Laurie ~ Re: To Amnio or Not?

[Guest guest]

Laurie,

I agree 100% with your thoughts on reasons to have genetic testing

done. THOSE were my feelings exactly, including financial planning

if necessary. I was getting a lot of feedback from different sources

that seemed to implicate that unless one had intentions of

terminating, there was no point in having the tests. I personally

have never thought this was true for most people opting to have an

amnio. To tell you the truth it was really beginning to hurt my

feelings that people would assume that because I actually considered

having the amnio it meant that I would be willing to terminate if

everything wasn't 100%.

I've also received some great feedback from many of you on this site

and I thank you for that. I'm beginning to realize that there are

other options to consider before the amnio and that eases my mind. I

really appreciate your response and I'm glad to hear others feel as I

do about the preparation aspect of the testing. Now its time to look

further into the AFP and other non-amnio routes.

Toi

> Hi Toi,

>

> I totally disagree that the only reason to have a AFP or an amnio

is

> if you would abort because of less-than-perfect results. I think

> that all information is valuable. My AFP was fine, so I didn't

need

> to make a decision regarding an amnio, but if my results *hadn't*

> been fine and if a level 2 u/s showed indications of problems,

here's

> why I probably would have had it done:

>

> - Some birth defects (spina bifida, in some instances) can have

> surgical treatment to improve the outcome for the child.

>

> - Some birth defects our local hospital just is NOT equipped to

deal

> with. At all. For the safest delivery/ideal treatment immediately

> after birth, we would need to travel to a hospital 3 hrs away. I

> would also change OBs to one with more experience with high-risk

> pregnancies/deliveries.

>

> - We have two young children at home. I would want to be able to

> prepare them if their younger sibling would have severe challenges

or

> a birth defect not compatible with life.

>

> - I myself would want time to emotionally prepare. I would want to

> be in the best state of mind to meet my new baby--I just wouldn't

> want to be surprised by horrible news in the delivery room if I

could

> help it.

>

> Now having said ALL that, this baby is very much wanted and will be

> much welcomed. It would have been so hard for me to put this baby

at

> risk in any way. Parenting is full of hard decisions though, so I

> would probably take into account my AFP results, the advice of a

> genetic counselor, and the results of a level 2 u/s to try to make

a

> decision for the greater good. I'm not sure if any of these things

> would affect your personal situation, I just thought I'd give you

> food for thought. Best of luck to you.

>

> Laurie

> mama to Avery (7/98), Noah (7/00), & expecting Cole (5/27ish)