The boy born with his organs OUTSIDE his body and held together by cling film

A woman whose son was born with his intestines protruding from his stomach has slammed the doctor who told her have an abortion once finding out about the birth defect.

Holly Hodgson found out her son Teddy, who is now almost eight months old, had the birth defect, gastroschisis, when a radiologist carrying out her 12-week ultrasound saw the loops of his intestines poking through a hole in his abdomen, Kidspot reported.

The first-time mother, from Brisbane, should have been caught up in the whimsy of laying eyes on her child for the very first time, but instead her doctor told her she should terminate the pregnancy as that was his experience in three other cases.

Ms Hodgson and her husband Stephen refused to accept the doctor's advice and were surprised to find up to 95 per cent of babies diagnosed with the condition survive the pregnancy after doing some research online.

Little baby Teddy was born on December 14 last year.
'It makes me sick and angry when I look back on what he said,' Ms Hodgson told Kidspot.

'He's such a happy boy. He just loves making faces and talking to people. He always smiles, giggles and squeaks at people he doesn't even know – it's very cute.'

The mother said it was a 'silly thing' to say to two expecting parents, especially when she could not find any information that supported his medical advice.

According to Brisbane's Mater Mother's Hospital, the birth defect - which affects one in every 5,000 babies - can cause growth delay however this can be monitored through a fortnightly ultrasound.

The website said delivery decisions should not be made 'on the appearance of the fetal bowel' as the condition can often improve when the baby is carried to full term but did warn of the risks associated with the defect.

Ninety to ninety-five per cent of babies identified with gastroschisis survive the pregnancy which means that five to 10 per cent of babies with gastroschisis will not be born alive.

'If a baby with gastroschisis is born alive, up to 10 per cent (1 in 10) will have problems after birth including dead gut or short gut syndrome, infection or surgical complications which may result in the baby's death or ongoing problems.'

Ms Hodgson said she was glad her and her husband sought a second opinion and was elated when their son Teddy, now seven months, was delivered.

According to Kidspot, Teddy was premature and his small and large intestine had protruded from his stomach but doctors quickly jumped into action to save him.

He was placed cling wrap, then in a silo bag for almost a fortnight to give his stomach time to grow and his organs could be put back inside, Kidspot reported.

'It was almost scary because he was still so little – it was like holding a little doll,' she said, adding that he was able to come home with her eight weeks later.

Ms Hodgson said she contacted the doctor who told her to abort Teddy a couple of months ago but he did not apologise and simply congratulated her on the new addition to her family.