Imagine being born with your intestines protruding from your belly. Sounds painful and uncomfortable, right? “Approximately 2,000 babies are born with gastroschisis in the United States each year” (Gastroschisis. (n.d.). Retrieved May 9, 2014, from http://www.cardinalglennon.com/fetalcareinstitute/conditions/AbdomenIntestines/Pages/Gastroschisis.aspx). This is about 1 in 5,000 babies born, not rare, but rare enough to see in babies. Most are born prematurely, but often are born naturally without any surgery on the mother. The good news is that it can be detected as early as the 14th week of pregnancy. Regular check-ups and regular ultrasounds are important to make sure your organs are developing properly. It is also important to make sure that the hole through which the organs are passed does not close too much. At that point, childbirth may become necessary for the health and safety of both mother and baby. Plus, just because a baby is born with gastroschisis doesn't mean others who follow him or her are more likely to develop it, according to several studies....