Aussie baby operated on in the womb to minimise spina bifida doing 'fantastically well'

Little Harvey Fitzgibbon is one of the first babies in Australia to be operated on in the womb to minimise the effects of spina bifida.

The condition prevents the spine from forming normally and usually results in termination of pregnancy or life-long disability.

But Harvey is living proof that there is now another way.

He's the son and sibling that the Fitzgibbons couldn't say goodbye to.

"To see the kids together it's ...That's the thing. That's the biggest thing," a tearful Claudine Fitzgibbon said.

Dave and Claudine Fitzgibbon had already discontinued two pregnancies after diagnoses of spina bifida, a spinal defect which can lead to paralysis and intellectual disabilities.

At Harvey's 20 week scan, doctors confirmed he too had the condition.

"It was very difficult to lose the girls and when they told us this baby had spina bifida too, I just couldn't believe it," Claudine Fitzgibbon said.

But this time was different.

Australian surgeons were about to perform pioneering in-utero surgery on a baby in Brisbane.

"That had to be some sort of sign that this baby was staying with us," Claudine said.

Harvey was to be the second patient.

The risky procedure involved opening the uterus to repair the baby's spine.

"We had that mindset where we just couldn't let another baby go," father Dave Fitzgibbon said.

"So we held onto our hats and took that leap of faith."

Spina bifida occurs in about one in 2000 pregnancies.

While this surgery isn't a cure, it does offer the best chance of increasing the quality of life for babies born with the condition.

"If these babies had surgery before they were born, they clearly did better than those who had surgery once they were born," surgeon Martin Wood said.

In Harvey's case, that's certainly true.

He's just turned one, and is on the verge of walking.

"The gamble's paid off and he seems to be doing fantastically well," Dr Wood said.

"Probably better than any of us could have hoped."

Harvey's progress gives hope, too, for other parents faced with that same choice.

For more information, visit The Mater Foundation.