New here and looking for support & advice on genetic testing

nukedtodeeboots · March 2011

Thank you to those of you who didn't judge me and I apologize to those I upset. I guess maybe this wasn't the place I thought it was since I thought this site would be less judgemental. Thanks again to those who gave advice in an understanding way. This was the only time I was required to see this NP, she was the one who stated the 18-20 weeks, not me, I was hoping to get an answer earlier, she was the one who stated it would be that long before we could get 100% answer. The other tests she said would only give us probabilities, not an affirmative answer. Yes, I may be putting the cart before the horse, but it's on my mind, thought I could vent that here, but I again I apologize.

ally2158 · March 2011

I am a NICU RN in a large hospital that delivers babies with chromosomal and other congenital anomalies. The NT scan and bloodwork give a pretty good clue if things are slightly off and then you can go the route of diagnostic testing (amnio, CVS) should that happen. It is YOUR choice what you do with info received from genetic testing. As a medical professional, this NP was out of line in passing her opinions on to you.

jonnygurl76 · March 2011

i stopped reading after you said you would terminate if the baby has downs. if you are looking for support this is probably not going to be the place you will find it. a lot of the women on here have been trying to get pregnant for a very long time and for you to come here and say this is most likely going to get you flamed.

so unless this is made up, i would suggest you look for advice and support somewhere else.

MsCrispy · March 2011

ally2158:
I am a NICU RN in a large hospital that delivers babies with chromosomal and other congenital anomalies. The NT scan and bloodwork give a pretty good clue if things are slightly off and then you can go the route of diagnostic testing (amnio, CVS) should that happen. It is YOUR choice what you do with info received from genetic testing. As a medical professional, this NP was out of line in passing her opinions on to you.

This. The nurse shouldn't judge you and I'm actually surprised that she even asked. I did the NT scan and bloodwork. If I had gotten bad results, then I would have gone forward with amnio. The results are wishy washy, they just give you odds, not a yes or a no, so just keep that in mind. I do not think you need a specialist.

Also, in the future, paragraphs are much appreciated.

kgninja · March 2011

I think only you know what you can handle and you need to make the decision that is right for you. I think that you can get an NT scan and CVS testing at 11-13 weeks. But even if you did not find anything out till 18-20 weeks there are facilities in a few states that can perform the procedure. I wish you the best of luck.

I think your NP was out of line. I would be complaining.

Traycee1242 · March 2011

jonnygurl76:
i stopped reading after you said you would terminate if the baby has downs. if you are looking for support this is probably not going to be the place you will find it. a lot of the women on here have been trying to get pregnant for a very long time and for you to come here and say this is most likely going to get you flamed.

so unless this is made up, i would suggest you look for advice and support somewhere else.

I totally agree with this. And you are kind of jumping the gun here... Why would you tell anyone what you and your husband privately decided...especially something like terminating a pregnancy if the baby had an abnormality...which you don't even know yet???

Kml9876 · March 2011

I had a miscarriage and have tried for over a year to get pregnant. But I totally respect that it is your decision to terminate if the child had something wrong with it.

I would get a new np or doctor that can respect your wishes and keep their opinions to themselves.

I am having the nt scan done soon. I would like all possible information that I can have.

LillyVonSchtupp · March 2011

jonnygurl76:

i stopped reading after you said you would terminate if the baby has downs. if you are looking for support this is probably not going to be the place you will find it. a lot of the women on here have been trying to get pregnant for a very long time and for you to come here and say this is most likely going to get you flamed.

so unless this is made up, i would suggest you look for advice and support somewhere else.

Why would you flame her? It's her decision whether or not she wants to continue with her PG if they discover the baby has chromosomal or genetic abnormalities. I've never been PG (and I likely never will be) and even I wouldn't flame her for that...

OP, that nurse was way out of line. You should file a complaint, that was completely unprofessional.

Corts · March 2011

jonnygurl76:

i stopped reading after you said you would terminate if the baby has downs. if you are looking for support this is probably not going to be the place you will find it. a lot of the women on here have been trying to get pregnant for a very long time and for you to come here and say this is most likely going to get you flamed.

so unless this is made up, i would suggest you look for advice and support somewhere else.

A little harsh, don't you think? I think she is confused about the testing process. Also, wanting to get pregnant for "a long time" has absolutely nothing to do with knowingly bringing a baby into this world who will have a lifelong incapabilities.

To the OP....you can have the 1st trimester screening done as early as 11 weeks. It involves bloodwork and a detailed ultrasound. You will get the results immediatly and they will tell you your chances of having a baby with Downs or Trisomy. It is then your option to consider more detailed testing based on the results you get, If this is a concern then I would start the ball rolling asap for the NT ultrasound and bloodwork.

Roxyroodle · March 2011

Traycee1242:
jonnygurl76:
i stopped reading after you said you would terminate if the baby has downs. if you are looking for support this is probably not going to be the place you will find it. a lot of the women on here have been trying to get pregnant for a very long time and for you to come here and say this is most likely going to get you flamed.

so unless this is made up, i would suggest you look for advice and support somewhere else.
I totally agree with this. And you are kind of jumping the gun here... Why would you tell anyone what you and your husband privately decided...especially something like terminating a pregnancy if the baby had an abnormality...which you don't even know yet???

I disagree it is your choice to have testing and terminate if something is wrong, Most of us can say we would never even think about it but that is an easy thing to say when your not in that position.

Personally I would never terminate a pregnancy that is me, I respect your right to do what is right for you and your family and I think that they where out of line telling you that you didn't have a choice I would switch providers. I think that discussing it before ttc is a very responsible thing to do.

Lilrdmandy · March 2011

Most OB's have screening at around 13weeks, called the NT scan. Its an U/S and bloodwork. That is probably the earliest you could tell from your OB's office if there is a genetic abnormality. The NP probably is sending you elsewhere so you could find out sooner.

Chances are everything is fine, but there is a lot more to think about then terminating or not terminating. After a certain point you can't exactly pop a pill and not be pregnant anymore. You're talking possible termination at 20 weeks, but at 24 weeks a baby is considered viable and could possibly survive outside the womb. Maybe pick up a book or do some research online and talk to your SO about at what point is termination an option or not.

From what you said, I think the NP was out of line by sharing her personal opinion but maybe her attitude stemed from your thoughts of possible termination so late in pregnancy.

jonnygurl76 · March 2011

Corts:
jonnygurl76:

i stopped reading after you said you would terminate if the baby has downs. if you are looking for support this is probably not going to be the place you will find it. a lot of the women on here have been trying to get pregnant for a very long time and for you to come here and say this is most likely going to get you flamed.

so unless this is made up, i would suggest you look for advice and support somewhere else.

A little harsh, don't you think? I think she is confused about the testing process. Also, wanting to get pregnant for "a long time" has absolutely nothing to do with knowingly bringing a baby into this world who will have a lifelong incapabilities.

To the OP....you can have the 1st trimester screening done as early as 11 weeks. It involves bloodwork and a detailed ultrasound. You will get the results immediatly and they will tell you your chances of having a baby with Downs or Trisomy. It is then your option to consider more detailed testing based on the results you get, If this is a concern then I would start the ball rolling asap for the NT ultrasound and bloodwork.

no i could be much harsher. why would she even bring up the fact that they decided to terminate if there is a genetic disability before they even have any idea that there is one??

nothing in life is guaranteed, you don't decide to become a parent but only if it is on your terms, only if you have a healthy perfect baby. this is not reality.

everyone will do what they think is best for themselves, i am not so narrow that i don't know that, but to come onto a message board of women that have been trying to get pregnant and say that she will just throw it away if the results aren't what she wants is going to get her flamed.

amy1007 · March 2011

Have the NT scan done 11-13 weeks.

itkatydid · March 2011

Kml9876:
I had a miscarriage and have tried for over a year to get pregnant. But I totally respect that it is your decision to terminate if the child had something wrong with it.

wow... just wow.

kgninja · March 2011

jonnygurl76:
Corts:
jonnygurl76:

i stopped reading after you said you would terminate if the baby has downs. if you are looking for support this is probably not going to be the place you will find it. a lot of the women on here have been trying to get pregnant for a very long time and for you to come here and say this is most likely going to get you flamed.

so unless this is made up, i would suggest you look for advice and support somewhere else.

A little harsh, don't you think? I think she is confused about the testing process. Also, wanting to get pregnant for "a long time" has absolutely nothing to do with knowingly bringing a baby into this world who will have a lifelong incapabilities.

To the OP....you can have the 1st trimester screening done as early as 11 weeks. It involves bloodwork and a detailed ultrasound. You will get the results immediatly and they will tell you your chances of having a baby with Downs or Trisomy. It is then your option to consider more detailed testing based on the results you get, If this is a concern then I would start the ball rolling asap for the NT ultrasound and bloodwork.

no i could be much harsher. why would she even bring up the fact that they decided to terminate if there is a genetic disability before they even have any idea that there is one??

nothing in life is guaranteed, you don't decide to become a parent but only if it is on your terms, only if you have a healthy perfect baby. this is not reality.

everyone will do what they think is best for themselves, i am not so narrow that i don't know that, but to come onto a message board of women that have been trying to get pregnant and say that she will just throw it away if the results aren't what she wants is going to get her flamed.

There is nothing wrong with thinking about what you would do in a certain situation in the future. It is called planning and it is normal. My husband and I discussed what we would do if we found out our child had genetic abnormalities LONG before we even TTC. And maybe she thought she could bring it up because she was talking to a medical professional whom she could confide in.

Any decision by any individual to terminate doesn't have any impact on another woman's ability to get pregnant. I would assume that most woman on this board are mature enough and strong enough to realize this. And would not flame someone for a deeply emotional issue.

blublusher · March 2011

It irritates the heck out of me when someone says something like this. Just because your child might have a disability does not mean you would love it any less. Something is wrong with your child so you're going to get rid of it?

What if your child is born perfectly healthy and normal and at 4 years old gets into a major car accident that leaves them severely disabled. what are you going to do then? give him/her up b/c you dont want to deal with a kid with a disability?

alison2379 · March 2011

jonnygurl76:
Corts:
jonnygurl76:

i stopped reading after you said you would terminate if the baby has downs. if you are looking for support this is probably not going to be the place you will find it. a lot of the women on here have been trying to get pregnant for a very long time and for you to come here and say this is most likely going to get you flamed.

so unless this is made up, i would suggest you look for advice and support somewhere else.

A little harsh, don't you think? I think she is confused about the testing process. Also, wanting to get pregnant for "a long time" has absolutely nothing to do with knowingly bringing a baby into this world who will have a lifelong incapabilities.

To the OP....you can have the 1st trimester screening done as early as 11 weeks. It involves bloodwork and a detailed ultrasound. You will get the results immediatly and they will tell you your chances of having a baby with Downs or Trisomy. It is then your option to consider more detailed testing based on the results you get, If this is a concern then I would start the ball rolling asap for the NT ultrasound and bloodwork.

no i could be much harsher. why would she even bring up the fact that they decided to terminate if there is a genetic disability before they even have any idea that there is one??

nothing in life is guaranteed, you don't decide to become a parent but only if it is on your terms, only if you have a healthy perfect baby. this is not reality.

everyone will do what they think is best for themselves, i am not so narrow that i don't know that, but to come onto a message board of women that have been trying to get pregnant and say that she will just throw it away if the results aren't what she wants is going to get her flamed.

I don't actually think it's flammable; it's reality. Being a parent of a special needs child is a serious undertaking and not to be taken lightly. Being prepared at birth with the proper facilities, funding and support if you do decide to carry on despite red flags is also important. I think talking termination is cart before horse in this whole discussion, but I'm a big advocate for genetic screening, and I fully believe that some people will not be good parents to special needs children, and I applaud them for recognizing that. You never know how you'll react until you're in that situation, both upon receiving the news and the in the years that follow. Some people don't have the financial means, some don't have the emotional fortitude, and some may just have personal reasons for making decisions that you might not agree with. The testing isn't a memo line, it exists so that people can make choices with it. This poster might make a choice you don't like, but it's not *so* out there.

OP - You have a right to the genetic testing. Get it done. But don't count chickens before they've hatched, even if you think you might know how you would react. And find a new doctor.

Edit: misspelling

Corts · March 2011

jonnygurl76:
Corts:
jonnygurl76:

i stopped reading after you said you would terminate if the baby has downs. if you are looking for support this is probably not going to be the place you will find it. a lot of the women on here have been trying to get pregnant for a very long time and for you to come here and say this is most likely going to get you flamed.

so unless this is made up, i would suggest you look for advice and support somewhere else.

A little harsh, don't you think? I think she is confused about the testing process. Also, wanting to get pregnant for "a long time" has absolutely nothing to do with knowingly bringing a baby into this world who will have a lifelong incapabilities.

To the OP....you can have the 1st trimester screening done as early as 11 weeks. It involves bloodwork and a detailed ultrasound. You will get the results immediatly and they will tell you your chances of having a baby with Downs or Trisomy. It is then your option to consider more detailed testing based on the results you get, If this is a concern then I would start the ball rolling asap for the NT ultrasound and bloodwork.

no i could be much harsher. why would she even bring up the fact that they decided to terminate if there is a genetic disability before they even have any idea that there is one??

nothing in life is guaranteed, you don't decide to become a parent but only if it is on your terms, only if you have a healthy perfect baby. this is not reality.

everyone will do what they think is best for themselves, i am not so narrow that i don't know that, but to come onto a message board of women that have been trying to get pregnant and say that she will just throw it away if the results aren't what she wants is going to get her flamed.

I have a child with a major disability, She will never get married, have a job, or be able to function on her own. She will probaby have to live with us the rest of her life. If my husband and I were to die in a car accident tomorrow, she probably would be sent to a state run group home where all kinds of questionable things can happen to these poor kids. Pull the rainbows out of your vision, sweetcheeks. When you need to bathe your 13yr old every night and change her maxi pads because she doesn't understand how, then come talk to me about this subject again. It has nothing to do with not loving or wanting your kids, it is about giving them the best quality of life. HTH.

MrsNash37212 · March 2011

alison2379:
jonnygurl76:
Corts:
jonnygurl76:

i stopped reading after you said you would terminate if the baby has downs. if you are looking for support this is probably not going to be the place you will find it. a lot of the women on here have been trying to get pregnant for a very long time and for you to come here and say this is most likely going to get you flamed.

so unless this is made up, i would suggest you look for advice and support somewhere else.

A little harsh, don't you think? I think she is confused about the testing process. Also, wanting to get pregnant for "a long time" has absolutely nothing to do with knowingly bringing a baby into this world who will have a lifelong incapabilities.

To the OP....you can have the 1st trimester screening done as early as 11 weeks. It involves bloodwork and a detailed ultrasound. You will get the results immediatly and they will tell you your chances of having a baby with Downs or Trisomy. It is then your option to consider more detailed testing based on the results you get, If this is a concern then I would start the ball rolling asap for the NT ultrasound and bloodwork.

no i could be much harsher. why would she even bring up the fact that they decided to terminate if there is a genetic disability before they even have any idea that there is one??

nothing in life is guaranteed, you don't decide to become a parent but only if it is on your terms, only if you have a healthy perfect baby. this is not reality.

everyone will do what they think is best for themselves, i am not so narrow that i don't know that, but to come onto a message board of women that have been trying to get pregnant and say that she will just throw it away if the results aren't what she wants is going to get her flamed.

I don't actually think it's flammable; it's reality. Being a parent of a special needs child is a serious undertaking and not to be taken lightly. Being prepared at birth with the proper facilities, funding and support if you do decide to carry on despite red flags is also important. I think talking termination is cart before horse in this whole discussion, but I'm a big advocate for genetic screening, and I fully believe that some people will not be good parents to special needs children, and I applaud them for recognizing that. You never know how you'll react until you're in that situation, both upon receiving the news and the in the years that follow. Some people don't have the financial means, some don't have the emotional fortitude, and some may just have personal reasons for making decisions that you might not agree with. The testing isn't a memo line, it exists so that people can make choices with it. This poster might make a choice you don't like, but it's not *so* out there.

OP - You have a right to the genetic testing. Get it done. But don't count chickens before they've hatched, even if you think you might know how you would react. And find a new doctor.

Edit: misspelling

Yes

itkatydid · March 2011

nukedtodeeboots:
Thank you to those of you who didn't judge me and I apologize to those I upset. I guess maybe this wasn't the place I thought it was since I thought this site would be less judgemental. Thanks again to those who gave advice in an understanding way. This was the only time I was required to see this NP, she was the one who stated the 18-20 weeks, not me, I was hoping to get an answer earlier, she was the one who stated it would be that long before we could get 100% answer. The other tests she said would only give us probabilities, not an affirmative answer. Yes, I may be putting the cart before the horse, but it's on my mind, thought I could vent that here, but I again I apologize.

GBCB!!! Well... that was fast!

SailorGray · March 2011

jonnygurl76:

nothing in life is guaranteed, you don't decide to become a parent but only if it is on your terms, only if you have a healthy perfect baby. this is not reality.

Thank you.

alison2379 · March 2011

itkatydid:

nukedtodeeboots:
Thank you to those of you who didn't judge me and I apologize to those I upset. I guess maybe this wasn't the place I thought it was since I thought this site would be less judgemental. Thanks again to those who gave advice in an understanding way. This was the only time I was required to see this NP, she was the one who stated the 18-20 weeks, not me, I was hoping to get an answer earlier, she was the one who stated it would be that long before we could get 100% answer. The other tests she said would only give us probabilities, not an affirmative answer. Yes, I may be putting the cart before the horse, but it's on my mind, thought I could vent that here, but I again I apologize.

GBCB!!! Well... that was fast!

Um, this isn't a GBCB. Reading comprehension fail.

itkatydid · March 2011

alison2379:
itkatydid:

nukedtodeeboots:
Thank you to those of you who didn't judge me and I apologize to those I upset. I guess maybe this wasn't the place I thought it was since I thought this site would be less judgemental. Thanks again to those who gave advice in an understanding way. This was the only time I was required to see this NP, she was the one who stated the 18-20 weeks, not me, I was hoping to get an answer earlier, she was the one who stated it would be that long before we could get 100% answer. The other tests she said would only give us probabilities, not an affirmative answer. Yes, I may be putting the cart before the horse, but it's on my mind, thought I could vent that here, but I again I apologize.

GBCB!!! Well... that was fast!

Um, this isn't a GBCB. Reading comprehension fail.

Oh, excuse me... Usually they follow the "I thought I could come here for support" statements.

Carry on... you can continue to tell her its okay to abort her child if everything isn't perfect.

blublusher · March 2011

alison2379:
itkatydid:

nukedtodeeboots:
Thank you to those of you who didn't judge me and I apologize to those I upset. I guess maybe this wasn't the place I thought it was since I thought this site would be less judgemental. Thanks again to those who gave advice in an understanding way. This was the only time I was required to see this NP, she was the one who stated the 18-20 weeks, not me, I was hoping to get an answer earlier, she was the one who stated it would be that long before we could get 100% answer. The other tests she said would only give us probabilities, not an affirmative answer. Yes, I may be putting the cart before the horse, but it's on my mind, thought I could vent that here, but I again I apologize.

GBCB!!! Well... that was fast!

Um, this isn't a GBCB. Reading comprehension fail.

goodness, this is a joke. don't get your panties in a bunch b/c someone is joking about a GBCB

LillyVonSchtupp · March 2011

itkatydid:
alison2379:
itkatydid:

nukedtodeeboots:
Thank you to those of you who didn't judge me and I apologize to those I upset. I guess maybe this wasn't the place I thought it was since I thought this site would be less judgemental. Thanks again to those who gave advice in an understanding way. This was the only time I was required to see this NP, she was the one who stated the 18-20 weeks, not me, I was hoping to get an answer earlier, she was the one who stated it would be that long before we could get 100% answer. The other tests she said would only give us probabilities, not an affirmative answer. Yes, I may be putting the cart before the horse, but it's on my mind, thought I could vent that here, but I again I apologize.

GBCB!!! Well... that was fast!

Um, this isn't a GBCB. Reading comprehension fail.

Oh, excuse me... Usually they follow the "I thought I could come here for support" statements.

Carry on... you can continue to tell her its okay to abort her child if everything isn't perfect.

Big difference between "my baby's not perfect" and "my baby has a severe genetic or chromosomal abnormality that will cause him/her a lifetime (and probably a short lifetime at that) of pain and dependency." I think you keep imagining that every child with Down's or any disability is the highly functioning, sweet little girl from Glee with Down's.

lulabellalula · March 2011

Corts:
jonnygurl76:
Corts:
jonnygurl76:

i stopped reading after you said you would terminate if the baby has downs. if you are looking for support this is probably not going to be the place you will find it. a lot of the women on here have been trying to get pregnant for a very long time and for you to come here and say this is most likely going to get you flamed.
so unless this is made up, i would suggest you look for advice and support somewhere else.
A little harsh, don't you think? I think she is confused about the testing process. Also, wanting to get pregnant for "a long time" has absolutely nothing to do with knowingly bringing a baby into this world who will have a lifelong incapabilities.
To the OP....you can have the 1st trimester screening done as early as 11 weeks. It involves bloodwork and a detailed ultrasound. You will get the results immediatly and they will tell you your chances of having a baby with Downs or Trisomy. It is then your option to consider more detailed testing based on the results you get, If this is a concern then I would start the ball rolling asap for the NT ultrasound and bloodwork.
no i could be much harsher. why would she even bring up the fact that they decided to terminate if there is a genetic disability before they even have any idea that there is one??
nothing in life is guaranteed, you don't decide to become a parent but only if it is on your terms, only if you have a healthy perfect baby. this is not reality.
everyone will do what they think is best for themselves, i am not so narrow that i don't know that, but to come onto a message board of women that have been trying to get pregnant and say that she will just throw it away if the results aren't what she wants is going to get her flamed.
I have a child with a major disability, She will never get married, have a job, or be able to function on her own. She will probaby have to live with us the rest of her life. If my husband and I were to die in a car accident tomorrow, she probably would be sent to a state run group home where all kinds of questionable things can happen to these poor kids. Pull the rainbows out of your vision, sweetcheeks. When you need to bathe your 13yr old every night and change her maxi pads because she doesn't understand how, then come talk to me about this subject again. It has nothing to do with not loving or wanting your kids, it is about giving them the best quality of life. HTH.

i applaud you for your honesty and i couldn't agree more...isn't part of or even most of the reasoning behind genetic testings, etc is so that we know if something could be abnormal or wrong with the fetus?

To be able to make the choice to terminate a pregnancy due to an abnormality doesn't make the woman a horrible mother or person...just someone who realizes that this child will have many disadvantages to begin with, will have a harder life right from the very beginning...i don't think it's shameful to not want that for your child.

Ihme · March 2011

My husband's brother, a beautiful, gentle, handsome man, has a mental disability. A very bad disability. It pains me to see him that way but honestly, I dont think I care so much about the pain his parents feel, as much as the misery he goes through.

I dont think anyone is saying, "I only want a perfect product, and if it aint, I am gonna throw it away." It's more emotional and deep than that. Besides, I feel we shouldnt get angry at someone for being pro life or pro choice. It's her choice what she does...we have to live our own life and be answerable to god for our own actions. x

Kml9876 · March 2011

It is her body and her baby she is free to do what she wants. That is why we live in America. I saw wow just wow to you. This site is so full of judge mental people, you being one of them.

Corts · March 2011

CDK1:

If you are looking for a healthy normal child I have to warn you: NT scans can't look up learning disabilities, they can't find out if your child will be autistic, they won't tell you if your child will develop cancer, or have diabetes, or suffer from a number of debilitating diseases. They will tell you only a very few of many things that could go wrong.

This is my opinion: You ask any adult...whether they have a disability or not if they are glad they were born and they will say "yes". I don't know anybody who says "I wish my mom/dad had aborted me."unless they are suicidal.

There are no guarantees of health in this life. I will love my child whether it is "healthy" or not. No child is going to be perfect, none. They are human beings though and my opinion is that they deserve a chance at life.

Posts like this make me livid.

Except maybe those people who are living in a wheelchair in an institution, non-verbal and wearing diapers and a bib full time because they can't stop drooling...I bet those individuals would love to answer you, if only they could comprehend what you are saying.

Ihme · March 2011

i was actually being supportive of you and not being judgemental, and let me stress: it is YOUR choice to abort or not- but this is honestly not the forum to talk about such things. youve been insensitive and then you went and edited your post. again, i am not judging you for wanting to keep or not keep a down's syndrome baby, but why even mention that on this forum. all you needed to do was ask about genetic testing, you didnt have to tell us about how youre going to abort. you've upset a lot of women here

you need to look elsewhere for support. i wish you the best.

BriannaHH · March 2011

alison2379:
I don't actually think it's flammable; it's reality. Being a parent of a special needs child is a serious undertaking and not to be taken lightly. Being prepared at birth with the proper facilities, funding and support if you do decide to carry on despite red flags is also important. I think talking termination is cart before horse in this whole discussion, but I'm a big advocate for genetic screening, and I fully believe that some people will not be good parents to special needs children, and I applaud them for recognizing that. You never know how you'll react until you're in that situation, both upon receiving the news and the in the years that follow. Some people don't have the financial means, some don't have the emotional fortitude, and some may just have personal reasons for making decisions that you might not agree with. The testing isn't a memo line, it exists so that people can make choices with it. This poster might make a choice you don't like, but it's not *so* out there.

OP - You have a right to the genetic testing. Get it done. But don't count chickens before they've hatched, even if you think you might know how you would react. And find a new doctor.

Edit: misspelling

Well said, Allison.

RobotLegs · March 2011

There's so much naivete and judgment in this thread, it makes me sick.

Corts · March 2011

CDK1:
"Except maybe those people who are living in a wheelchair in an institution, non-verbal and wearing diapers and a bib full time because they can't stop drooling...I bet those individuals would love to answer you, if only they could comprehend what you are saying."
This is what I was replying to and quite honestly...this is a whole new topic. An infant born with a disability so bad that they are in this condition would likely not survive infant-hood without lifesaving measures being taken. If they were even lucky enough to survive birth. So, this isn't the same subject at all, this is more along the lines of what you would do to prolong an infants life after birth. Her post was about aborting a downs child. I still hold true to my previous statement, many of the people who are in the condition you described were not born that way.

What? There are babies born every day with disabilities that require no life-saving measures. MD is one. Those are the kids most likely to have no muscular control, living in a wheelchair and eating mush the rest of their lives. Some babies don't develop the disabilities until toddlerhood. Then it can go downhill from there. There is so much ignorance floating around on this thread that it is downright scary.

Want a personalized experience?

New here and looking for support & advice on genetic testing

Re: New here and looking for support &amp; advice on genetic testing

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

Want a personalized experience?

New here and looking for support &amp; advice on genetic testing

Re: New here and looking for support &amp;amp; advice on genetic testing

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

New here and looking for support & advice on genetic testing

Re: New here and looking for support & advice on genetic testing