1 in 4

Blairbear28

I will be 6 weeks pregnant tomorrow and I am not allowing myself to get too hopeful yet. You see, my husband and I carry the genetic defect that causes Spinal Muscular Atrophy with Respiratory Distress. Our first child was stillborn June 2015 and we have been told by our geneticist that we have a 1 in 4 chance of this happening during any pregnancy I go through. I also have a history of ecropic and miscarriage. We will not get the 'all clear' until 13 weeks. If SMARD exists in this pregnancy I will have to terminate. I feel awful but I am not allowing myself to be excited yet. I feel like I am just going through the motions until midmarch. I wish I could just be happy like most expectant moms.

LakeR2014

I am sorry you are going through this.  It is an awful burden/worry to have to carry.   Try and stay positive as best you can and remember every pregnancy and baby is different.   Best wishes for a positive outcome at 13 weeks and a happy and healthy 9 months.   You, your husband, and baby are in my thoughts.

FireInWonderland

So sorry to hear this. Muscular dystrophy runs in my cousin's family and her son was born with that and it's hard enough - supposedly fatal at 25 years of age. I can't imagine SMARD, it seems a million times worse. I am wishing you the best and you, your baby and your family are in my thoughts. Here's praying you're in the 3/4 category!

Flowr4246

I am so, so sorry.  SMA is a real bitch.  Praying that your LO beats the odds!

KimmySchmidt

I can't imagine having to deal with the loss of having a stillborn child. FWIW I think most moms are kind of waiting with bated breath through their first trimester. Stillborn births and many genetic conditions are rare, and that sense of loss unique, but miscarriages are actually common, and I do think you'll find company here in women who can relate to pregnancy anxiety in that capacity.

noelani42

I'm so so sorry that must be really hard...hugs!

jilligirl16

Saying a prayer for you. I'm so sorry you're going through this. Have faith that things will work out.

backoffunicorn

I'm so sorry you're going through this. SMA is absolutely horrible. I hope that this LO falls in the 3 in 4. Big hugs.

Sarafuss

I'm so sorry for your loss.  We lost our baby girl at 5 weeks old due to a genetic condition (Cri du Chat).  We are hopeful that this baby is healthy but I feel the same way in regards to feeling excited and being cautious.  I'm hoping the next month or two passes quickly for you (and me ).  Will you be doing an amnio?  We will be doing the NT scan and NIPT blood work (Panorama) and will decide from there if we will do an amnio.  The blood work doesn't test for the specific condition that she had so I'm thinking that we probably will for peace of mind.  I think I will be a nervous wreck for the entire pregnancy if we don't.  

Beegey33

Sorry you are having a hard time and I hope that you can find a middle ground and start to be excited, enjoy the little life in your belly. I cannot imagine what you are going through and hopefully the next 7 weeks go by fast for you!

WineNChocolate

I am sorry to hear there are circumstances that don't allow you to be hopeful for your current pregnancy yet. I have my finger crossed for you and your dh. I hope the weeks fly by for yah and you can start to enjoy being pregnant. It really is a wonderful time even with the "irk"some symptoms.

PSUBecky23

I am so sorry to hear this. You're in my thoughts for a health pregnancy and baby.

miam4

Hi... I am sorry for your loss. I lost my first one at 16 weeks with a genetic defect called  "body stalk syndrome". I was 18 and I still freak out about it (I am 32 now). My pregnancy with DD I was considered high risk because of that, and now here I am freaking out again. So, trust me, I know. We want to be happy, but at the same time we want to play safe and be happy with great news instead of counting on something perfect and things go wrong. I try to keep as positive as I can. I will pray for you!

jessbaldwin14

So sorry for your loss. Prayers that this time things will work out for you...

crispy11

I'm so sorry you are going through this now and I am so so sorry for your loss of your first child.

RedMar

I'm so sorry you're having to worry about this again. Thoughts and prayers everything will be healthy with this bean. You're so brave mama!

roxgibbons

I am so sorry for the loss of your child.  Being early on in pregnancy is hard enough and having to deal with this worry must be very difficult.  Positive thoughts to you and best wishes that everything will be alright this time around.  

amandam925

@Blairbear28 -- first off, I'm so sorry for your loss. Secondly, it takes a seriously strong person to survive that and to be trying again. Your strength and courage is going to do so much for your LO.

Thirdly, you're definitely not alone. This is our first, and I'm absolutely petrified by all of the things that can go wrong. We're doing NIPT and waiting to tell people until after we get the results (our doctor recommended it based on my family history but my husband and I are also 38/33 respectively so our ages are concerning, too).

I can't imagine how petrified I would be if I were you, but the odds are in your favor. You have a one in four (25%) chance of having this disorder in any pregnancy, but I believe the odds of having it happen twice in a row is one in sixteen (6.25%). (Based on independent probability math.)

My thoughts and prayers are with you -- I hope this difficult time goes by quickly and that you get happy news.