Signs and Symptoms of Gastroschisis 
There are no apparent signs and symptoms of Gastroschisis in utero or directly related to the mother, the only way of knowing its presence is by ultrasound. In an ultrasound you will see a large lump outside of the babies abdomen, usually appearing close to the umbilical cord (Chung, 2012).This is where you will see signs/symptoms including, small abdominal cavity, herniated intestines, swollen intestines and that opening in the abdominal wall previously mentioned. After birth, there are many symptoms and complications that can arise for a baby with Gastroschisis. Symptoms related to Gastroschisis can come from the twisting, squeezing, pinching and damage done to the organs as they passed through the narrow opening of the abdomen. Upon delivery of the baby, the doctor will assess the organs and make sure there is absence of major damage. In addition, about 1 in 10 babies with Gastroschisis will experience another bowel problem called intestinal atresia. This is occurs when part of the infant's intestine has not formed completely and becomes blocked. After treatment of Gastroschisis, babies can experience trouble digesting food, often forcing them to maintain a special diet while their body continues to heal (Chung, 2012).

Chung DH. Pediatric surgery. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds.Sabiston Textbook of Surgery.19th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2012:chap 67.