Family Support
Was your baby born with imperforate anus?
We explain what usually happens after birth, what reconstruction means, and how to prepare as a family. You can also send your case through WhatsApp.
View family guide →Newborn Surgery
Symptoms by surgeryEach surgery has specific warning signs. Review these symptoms to decide whether your child needs prompt consultation or urgent care.
Esophageal Atresia
Surgical evaluation+
Esophageal Atresia
Surgical evaluation+
What This Surgery Addresses
Repair of an interrupted esophagus to allow safe feeding.
Why Surgery May Be Recommended
Surgery is essential to connect the esophagus, allow safe feeding, and prevent aspiration or respiratory complications.
What Families Commonly Notice
- Excess saliva or frothy secretions from birth.
- Coughing, choking, or cyanosis when trying to feed the baby.
- Immediate regurgitation and inability to pass milk.
Yellow flags
Book a consultation soon.
- Persistent symptoms related to esophageal atresia that are not improving with first-line care.
- Increasing impact on feeding, sleep, or daily activity.
- Repeated choking episodes or breathing difficulty during feeds.
Red flags
Seek urgent or emergency care now.
- Rapid worsening of symptoms related to esophageal atresia.
- Continuous severe pain, fever, or persistent vomiting.
- Breathing distress, marked lethargy, or inability to hydrate.
Intestinal Atresia
Surgical evaluation+
Intestinal Atresia
Surgical evaluation+
What This Surgery Addresses
Reconstruction of blocked intestinal segments to restore bowel flow.
Why Surgery May Be Recommended
Surgery is the definitive treatment to restore bowel continuity and allow safe feeding in newborns.
What Families Commonly Notice
- Bilious (green) vomiting in the first hours of life.
- Abdominal distension and delayed passage of meconium.
- Feeding intolerance with progressive dehydration.
Yellow flags
Book a consultation soon.
- Persistent symptoms related to intestinal atresia that are not improving with first-line care.
- Increasing impact on feeding, sleep, or daily activity.
- Repeated green vomiting or progressive abdominal distension.
Red flags
Seek urgent or emergency care now.
- Rapid worsening of symptoms related to intestinal atresia.
- Continuous severe pain, fever, or persistent vomiting.
- Breathing distress, marked lethargy, or inability to hydrate.
Congenital Lung Malformations
Surgical evaluation+
Congenital Lung Malformations
Surgical evaluation+
What This Surgery Addresses
Surgery to remove abnormal lung tissue and improve breathing.
Why Surgery May Be Recommended
Surgery is considered to reduce recurrent respiratory infections, improve lung function, and prevent long-term complications.
What Families Commonly Notice
- Fast breathing, chest retractions, or increased work of breathing.
- Recurrent respiratory infections with persistent cough.
- Low oxygen levels or bluish discoloration during crying or feeding.
Yellow flags
Book a consultation soon.
- Persistent symptoms related to congenital lung malformations that are not improving with first-line care.
- Increasing impact on feeding, sleep, or daily activity.
- Progressively harder breathing or repeated lung infections.
Red flags
Seek urgent or emergency care now.
- Rapid worsening of symptoms related to congenital lung malformations.
- Continuous severe pain, fever, or persistent vomiting.
- Breathing distress, marked lethargy, or inability to hydrate.
Diaphragmatic Hernia
Surgical evaluation+
Diaphragmatic Hernia
Surgical evaluation+
What This Surgery Addresses
Diaphragm repair to return abdominal organs to the right position.
Why Surgery May Be Recommended
Repair is recommended when there is risk of trapped abdominal contents or recurrent pain.
What Families Commonly Notice
- Breathing difficulty from the first hours of life.
- Bluish discoloration, grunting, or tiring with breathing.
- Feeding difficulty with vomiting and poor weight gain.
Yellow flags
Book a consultation soon.
- Bulge appears with crying, cough, or strain and later reduces.
- Local discomfort late in the day or with activity.
- Increasing breathing effort or oxygen drops during feeds.
Red flags
Seek urgent or emergency care now.
- Hard painful bulge that does not reduce.
- Local redness with vomiting or severe irritability.
- Breathing distress, marked lethargy, or inability to hydrate.
Gastroschisis
Surgical evaluation+
Gastroschisis
Surgical evaluation+
What This Surgery Addresses
Stepwise abdominal closure to protect bowel and support newborn recovery.
Why Surgery May Be Recommended
Early repair protects exposed bowel, lowers infection risk, and helps restore digestive function.
What Families Commonly Notice
- Visible bowel loops outside the abdomen at birth.
- Bilious vomiting, abdominal distension, or delayed feeding tolerance.
- Irritability and poor weight gain during recovery.
Yellow flags
Book a consultation soon.
- Persistent symptoms related to gastroschisis that are not improving with first-line care.
- Increasing impact on feeding, sleep, or daily activity.
- Progressive distension, green vomiting, or persistent feeding intolerance.
Red flags
Seek urgent or emergency care now.
- Rapid worsening of symptoms related to gastroschisis.
- Continuous severe pain, fever, or persistent vomiting.
- Breathing distress, marked lethargy, or inability to hydrate.
Omphalocele
Surgical evaluation+
Omphalocele
Surgical evaluation+
What This Surgery Addresses
Abdominal wall defect correction tailored to defect size.
Why Surgery May Be Recommended
Surgical repair protects exposed organs, lowers infection risk, and supports functional abdominal wall closure.
What Families Commonly Notice
- Abdominal contents visible at the umbilical base covered by a membrane.
- Breathing or feeding difficulty in larger defects.
- Irritability or poor oral tolerance during postoperative recovery.
Yellow flags
Book a consultation soon.
- Persistent symptoms related to omphalocele that are not improving with first-line care.
- Increasing impact on feeding, sleep, or daily activity.
- Distension, persistent vomiting, or breathing issues during recovery.
Red flags
Seek urgent or emergency care now.
- Rapid worsening of symptoms related to omphalocele.
- Continuous severe pain, fever, or persistent vomiting.
- Breathing distress, marked lethargy, or inability to hydrate.
Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis
Surgical evaluation+
Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis
Surgical evaluation+
What This Surgery Addresses
Pyloromyotomy to stop persistent vomiting and restore feeding.
Why Surgery May Be Recommended
Pyloromyotomy corrects gastric outlet obstruction, stops persistent vomiting, and helps restore hydration and nutrition.
What Families Commonly Notice
- Repeated projectile vomiting after most feeds.
- Persistent hunger despite vomiting and progressive feeding difficulty.
- Fewer wet diapers, irritability, and poor weight gain.
Yellow flags
Book a consultation soon.
- Persistent symptoms related to hypertrophic pyloric stenosis that are not improving with first-line care.
- Increasing impact on feeding, sleep, or daily activity.
- Daily projectile vomiting with signs of dehydration.
Red flags
Seek urgent or emergency care now.
- Rapid worsening of symptoms related to hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.
- Continuous severe pain, fever, or persistent vomiting.
- Breathing distress, marked lethargy, or inability to hydrate.
Inguinal Hernia
Surgical evaluation+
Inguinal Hernia
Surgical evaluation+
What This Surgery Addresses
Closure of the hernia sac to prevent pain and incarceration.
Why Surgery May Be Recommended
Repair is recommended when there is risk of trapped abdominal contents or recurrent pain.
What Families Commonly Notice
- A groin or scrotal bulge that appears with crying or straining.
- Bulge that may disappear when the baby is calm.
- Irritability or intense crying when the bulge becomes firm.
Yellow flags
Book a consultation soon.
- Bulge appears with crying, cough, or strain and later reduces.
- Local discomfort late in the day or with activity.
- A bulge that appears more often or becomes painful, especially if not reducible.
Red flags
Seek urgent or emergency care now.
- Hard painful bulge that does not reduce.
- Local redness with vomiting or severe irritability.
- Breathing distress, marked lethargy, or inability to hydrate.
Hydroceles
Surgical evaluation+
Hydroceles
Surgical evaluation+
What This Surgery Addresses
Surgical treatment when scrotal fluid persists or causes symptoms.
Why Surgery May Be Recommended
Surgery is considered when hydrocele persists, grows, or is associated with inguinal hernia.
What Families Commonly Notice
- Scrotal swelling, usually without pain.
- Size that may vary during the day or with crying.
- A tense fluid-filled sac without major redness.
Yellow flags
Book a consultation soon.
- Scrotal enlargement that fluctuates during the day.
- Scrotal heaviness or discomfort during activity.
- Progressive enlargement or sudden size changes of the scrotum.
Red flags
Seek urgent or emergency care now.
- Sudden scrotal pain with rapid swelling.
- Color change or severe tenderness to touch.
- Breathing distress, marked lethargy, or inability to hydrate.
Undescended Testicles
Surgical evaluation+
Undescended Testicles
Surgical evaluation+
What This Surgery Addresses
Orchiopexy to move the testicle into the scrotum and protect development.
Why Surgery May Be Recommended
Early orchiopexy helps protect future fertility, enables reliable follow-up, and reduces the risk of torsion or testicular damage.
What Families Commonly Notice
- One or both testicles are not in the scrotum.
- Asymmetric scrotum or less developed scrotal side.
- A testicle felt in the groin instead of the scrotum.
Yellow flags
Book a consultation soon.
- Persistent symptoms related to undescended testicles that are not improving with first-line care.
- Increasing impact on feeding, sleep, or daily activity.
- Testicle remains outside the scrotum beyond the first months of life.
Red flags
Seek urgent or emergency care now.
- Rapid worsening of symptoms related to undescended testicles.
- Continuous severe pain, fever, or persistent vomiting.
- Breathing distress, marked lethargy, or inability to hydrate.
Umbilical Hernia
Surgical evaluation+
Umbilical Hernia
Surgical evaluation+
What This Surgery Addresses
Repair when it does not close naturally or causes symptoms.
Why Surgery May Be Recommended
Repair is recommended when there is risk of trapped abdominal contents or recurrent pain.
What Families Commonly Notice
- Soft bulge at the navel that gets bigger with crying or straining.
- Protrusion that usually goes down when the baby is calm.
- Occasional discomfort around the navel, usually without severe pain.
Yellow flags
Book a consultation soon.
- Bulge appears with crying, cough, or strain and later reduces.
- Local discomfort late in the day or with activity.
- A growing or painful bulge that no longer reduces.
Red flags
Seek urgent or emergency care now.
- Hard painful bulge that does not reduce.
- Local redness with vomiting or severe irritability.
- Breathing distress, marked lethargy, or inability to hydrate.
Circumcision
Surgical evaluation+
Circumcision
Surgical evaluation+
What This Surgery Addresses
Medical procedure for selected cases after pediatric evaluation.
Why Surgery May Be Recommended
It is considered when there is pathologic phimosis, recurrent balanitis, or foreskin-related urinary problems.
What Families Commonly Notice
- Difficulty retracting the foreskin with pain or discomfort during urination.
- Swelling, redness, or repeated local infections.
- Weak or deviated urine stream, or foreskin ballooning while urinating.
Yellow flags
Book a consultation soon.
- Persistent symptoms related to circumcision that are not improving with first-line care.
- Increasing impact on feeding, sleep, or daily activity.
- Pain with urination, recurrent infections, or difficult foreskin hygiene.
Red flags
Seek urgent or emergency care now.
- Rapid worsening of symptoms related to circumcision.
- Continuous severe pain, fever, or persistent vomiting.
- Breathing distress, marked lethargy, or inability to hydrate.