Re: OB Appt today.

[Guest guest]

I knew in my 7th month that my unborn daughter has Down syndrome. We

told family, since we did know from an amnio (long story, but I HAD to

have 3 amnios due to a very serious threat to her health). And we told

them for the same reason you stated...we wanted her to be welcomed into

the world with the joy and love we felt for her.

Because we knew ahead of time, the neonatologist was in the delivery

room. My baby was born not breathing (from 67 hours of labor!!). She was

quickly resuscitated and handed to me. I still could cry with tears of

joy when I think of that incredible moment when I got to meet the little

life we had waited on...

Today, Karrie is a fifteen year old firecracker!! She has brought so

much joy to my life!! She is also very sassy, has an incredible sense of

humor. She is loved by most everyone...yep, sounds like a teen-aged

girl, huh??

Relax, enjoy these moments of connectedness with your baby boy!! Saying

prayers for health and happiness!!

Sue mom to Kate 21 and Karrie 15 w/ds

On Fri, Sep 30, 2011 at 2:30 PM, cgasca1 wrote:

> I had my 26 week OB appointment with the specialist today. They

> performed another 2D ultrasound. That " bright " spot or calcification

> is still on babies heart, but Doc stated she didn't expect it to go

> away before the birth...although to my husband and me it looked

> smaller and not as bright. The babies measurements of hands, feet,

> arms, legs and face were all normal.

>

> Doc is optimistic that our son does not have DS, but still said we

> could get an amnio if we wanted to be 100% sure. My husband and I

> decided we were not going to do it. No matter what, we love our son

> and nothing will ever change that, no matter what the amnio says. God

> created him just the way he is and that's the way we will welcome him

> home.

>

> However, I did speak to my husband about the actual delivery date.

> I've heard many stories of people whose babies were born with DS and

> the nurses in the delivery room whispered and hush-hushed about it,

> but never really told the parents anything until the pediatrician came

> to confirm their suspicions. I don't want that to be the case with

> us. I don't want any whispering or murmuring or sad faces or frowns

> or tears or gasps or anything like that. I want the nurses to tell me

> straight up of their suspicions so that we can know right away and not

> be wondering what's going on. Even if they can't give me 100%

> diagnosis.

> I'm also considering not having anyone with me in the delivery room

> except my husband so that if the baby does have DS we can process it

> first as a couple and then tell our family so that they can get their

> emotions out about it in the waiting room before they come in to see

> the baby. I don't want him to be affected or greeted with any

> negativity, sadness or tears. I want it to be a joyous occasion just

> like with my daughter.

>

> Any opinions or experiences???

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

> Click reply to all for messages to go to the list. Just hit reply for

> messages to go to the sender of the message.

[Guest guest]

We have told our family and very close friends of the risk, but my MIL is

very...theatrical and I'd prefer for her, if she

feels the need to be theatrical if the baby does have DS, that she

perform them outside in the waiting room with her family rather than in

the delivery room in front of the baby.  She was in the delivery room when I was

in labor with my daughter and even though we knew she was perfectly healthy, she

kept freaking out with every little beep the machines made and kept getting up

to " check the babies heart " even though she doesn't know ANYTHING about medicine

and calling the nurses...LOL.  She made me very nervous...since it was my first

baby.  My husband very subtly told her, " why don't you take a tour of the

hospital...it's very pretty! " Just to give me a couple hours of peace!  LOL.  So

I think this time I'd rather have her out in the waiting room and since I don't

want her to feel singled out, I'll have to ask everyone else to wait

outside....I have a very large and involved family...  I'm just hoping it'll be

okay.

I keep telling my husband that I hope I go into labor late at night and deliver

the baby early in the morning and we won't call anyone till after the baby is

born and use the time as an excuse for not telling them.  HAHAHA!!! LOL. 

________________________________

From: " karriemom@... " <karriemom@...>

cgasca1 <cgasca1@...>

Cc:

Sent: Friday, September 30, 2011 2:53 PM

Subject: RE: OB Appt today.

I knew in my 7th month that my unborn daughter has Down syndrome. We told

family, since we did know from an amnio (long story, but I HAD to have 3 amnios

due to a very serious threat to her health). And we told them for the same

reason you stated...we wanted her to be welcomed into the world with the joy and

love we felt for her.

Because we knew ahead of time, the neonatologist was in the delivery room. My

baby was born not breathing (from 67 hours of labor!!). She was quickly

resuscitated and handed to me. I still could cry with tears of joy when I think

of that incredible moment when I got to meet the little life we had waited on...

Today, Karrie is a fifteen year old firecracker!! She has brought so much joy to

my life!! She is also very sassy, has an incredible sense of humor. She is loved

by most everyone...yep, sounds like a teen-aged girl, huh??

Relax, enjoy these moments of connectedness with your baby boy!! Saying prayers

for health and happiness!!

Sue mom to Kate 21 and Karrie  15 w/ds

On Fri, Sep 30, 2011 at 2:30 PM, cgasca1 wrote:

> I had my 26 week OB appointment with the specialist today.  They performed

another 2D ultrasound.  That " bright " spot or calcification is still on babies

heart, but Doc stated she didn't expect it to go away before the

birth...although to my husband and me it looked smaller and not as bright.  The

babies measurements of hands, feet, arms, legs and face were all normal.

>

> Doc is optimistic that our son does not have DS, but still said we could get

an amnio if we wanted to be 100% sure.  My husband and I decided we were not

going to do it.  No matter what, we love our son and nothing will ever change

that, no matter what the amnio says.  God created him just the way he is and

that's the way we will welcome him home.

>

> However, I did speak to my husband about the actual delivery date. I've heard

many stories of people whose babies were born with DS and the nurses in the

delivery room whispered and hush-hushed about it, but never really told the

parents anything until the pediatrician came to confirm their suspicions.  I

don't want that to be the case with us.  I don't want any whispering or

murmuring or sad faces or frowns or tears or gasps or anything like that.  I

want the nurses to tell me straight up of their suspicions so that we can know

right away and not be wondering what's going on.  Even if they can't give me

100% diagnosis.

> I'm also considering not having anyone with me in the delivery room except my

husband so that if the baby does have DS we can process it first as a couple and

then tell our family so that they can get their emotions out about it in the

waiting room before they come in to see the baby.  I don't want him to be

affected or greeted with any negativity, sadness or tears.  I want it to be a

joyous occasion just like with my daughter.

>

> Any opinions or experiences???

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

> Click reply to all for messages to go to the list.  Just hit reply for

messages to go to the sender of the message.

[Guest guest]

When my daughter was born almost 4 years ago my husband and I had no idea

she had DS. It wasn't even on my radar during my pregnancy even though my

age put me in the higher risk category. We had declined to do any testing. I

felt that the potential for a false positive would put me on a roller

coaster and cause me to have a stressful pregnancy.

At her birth we were all surprised that she was so tiny - 5lb 7oz. My first

reaction when they handed her to me was " Oh my, she is so beautiful, the

prettiest out of my 3 (now 4) children. " But I couldn't get over how

different she looked. Mainly her eyelids were not deep like the rest of the

family and she was very fair skinned. I didn't see any DS features at that

moment but as I held her and watched her root and studied her beautiful face

I started to notice that her eyes and even the movement of her mouth

resembled someone with DS. After a little while I asked my nurse if anyone

had noticed anything looking like Down Syndrome and that is when they very

kindly said yes they had and they pointed out her low set ears, and lines on

her palms and her feet. They said that testing would be done to confirm it

and the pediatrician would come and talk to us about it. No one in the room

was somber and if they whispered anything I was completely unaware. I'm sure

they must have quietly communicated to each other what they observed but it

really wasn't their place to inform me. They let the doctor do that. Later

the doctor came and spoke with us; he had the most gentle way about him and

gave us so much reassurance that everything was going to be ok. He told us

about the many children with DS in his practice and how their families are

changed for the better.

That day the doctors discovered that my daughter had a heart abnormality and

transferred her to the NICU as a precaution. The NICU doctor also shared

with us some very positive things about people with DS. He said that there

is a group of people with DS who go to his church and that he always goes to

talk with them after service because he loves their outlook on life.

So all in all I'm grateful that I didn't know sooner. It was easier for me

to find out that Lacey had Down syndrome as I held her in my arms for the

first time and her dad and I fell in love with her. When I asked my husband

how he felt about it (DS) he said " It's not only going to be " OK " , it's

good " because he knew that this came as no surprise to God and he saw fit to

give us this child.

Lacey is the third of our 4 kids and we are all so happy. Her siblings love

her so much and so do her parents. Friends and strangers are all drawn to

Lacey although lately she has taken a back seat to her two month old baby

sister.

(husband )

8, Riley 5, Lacey 4 and Piper 2 mos

_____

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf

Of cgasca1

Sent: Friday, September 30, 2011 12:30 PM

Subject: OB Appt today.

I had my 26 week OB appointment with the specialist today. They performed

another 2D ultrasound. That " bright " spot or calcification is still on

babies heart, but Doc stated she didn't expect it to go away before the

birth...although to my husband and me it looked smaller and not as bright.

The babies measurements of hands, feet, arms, legs and face were all normal.

Doc is optimistic that our son does not have DS, but still said we could get

an amnio if we wanted to be 100% sure. My husband and I decided we were not

going to do it. No matter what, we love our son and nothing will ever change

that, no matter what the amnio says. God created him just the way he is and

that's the way we will welcome him home.

However, I did speak to my husband about the actual delivery date. I've

heard many stories of people whose babies were born with DS and the nurses

in the delivery room whispered and hush-hushed about it, but never really

told the parents anything until the pediatrician came to confirm their

suspicions. I don't want that to be the case with us. I don't want any

whispering or murmuring or sad faces or frowns or tears or gasps or anything

like that. I want the nurses to tell me straight up of their suspicions so

that we can know right away and not be wondering what's going on. Even if

they can't give me 100% diagnosis.

I'm also considering not having anyone with me in the delivery room except

my husband so that if the baby does have DS we can process it first as a

couple and then tell our family so that they can get their emotions out

about it in the waiting room before they come in to see the baby. I don't

want him to be affected or greeted with any negativity, sadness or tears. I

want it to be a joyous occasion just like with my daughter.

Any opinions or experiences???

[Guest guest]

                 I know you will be welcoming your baby boy into the world no

matter what so that is all that really matters in the end. If you do decide to

include other family members in the delivery room then tell them how you feel

and I am sure they will be happy a long with you. Trust yourself on that matter.

I knew that our daughter, Gaby, had Down Syndrome when I was 18 weeks pregnant.

A lot of different emotions went on after we found out and we found out who are

true friends/family was during that time as well. A few of our family members

were in denial and told us that the test was wrong and Gaby wasn't going to be

born with Down Syndrome. Everybody handle's emotions differently. I just wanted

to be ready for anything so I made sure the nurses knew that my baby had Down

Syndrome when we were in the delivery room. Gaby was born with 6 small holes in

her heart and 6 weeks premature. She weighed 5 pounds. After 3 days in the

hospital she

was sent home with me. Such a beautiful baby! 

I pray that your delivery will be as blessed as mine was with Gaby. Please keep

me updated!

[Guest guest]

With some babies like mine, it's very obvious. I would tell the nurses up front

there's a strong likelihood, even if there isn't. That way they won't be

uptight. Explain your decision not to have the amnio because of your love for

your son and that your only concern is his overall health. I always find it

interesting how many doctors and nurses I know that have kids with DS, so know

that many will agree with you and ALL should support your feelings.

Since we all knew for sure Liam was going to have it, the delivery room was

relaxed and happy. The eyes are what everyone checks first. A thickness at the

back of the neck is common, small ears and low muscle tone or floppiness.

Kathy,Liam's mom (13)

OB Appt today.

I had my 26 week OB appointment with the specialist today. They performed

another 2D ultrasound. That " bright " spot or calcification is still on babies

heart, but Doc stated she didn't expect it to go away before the

birth...although to my husband and me it looked smaller and not as bright. The

babies measurements of hands, feet, arms, legs and face were all normal.

Doc is optimistic that our son does not have DS, but still said we could get an

amnio if we wanted to be 100% sure. My husband and I decided we were not going

to do it. No matter what, we love our son and nothing will ever change that, no

matter what the amnio says. God created him just the way he is and that's the

way we will welcome him home.

However, I did speak to my husband about the actual delivery date. I've heard

many stories of people whose babies were born with DS and the nurses in the

delivery room whispered and hush-hushed about it, but never really told the

parents anything until the pediatrician came to confirm their suspicions. I

don't want that to be the case with us. I don't want any whispering or murmuring

or sad faces or frowns or tears or gasps or anything like that. I want the

nurses to tell me straight up of their suspicions so that we can know right away

and not be wondering what's going on. Even if they can't give me 100% diagnosis.

I'm also considering not having anyone with me in the delivery room except my

husband so that if the baby does have DS we can process it first as a couple and

then tell our family so that they can get their emotions out about it in the

waiting room before they come in to see the baby. I don't want him to be

affected or greeted with any negativity, sadness or tears. I want it to be a

joyous occasion just like with my daughter.

Any opinions or experiences???