Mother-of-two, 37, blames her pregnancy cravings for pineapple on her baby being born with her intestines outside of her stomach

A baby's intestines had to be kept in a plastic bag in a desperate attempt to keep her alive after she was born inside out.

 Sofia Cass was diagnosed with gastroschisis - a rare birth defect that causes the digestive organs to stick out of the stomach - while in the womb.

Experts are unsure of the exact cause of the condition is unknown but previous research has found atrazine increases the likelihood.

US researchers discovered the link between the chemical used to grow pineapples and gastroschisis in 2010 - three years after it was withdrawn from use in the UK.

  

And Suzanne Burt, 37, from Edinburgh, believes her cravings for the fruit while she was pregnant could be to blame. 

Sofia Cass was diagnosed with gastroschisis - a rare birth defect that causes the digestive organs to stick out of the stomach - while in the womb

Experts are unsure of the exact cause of the condition is unknown but previous research has found atrazine, a chemical used to grow pineapple, increases the likelihood. Her mother Suzanne Burt, 37, believes her cravings for the fruit while she was pregnant could be to blame

She said: 'When I found out she had gastroschisis at a 12 week scan, I was completely overwhelmed. I had never even heard of it before.

'They explained to me that it was a birth defect that is becoming more common in young mums who smoke or drink or take drugs but I don't meet any of those criteria.

'My body is very healthy and I just couldn't understand how it could happen to me. But instead of panic and worry, I decided to research, research, research.'

Ms Burt added: 'The more I looked, the more this possible link to the pesticide atrazine kept coming up.

'I spend a lot of time out in fields and farmland because of my job and I'd also had a major craving for pineapple during my pregnancy - and pineapples need large amounts of pesticides.

'I take a lot of care to look after my body and be healthy and while I don't eat meat, I've never been into eating organic but now I really wish I had.'

She was immediately wrapped in cling film to keep her organs warm before being whisked away for surgery. But not all of her organs could be put back inside her body, so they were placed in a plastic silo bag (pictured) for two days to protect them.

Sofia had to stay in hospital for another five weeks while her feeds were gradually increased.

Ms Burt discovered she was pregnant on April Fool's Day this year - despite being told she would never conceive again after having Jack, 14, because her fallopian tubes were swollen.

Ms Burt discovered she was pregnant on April Fool's Day this year - despite being told she would never conceive again following the birth of Jack, 14, because her fallopian tubes were swollen.

When doctors discovered the condition, she was rushed in for an emergency Caesarean section six weeks early. 

Sofia was eventually born eight weeks premature in October, weighing just 4lbs with her large and small intestines born outside her body.

WHAT IS GASTROSCHISIS?

Gastroschisis is a type of abdominal wall defect. It occurs when a child's abdomen does not develop fully while in the womb.

In gastroschisis, the abdominal wall does not form completely so the intestines develop outside and are open to the air when the child is born.

Some areas of the intestines may look darker as they have been in contact with the amniotic fluid inside the womb, which can damage them.

It is not known exactly what causes gastroschisis although it is becoming more common, particularly in younger mothers under the age of 20 years.

Overall the incidence is quite low with 1 in 3000 babies being born with gastroschisis each year.

She was immediately wrapped in cling film to keep her organs warm before being whisked away for surgery.

But not all of her organs could be put back inside her body, so they were placed in a plastic silo bag for two days to protect them while they gradually returned to her body naturally.

She had to stay in hospital for another five weeks while her feeds were gradually increased.

And she appeared to be making good progress until last month when she had developed sepsis.

But the 'warrior princess' was able to battle the deadly blood poisoning and was able to come home for good.

While there is still a long road ahead, the family are confident that she will make it through. 

She added: 'It's crazy to think just a few weeks ago she was fighting for her life. Her face was so swollen, she looked like she'd been through a boxing match.

'It was really touch and go for 24 hours, it was heartbreaking. I'd managed to stay strong but that day I had a complete breakdown.

'But she is my little princess warrior and she fought back and after that the progress seemed so fast until she came home.

'She is not completely out of the woods yet and she is still really tiny. She's like a little doll but she is incredibly strong and resilient. I'm so proud.'

Ms Burt, from Edinburgh, said: 'The more I looked, the more this possible link to the pesticide atrazine kept coming up'