re: trisomy 18

I couldnt imagine facing this ! I will be keeping you in my prayers!

From the Trisomy 18 official page:
"Some children will be able to be discharged from the hospital with home nursing support for their families. And although less than 10 percent survive to their first birthdays, some children with Trisomy 18 can enjoy many years of life with their families, reaching milestones and being involved with their community. A small number of adults (usually girls) with Trisomy 18 have and are living into their twenties and thirties, although with significant developmental delays that do not allow them to live independantly without assisted caregiving."

I would by no means terminate a child that has a potential to live into their 20's or 30's...

Quoting Carter's Mama [3rd tri!]:“ From the Trisomy 18 official page: "Some children will be able to be discharged from the hospital with ... [snip!] ... without assisted caregiving." I would by no means terminate a child that has a potential to live into their 20's or 30's...”

Well that is you. Did you look at other websites? That PERCENTAGE is less than .1%...95 die before they are born. another 4% die within hours/days. We are going through the same thing. It is not easy. People rambling on about what they would and would not do only makes it worse. Do you think we would want our children to suffer? I have searched endlessly online for ONE normal and healthy baby with trisomy 18..and found NONE. They are so retarted and delayed and in so much pain with their tubes and doctors and IV's, who wants to live like that? I am sorry but if my amnio comes back positive, we are doing an early induction. I am not risking that 1% or less to have a possibly "functioning" child that would suffer from day one until she took her last breath. Please keep comments like this to yourself. It hurts.

Quoting Carter's Mama [3rd tri!]:“ From the Trisomy 18 official page: "Some children will be able to be discharged from the hospital with ... [snip!] ... without assisted caregiving." I would by no means terminate a child that has a potential to live into their 20's or 30's...”

I can't say whether I would or not because it hasn't happened to me. It doesn't sound as though you have been through this, so how can you say you would "by no means terminate a child" who has this condition?

When are doctors able to tell if this is a risk for your baby? Is this the same test as the downs blood work? Or is this another test done?

Quoting *Lilia's Mommy*:“ When are doctors able to tell if this is a risk for your baby? Is this the same test as the downs blood work? Or is this another test done?”

They can give you an "idea" with your quad screen test. Not sure when they did the OP's test. Mine were found (the markers) during my ultrasound at 19 weeks...compleatly random.

Quoting Kenz&LilysMommy:“ They can give you an "idea" with your quad screen test. Not sure when they did the OP's test. Mine were found (the markers) during my ultrasound at 19 weeks...compleatly random.”

Is the quad screen the "genetics" test?
Sorry to hear about that. I wish you the best.

Quoting tifleah:“ I can't say whether I would or not because it hasn't happened to me. It doesn't sound as though you ... [snip!] ... as though you have been through this, so how can you say you would "by no means terminate a child" who has this condition?”

Because I'm not God and don't have the right to decide who lives, who dies, and when.

Quoting Carter's Mama [3rd tri!]:“ Because I'm not God and don't have the right to decide who lives, who dies, and when.”

 

Quoting Carter's Mama [3rd tri!]:“ Because I'm not God and don't have the right to decide who lives, who dies, and when.”

Yep I said the sammmmeee thing. Hopefully you are never put in a situation where you may have to choose. God forbid that one.

I have a 3 year old daughter with full trisomy 18. Our life would not be complete without her. The statistics you were given are somewhat inaccurate. And, while the children are mostly very intellectually disabled, trisomy families feel incredibly blessed. Please do not consider terminating, but look a little farther at the possibilities and the happiness these children can bring to us. You can check out Rebekah at my blog http://www.buddzoo.com. We have a great support group on facebook full of living trisomy kids and full of families that have lost a trisomy child but have no regrets for carrying to term. Please check us out! https://www.facebook.com/groups/T18Mommies/

Also check out our organization: http://www.hopefortrisomy.org/