Baby Steps

Introduced by Dr Glenn Gardener, Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Mater Mothers' Hospital in Brisbane.

Australian Story catches up with Harvey Fitzgibbon, the baby who underwent ground-breaking surgery in 2016 while still in the womb.

"Claudine's situation was unique, with a story that really I hadn't come across before." Dr Glenn Gardener

"There were risks involved for mum and bub and trying to weigh it all up – it comes to a point in time where you just have to say, look, go for it or don't." Dave Fitzgibbon

"I feel like all of our children have a place in our lives that fits well now. I feel like something wonderful has come out of that loss." Claudine Fitzgibbon

When Claudine Fitzgibbon became pregnant with her fourth child she had already endured two heartbreaking terminations following diagnoses of spina bifida.

When she and husband Dave received the same diagnosis for a third time they were desperate for another option.

It was then they were told of a procedure that had just taken place in Australia for the first time – complex surgery to correct the physical abnormalities associated with spina bifida while the baby was still in the womb.

It was a gamble but Claudine and Dave were determined to give their baby a fighting chance.

In October 2016, Harvey entered the world to the relief off all concerned.

But many questions remained. Would he still be badly affected by spina bifida? Would he ever walk?

This week, Australian Story visits the Fitzgibbon family to see how baby Harvey is travelling and whether their big gamble paid off.