Incredible Birth: Baby Survives Outside Mother’s Womb

Suze Lopez gazes at her son, Ryu, in amazement, reflecting on his extraordinary entrance into the world.

Remarkably, Ryu developed outside his mother's uterus due to a massive ovarian cyst the size of a basketball—a perilous and exceptionally rare occurrence that will be featured in a medical publication.

Pregnancies that develop in the abdominal cavity instead of the uterus happen once in every 30,000 cases, and reaching full term is nearly unheard of, statistically less than 1 in a million, according to Dr. John Ozimek of Cedars-Sinai, where the birth took place. "This is mind-boggling," he remarked.

Suze, who works as a nurse and resides in Bakersfield, California, had no idea she was expecting until mere days before delivering.

Earlier this year, as her abdomen swelled, she attributed it to her expanding ovarian cyst. Medical professionals had been observing the cyst since her twenties, opting to keep it after her right ovary and another cyst were surgically removed.

She did not experience common pregnancy indicators like nausea or fetal movements. Despite not having her menstrual period, she didn’t suspect anything unusual since her cycles are often irregular, sometimes missing for years.

Suze and her spouse, Andrew Lopez, continued their usual routines, even traveling internationally.

However, as discomfort and abdominal pressure intensified, Suze decided it was finally time to surgically remove the 22-pound cyst. Preparing for a CT scan required a pregnancy test due to radiation risks, and unexpectedly, it was positive.

Suze broke the surprising news to Andrew at a Dodgers game, presenting him with a package containing a baby onesie and a note.

Andrew recalled, "Her expression was a mix of joy and disbelief, almost as if she wanted to both laugh and cry."

Following the revelation, Suze felt unwell and sought medical help at Cedars-Sinai, where she was found to have critically high blood pressure, which was brought under control through medical intervention. During tests, an unexpected discovery was made—a nearly full-term fetus was in her abdomen, enclosed in an amniotic sac near her liver.

"The fetus wasn’t invading vital organs," Dr. Ozimek noted. "It appeared nestled on the pelvic sidewall, still risky but more manageable than liver implantation."

While similar circumstances typically result in rupture and internal bleeding if unaddressed, most cases are found in the fallopian tubes.

An earlier case reviewed by Ethiopian doctors highlighted another abdominal pregnancy survival, despite fetal mortality rates reaching up to 90% and around 20% of surviving babies having birth defects.

Against all odds, Suze and her son persevered.

On August 18, doctors performed surgery under general anesthesia to deliver the 8-pound baby and remove the cyst simultaneously. Although Suze lost significant blood, the team managed to stabilize her condition through transfusions.

Andrew was kept informed throughout the procedure.

"Externally, I was composed, but internally, I was praying fervently," said Andrew. "The fear of losing either my wife or child was overwhelming."

Ultimately, both mother and son emerged in good health.

"It’s truly astounding," remarked Dr. Ozimek.

Today, young Ryu, named after a famous baseball player and a video game character, continues to thrive. His parents cherish seeing him bond with his sister, Kaila, who is 18, completing their family.

As the Christmas season approaches, Suze reflects on their rare gift.

"I believe in miracles," she stated lovingly while looking at Ryu. "This is a blessing—our most precious gift from God."