Life before birth. Pt. 1.

Two programmes about the work of Prof. Kypros Nicolaides, Harris Birthright Unit, King's College Hospital, London. Programme 1: Prof. Nicolaides specialises in foetal surgical procedures. The work is risky and the success rate is not high but offers a last chance in cases where the foetus would not survive until birth. In this programme he carries out a blood transfusion to an unborn baby whose blood platelets are being destroyed by the mother's immune system. The risk is high, and her last child died while undergoing the same procedure. Secondly, he administers a test for Down's Syndrome which is a risk-free alternative to amniocentesis. This is an observational test, based on the amount of fluid collected around the neck of the foetus. The third case is that of a foetus having developed a tumour. Ante-natal surgery is not possible but fluid is drained from the tumour before the baby is born by caesarian section. The baby is operated upon shortly after birth.