgery after birth.
As well as the challenges this causes for digestion, the way the abdominal wall develops can also affect the chest and lungs. This is because the muscles in the abdomen that we use to breathe may not function in the same way. Our research looks at whether children with these conditions have lasting effects on their lung health as they grow up.