has anyone on here terminated due to a positive T21 result?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry but your DH's anxiety has nothing to do with this. He should medicate himself being this child special needs or not.

i don't think you are quite getting it. the problem is her DH may never choose to medicate, or deal with his anxiety effectively. of course HE SHOULD-DUH

this absolutely affects OP and her DH's decision- we only have so much emotional energy to give.

[Anonymous]

With my 1st my NT results came back with a 1 in 25 chance of Downs. Had a CVS test and he was was perfectly fine. With my 2nd, NT results were great but a Downs marker came up on a future scan so went ahead with an amnio to confirm and she was perfectly fine. I am glad that these tests are available but they did cause me and my husband a lot of stress and worry. Also several talks as to what we would do if the results came back positive. I hope your outcome is the same as mine.

[Anonymous]

Why are my posts being deleted? Is the picture too big? Or does Jeff not like pictures of beautiful babies with DS?

Here is a blog by a mom whose son was diagnosed with DS a week after his birth:

http://moreaboutmatthew.blogspot.com/

And here is a website with links to many other blogs, as well as lots of pictures and accurate information:

http://www.theidsc.org/

[Anonymous]

Another website to check out:

http://www.specialmiracles.com/

[Anonymous]

so sorry that you have to consider this during such an exciting time. consider reading kelle hampton's book & blog, it might give you a different perspective you are seeking. good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I have a sibling with special needs. It's not downs. But he will need to be taken care of for the rest of his life. The financial models expect him to live to be 75. He will outlive my parents and will even outlive ME. (I am significantly older).

This is a terrible burden on my parents, who have had to scrimp and save and plan to ensure that there are funds to care for him. It will be a burden on my siblings too. Until you have lived it, you cannot even imagine the ways in which this responsibility has taken over their lives and, to be honest, destroyed their happiness, although they would never admit that out loud.


I personally would not have a child with serious special needs. I had the tests with my last pregnancy because I was over 35. I knew when I went for the tests that if there was anything significantly wrong, I would terminate. I have seen first hand what life is like for the child, the parents, the marriage, and the family of a seriously SN child and I know it is not a life I would wish on anyone.

How "serious" downs is, and how serious it is in this case, I don't know. But the best of luck to you with whatever you choose to do.

My uncle has special needs and cannot care for himself. However, I have a completely opposite view than the poster above. A "special needs" person is still capable of giving and receiving love. My Uncle has taught me alot about appreciating people regardless of their disabilities. I also think having him in my life has made me a more compassionate person. I would never submit to genetic testing, much less abort a pregnancy over the results. The way I look at it, everything happens for a reason and having a special needs child isn't the end of the World. Imagine if you were in an accident that resulted in you being physically or mentally handicapped, would you want your loved ones to give up on you?

[Anonymous]

More advocacy websites:

http://www.ndss.org/

A collection of blogs:

http://www.downsyndromeblogs.blogspot.com/

[Anonymous]

OP, if you were given 1 in 50 odds that your child would give you a hell of a time during her teen years, would you end her life now?

If you were given 1 in 50 odds that he would have significant learning disabilities, would you end his life now?

If you were given 1 in 50 odds that she would be the kind of kid who picks up every bug going around, would you end her life now?

Our children come with no guarantees...except love. Unconditional love. Don't let a little fear of the unknown get in the way of love.

[Anonymous]

OP, I don't understand your exact situation. But my feelings on abortion were always similar -- pro-choice but against it for myself. Like PP's have said, you don't need to decide anything based on the initial screening. I know you are stressed and are not going to be able to let it go until you have a more definitive answer, but try to keep that in perspective for now.

What I will say is that I had an unimaginably horrible birth injury after the birth of my first. If I were to get pregnant again, I know I would terminate based on my previous experience. You will make the decision that is right for your heart and soul. I'm sorry you are going through this and wish you the best.

[Anonymous]

If you are truly anti-abortion for yourself, why did you have the genetic testing done?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are truly anti-abortion for yourself, why did you have the genetic testing done?

+1

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm sorry the recent poster isn't respecting the question you asked. Best wishes to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are truly anti-abortion for yourself, why did you have the genetic testing done?

+1

This is really innane. Many people who are anti-abortion for themselves will have genetic testing done without thinking about the possibility of termination. If there is a gentic defect, they want to have the time throughout the pregnancy to prepare emotionally, financially, etc. for the reality of having a special needs child.

[Anonymous]

I terminated for another disorder. It was a sad time but I am grateful that my kid didn't have to live with the many challenges he faced. For the next pregnancy I tested and was prepated to abort again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never been in your shoes so I can't possibly offer any advice. I just wanted to tell you best of luck and god bless.

+1 hang in there OP