Gastroschisis is a congenital (from birth) malformation “in which an infant’s intestines stick out of the body through a defect on one side of the umbilical cord.”[1]  Since at least 2007, maternal use of paroxetine (Paxil®) during pregnancy has been associated with a 2.9-fold increased risk of gastroschisis.

PubMed Health, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine writes that most often, surgery shortly after birth may correct gastroschisis,[2] though pre-surgery, “the misplaced abdominal contents can make it difficult for the baby to expand the lungs, leading to breathing problems,”[3] and it is written that “bowel death is another [possible] complication.”[4]

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Thankfully, an infant suffering from gastroschisis “has a good chance of recovering if the abdominal cavity is large enough.”[5]  But PubMed Health warns that “A very small abdominal cavity may result in complications that require additional surgery.”[6]


[1] “Gastroschisis – PubMed Health” PubMed Health. U.S. National Library of Medicine. © 2012 A.D.A.M., Inc. Available at <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001987/> Accessed 29 January 2013

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid.