Prenatal testing is NOT about abortion
Jun 30 '04
The Bottom Line Knowledge is power. Knowing everything about your baby's development gives you the power to ensure a healthy pregnancy and safe delivery.
I write this as a parent who underwent both the AFP and amniocentesis. I am compelled to write because I have encountered a great deal of misinformation among women about these two tests and the potential benefits to unborn babies. I know mothers who have chosen to forego amniocentesis because they didn’t want to take the risks, however small, that come with it. I utterly respect that decision and I have no intention of changing the minds of those moms, although I would ask them to at least read on for a different perspective. The attitude I’ve encountered that troubles me most is the one that equates prenatal testing with abortion. I am deeply saddened by the prevalence of this thinking, and I hope to bring a different perspective to those who think this way.
People who link prenatal testing with abortion fall into one of two groups. Group A are those who use prenatal testing to decide whether or not to continue a pregnancy. These are the people who will terminate a pregnancy if something is “wrong” with the baby. (For the purposes of this discussion, I am focusing on survivable defects, like spina bifida and Down Syndrome. Fatal defects like Trisomy 18 are a different story and I am not referring to those instances here.) Group B are the parents for whom abortion is not an option. They feel there is no point in finding out about potential problems because it won’t influence their decision to carry the baby to term. To group A, I would simply make the bold suggestion that you consider not having children at all. If people are so afraid of having a child with special needs (and let’s be honest, that decision is one based primarily on fear), then perhaps it would be best for them not to have children. The vast majority of issues out there that fall under the umbrella of special needs cannot be detected prior to birth. If the thought of raising a child with Down syndrome is so unappealing, what would happen when the baby is diagnosed with autism, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, or any one of a thousand disorders, from neurological to metabolic? A clean amniocentesis is not a guarantee of a “perfect” child. In fact, there are NO guarantees with children.
I’d like to address the people who fall into Group B. Neither my husband nor I ever considered abortion. It was never an option for us either. What compelled our decision was the need to prepare for anything and everything that might happen. I want to share with you our experience with prenatal testing and why it can mean a better and safer start for your baby. I’ll begin with a brief overview of the tests available and how each can be helpful to expectant parents.
The AFP/Triple Screen is a screening TOOL, not a test. The AFP, or triple screen is an incredibly misunderstood tool. I’ve encountered so many women who feel this is not a worthwhile screening because of the rate of “false positives.” What most people don’t understand is that the AFP is not a test that can give a positive or negative result. It is merely a screening tool that might indicate a greater likelihood of possible difficulties with the baby’s development. The triple screen is conducted by drawing a sample of mother’s blood and measuring the levels of alphafetaprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and unconjugated estriol (UE3). These are substances that are produced by the baby, and cross over into the mother’s bloodstream. By measuring the levels, doctors can screen for possible difficulties with pregnancy. Some of the things it may be able to screen for include Down Syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities, as well as Spina Bifida and other neural tube defects. However, in addition to these things, the results may reflect difficulties that have nothing to do with the development of the fetus, such as a problem with the placenta or umbilical cord.
So, what if your screening comes back with an increased risk? Perhaps, like mine, the test shows an increased risk for Down Syndrome. It does not necessarily mean the baby does have Down Syndrome. A friend of mine had her risk for Down Syndrome reassessed at one in four, but their baby did not have Down Syndrome. My risk was reassessed at one in forty-one. My son DID have Down Syndrome. A statistical probability is just that, a probability, not a certainty. At this point, you may consider amniocentesis. If you decide you do not want to take the risks associated with that test, you can still use the information from the Triple Screen to make adjustments to the pregnancy to ensure a safe delivery and healthy baby. You may decide to modify your work schedule, take a longer leave from work, or go on modified bedrest. Your doctor may order more detailed and more frequent ultrasounds to monitor the baby’s development. You may possibly be put under the care of a perinatologist. All of these things can make a huge difference in the safety and health of your baby.
As I mentioned before, my husband and I did have the amniocentesis, and I want to discuss that now because this is the test is so often linked to abortion. In the baby group that my son goes to, there are several babies with Down syndrome and I am the only one who found out ahead of time via amnio. None of the other moms cite risk as their reason for forgoing the test. Rather, it is a unanimous thought that they weren’t going to abort, so there was no point. I am sharing my experience to demonstrate otherwise. Among the various health risks associated with Down Syndrome are premature birth, heart defects, and leukemia. By knowing ahead of time, we were not only able to prepare ourselves emotionally, but we were able to make decisions to ensure a healthy delivery. After confirmation of the diagnosis, I was cared for by both an OB and a perinatologist. I had appointments about every 2 weeks for the remainder of the pregnancy. We had regular fetal echoes to monitor the development of his heart, since about 50% of all babies with Down syndrome will have congenital heart defects. When we learned about the increased rate of leukemia in children with Down syndrome, we looked into cord blood banking and we did bank his cord blood at birth. At six months along in the pregnancy I began having contractions. The perinatologist suspected the contractions were linked to the fact that I was still nursing my 19 month old, and suggested we stop nursing. We weaned him (cut him off, poor thing) and the contractions stopped. It is possible, if I weren’t being seen so often, that I could have gone into premature labor, which is also a risk factor associated with Down Syndrome. Having the constant medical supervision in this instance made the difference between a full term delivery and delivery 3 months premature. My son was, in fact, born with multiple heart defects, but we had prepared ourselves for that possibility. If he does end up with leukemia at some later date, we’ll be prepared for that too.
In addition to all of these medical complications, we had time to sort through and deal with our feelings. We were able to move through the grief process and grow into acceptance by the time he arrived. I simply cannot imagine how I would have handled all of those emotions on top of having to deal with the health problems at his birth. I would not have wanted to be dealing with grief as I looked into the eyes of my newborn. I am thankful, when talking with the other moms, that I found out ahead of time, because when they tell me of the birth experience, and having to deal with all of those emotions after the birth, I see how painful it was for them to experience such difficult emotions at a time when they should only have felt joy. My birth experience was by no means easy, since my son didn’t get to come home right away, but I can’t even fathom how I could have handled all that AND the news that he had this disability at the same time.
I want to reiterate that I completely respect any parent’s decision to forego amniocentesis based on the risk of miscarriage. No one should take a risk with which they are not comfortable. However, if your only reluctance is rooted in your love for your child and determination to bring your child into the world under any circumstance, then I would ask you to at least consider the benefits of prenatal testing. Knowledge is indeed power. By knowing about potential problems, you give your child the best chance at a safe and healthy delivery and start in life.
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Epinions.com ID:
bruinmom
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Location: Bay Area, California
Reviews written: 4
Trusted by: 2 members
About Me:
Former First grade teacher. Now a SAHM to 2 beautiful boys.
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