Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) occurs when the baby’s diaphragm does not form properly in the womb. The diaphragm is a muscle that helps with breathing and separates the heart and lungs in the chest from the bowel and other organs in the abdomen. With CDH, some of the baby’s abdominal organs, such as the bowel and liver, go through a hole in the diaphragm at about 10 to 12 weeks into the pregnancy and take up space in the chest where the lungs should be growing. CDH occurs on either side, but much more commonly on the left.
CDH occurs in about 1 in every 3,000 babies and accounts for 8% of all major birth defects. Up to 20% of babies with CDH also have a chromosomal abnormality such as Down’s or Edward’s syndrome.
Patient Information Leaflet (Nov 2023): web version / print version
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