A couple from Cardiff have spoken about their shock after their unborn child was diagnosed with a limb condition. Adam and Bethan Williams are expecting their third child this July but at their 20 week scan, the doctor noticed an abnormality with their unborn daughter's foot.
The couple's latest scan showed that their daughter has a limb condition called talipes, also known as club foot. Talipes is a condition in which a child is born with a foot or feet that are turned under and affects 1 in 1,000 babies born in the UK.
It is most common in boys and is often hereditary. However, Adam and Bethan, from Ely, are expecting another baby girl and there is no history of club foot in either of their families.
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After having a thorough scan 16 weeks into the pregnancy, the doctor's diagnosis of talipes "shocked" the couple initially. Bethan said: "Although we won't know the extent of the condition until she is born, she is no different to any of our other children. We have a lot of things to teach ourselves but we can deal with it."
Treatment for talipes starts within the first two weeks of a baby's life with a physiotherapy method known as the Ponseti method in which the foot is stretched and manipulated to straighten it. A plaster cast is then applied to the baby's foot to stop the foot or ankle from moving. In many cases the child will need a minor operation and special boots and bars will need to be worn from the first three months until they are five years old.
Although talipes is not a rare condition, Bethan said she feels it is "not spoken about enough," which is one reason Adam has set up a fundraiser to raise money for Steps Charity Worldwide, a leading charity helping to support individuals and families affected by lower limb conditions. Explaining why they chose Steps, Bethan said: "We need to help smaller, less known charities, not just the big charities."
"Adam immediately wanted to raise awareness for talipes as soon as we found out from the doctors about our daughter's condition," she added. Adam will be holding a charity football tournament in May with over 30 players already showing interest, as well as a fun day and a raffle featuring local businesses around Ely and Caerau. He has also set up a JustGiving page to raise money for Steps which has already surpassed their initial target of £500 and has almost reached their new target of £750.
Bethan said she and Adam were "overwhelmed with the messages of support and appreciate the donations made so far. The coming together of the community in Ely makes it such a great place and we are grateful to live here." As well as raising money for charity, they hope to start a social network for other parents to discuss and support each other. To help support Adam in fundraising for Steps you can donate here.
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