Doctor offers hope of saving babies

A MEDICAL breakthrough yesterday gave hope to thousands of women who suffer ectopic pregnancies, one of the biggest threats to the life of a mother-to-be and a major cause of miscarriage and infertility.

The condition, which affects 1 in 200 pregnancies, occurs where the embryo develops in the fallopian tube rather than the uterus and until now has resulted in the loss of the baby.

But it is believed that pioneering work by Mr Malcolm Pearce, a consultant obstetrician at St George's Hospital, south London, will enable doctors to identify the condition and save the baby.

Mr Pearce yesterday explained the treatment: 'Quite simply, the embryo is taken from the fallopian tube and put into a hollow tube. This tube, or catheter, is then introduced through the cervix into the uterus, where the embryo is repositioned and continues its development.'

A woman with a history of ectopic pregnancies underwent the treatment recently and gave birth to a girl.