Doctors Found a Band Wrapped Around His Arm and Umbilical Cord — Baby Jace Needed Surgery Before He Was Even Born

At her 18-week pregnancy scan, Kait expected to see her unborn son growing normally. Instead, doctors noticed two concerning abnormalities.

The tip of baby Jace’s left ring finger could not be clearly identified, and his right arm appeared swollen from just above the elbow down.

His parents, Kait and Evan, were initially advised to wait about a month for another ultrasound. But they were too worried to wait.

Their decision to seek further testing would reveal a potentially life-threatening complication.

A Rare Condition Discovered During Pregnancy

Within days, the couple traveled from New York to Boston for additional imaging.

Doctors confirmed that Jace had amniotic band syndrome, a condition in which strands of tissue from the amniotic sac can wrap around a developing baby’s body.

These bands may restrict blood flow and interfere with normal development.

At Boston Children’s Hospital, advanced fetal imaging revealed that the situation was more serious than his parents had initially understood.

In addition to a band restricting blood flow in his arm, another band was wrapped around his umbilical cord.

Doctors Recommended Surgery Inside the Womb

Because the umbilical cord supplies a developing baby with oxygen and nutrients, the discovery raised urgent concerns.

Kait and Evan met with specialists at Boston Children’s Fetal Care and Surgery Center, including Dr. Eyal Krispin and Dr. Alireza Shamshirsaz.

The team recommended fetal surgery to release the constricting bands.

It was a frightening decision for two parents still months away from their son’s expected arrival.

However, they agreed to proceed after discussing the findings and treatment plan with the medical team.

A Delicate Operation to Release the Bands

Within hours of the family’s decision, the fetal surgery team began preparing for the procedure.

Surgeons successfully released the bands affecting Jace’s arm and umbilical cord.

Throughout the operation, the hospital team supported both parents. Kait later recalled that a nurse practitioner remained beside her in the operating room, while a social worker kept Evan and their relatives informed.

After surgery, the couple remained in Boston for almost a week before returning home to New York.

The pregnancy remained complicated. Kait’s water broke at around 20 weeks, requiring an extended hospital stay and careful monitoring.

Jace Arrived Eight Weeks Early

Jace was eventually born at 32 weeks of pregnancy.

His premature arrival brought additional medical challenges, including respiratory distress and monitoring for possible bleeding in the brain’s fluid-filled spaces.

Despite the difficult beginning, he made progress through his neonatal care.

His parents remained grateful to both their local hospital and the Boston specialists who had treated him before birth.

A Happy Nine-Month-Old With a Remarkable Story

When Boston Children’s Hospital shared his story in May 2024, Jace was nine months old and progressing well.

His family continued returning to Boston to discuss further treatment for his right arm, where one of the constricting bands had left an indentation.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Brian Labow and his team were involved in planning the next stage of care.

For Kait and Evan, Jace’s journey was a reminder of how much had happened before they ever held him in their arms.

What began as an unusual finding on an 18-week ultrasound had led to a complex operation, a premature delivery and months of specialist support.

Today, his family’s story highlights the importance of early diagnosis and coordinated care for rare fetal conditions.

Source: Boston Children’s Hospital, May 14, 2024 — A Partner Through Amniotic Band Syndrome: Jace’s Story.