Genetic Testing...thoughts?

[judyblume14]

We did the first round of testing with DD. Since it came back low-risk, we stopped there.

If there were any abnormalities shown in the first round this time, we'd likely proceed with additional testing. I know I would/do love my baby no matter what, but I don't know whether we would continue the pregnancy. And depending upon what type of genetic abnormality might show up - if we did decide to go through with a full term pregnancy and beyond, I'd want that extra time to prepare in whatever way I could.

[islandlover]

We opted not to have testing last time and will not have any this time.

[spano41]

My daughter has a rare genetic disorder so we will be doing a CVS at 11weeks. I'm not 100% sure what we'll do if it's positive, but I do know at that point we will have all the information and we will have the opportunity to choose to have another baby with special needs instead of it just happening to us. That makes all the difference to me.

I will also say that from experience, having time to prepare for a baby with special needs makes a huge difference. We found out about my daughter at 20weeks and were able to set up meetings with specialists and develop a game plan. We knew she wouldn't be able to nurse so I learned everything I could about EPing and was able to feed her BM for 14mo. Plus it gave us both time to grieve before she arrived, so when she was born we were filled with nothing but joy. So yeah, those are my two cents.

[NariaDreaming]

We would have, as we would TFMR deepening on the results. My husband was raised with a younger sister with significant special needs, and he flat our refuses to be a parent to a child that would require the same level of care that his sister did.


But please consider the screening even if you wouldn't terminate for medical reasons. Many times, especially with T21, a child born with a genetic anomaly may need immediate surgery. Having that knowledge ahead of time may influence where you choose to deliver, and allow you to interview surgical specialists, PTs, and OTs ahead of time, as well as begin to proceess what the diagnosis means for your family. It's not wrong (or abnormal) to feel grief with such a diagnosis, and it's easier to start working through that without the postpartum hormones and exhaustion on top of it

[summergirl1211]

Jun 3, 2016 14:54:49 GMT -5 NariaDreaming said:

We would have, as we would TFMR deepening on the results. My husband was raised with a younger sister with significant special needs, and he flat our refuses to be a parent to a child that would require the same level of care that his sister did.


But please consider the screening even if you wouldn't terminate for medical reasons. Many times, especially with T21, a child born with a genetic anomaly may need immediate surgery. Having that knowledge ahead of time may influence where you choose to deliver, and allow you to interview surgical specialists, PTs, and OTs ahead of time, as well as begin to proceess what the diagnosis means for your family. It's not wrong (or abnormal) to feel grief with such a diagnosis, and it's easier to start working through that without the postpartum hormones and exhaustion on top of it

Perfectly said NariaDreaming!