Bloated Baby Is Born With More Water Than Blood And Survives

Nov 23, 2019

The birth of a child is usually the cause of celebration, but a couple from the United Kingdom were met with tears and anxiety upon the birth of their baby girl.

Frankie Morrison came into this world with a rare disorder where water took the place of most of the blood in her little body. The drama began when Frankie’s mother, Maria Sandars, could no longer feel little Frankie kicking in her womb. Maria and her husband, Chris Morrison, immediately went to the emergency room to assess any potential problems. Maria would later tell reporters of the Daily Mail that the ER doctors said that the baby was simply being “lazy” and that there was no cause for concern.

Despite Frankie’s clean bill of health, Maria knew that there was something wrong with her child. Two days later, when Frankie still hadn’t felt little Frankie moving, she returned to the ER for a new examination. While doctors felt a fetal heartbeat, they erred on the sign of caution and performed an emergency c-section.

"When I came around I could see people standing around me crying. There was this little 8-pound baby who was so bloated because she had all this water instead of blood inside her," Maria described to the Daily Mail. 

One of her doctors explained to Maria that Frankie had been born with only two tablespoons of blood in her body, 15 percent less than the average newborn baby. This condition is caused when blood is passed through the umbilical cord. The doctor said that it was unlikely that Frankie would live much longer and informed Maria that there was a priest available if she wanted Frankie blessed or baptized.

Maria’s first glimpse of her little girl must have been truly terrifying as doctors were still trying to pump water out of her lungs and heart. The child was also incredibly bloated because of all the water in her body. Maria and Chris were informed that the only chance Frankie had of life would be at a special intensive care unit. Doctors warned that even if Frankie survived, she would most likely be disabled due to a lack of oxygen to her brain. 

Maria and Chris brought their daughter to a hospital in Leicester where, after two blood transfusions and several other procedures, doctors were able to stabilize Frankie.

A year later, Frankie is now a beautiful, thriving little girl. Maria’s doctors are still in disbelief that the child survived her tumultuous birth. The proud mom later told reporters that during her first checkup, Frankie’s doctor had tears in his eyes upon seeing the little girl again.

A birth is always a miracle but especially so when the baby overcomes incredible odds. What do you think of Frankie’s story?