Pregnancy - Birth Defects

[Blaaaaaaaah]

So I just had this conversation which reminded me of a question my mum asked once. It was a question I couldn't answer and I want to hear what you guys would do. (Yus, serious discussion here.)

Imagine you're happily married, financially (and emotionally) stable, and you've been planning on a baby with your significant other. The baby does eventually arrive, and you're all prepared for it. However, after doing a prenatal diagnosis, the doctor says that there is a possibility that your child may have birth defects (i.e. your child may have a genetic disorder like Down Syndrome).

Would you keep the baby, or abort it?

Some things to think about:

• The commitments you would need to make.
• How the society will treat your family.
• What your child may go through in the future (since they have feelings too, they may be negatively affected).
• The possibility that the doctor's assumption is wrong.
• The possibility that your next child could be fine.

I'm sure there's more factors to consider, but those are just some of it.

So yes, what would you do?

[NavMan]

I'd probably have them go ahead with the birth. Mainly for religious reasons, and if there's a possibility that the doctor is wrong then, the child deserves a chance.

[O-mie]

I'd want to run as many tests as possible to determine if the disorder would cause the child pain or be life-threatening, to which I would probably have it aborted. Also it would depend on the severity of the case. If it was just physical defects, I'd give it a chance, but I would also have to be prepared to possibly do home school until later years of their life, as children are insanely cruel creatures to each other.

I dunno though, honestly. I don't really want kids. I do know that if I had a child, I wouldn't want it growing up constantly in mental or physical pain because of the disorder though, which could end up in the child taking their own life from depression, considering today's society. `-`

[Snowflake]

Isnt it a bit selfish? I mean, even if their is a chance that the kid is gonna be normal isnt just alone the risk selfish?
Think of the kid how it would live later on when it has this desease.
What life it would be? And besides, didnt you knew, before you get pregnant, that your kids are gonna have this kind of desease?
A very good information from doctors and psychologists and whats ever is gonna be needed to go through all this and then desited on a adoption. That is my oppinion.

[O-mie]

I agree with what snowflake is saying. Even though you would love that child, it would most likely lead a very unhappy life, and you would be willing to put that child in that situation. :x

[Blaaaaaaaah]

Yeah, that's true. But then again, there's always those places and schools which help out with children with birth defects - and you get to meet others who are in the same situation as you. It could be hard, but it is possible to pull through after all.

[Pritcher]

That's a very difficult question. I don't think anybody really knows how they would handle a situation like that until they're actually faced with it, though. It would also depend heavily on your partner's views, I think. I hope the woman would consider the man's views on it as well even if it is her choice in the end.

I think if it was wholly for me to decide I would be as cold and logical about it as possible (I'm all too good at being that way). The biggest factor would be whether or not you're in a place in your own life that makes you capable of handling such a hard path, but since you said I'm financially and emotionally well off, (ah fantasy is nice), then I think I would want to try to do as much as possible for the child.

-OT 200th post and it was serious. O_o no more serious 'til 400 now.

[Yosei]

Depends..
1. How far into my pregnancy I am.
2. If tests are able to be done to determine the chances.
3. What the disorder is.
4. If I can afford(financially) its medical expenses.

I'm very flip flopish on this subject. I wouldn't want to bring a child into this world if its going to suffer all of its life, from medical reasons and society. I'd feel like it was my fault, because I knew it was a possibility. I would give it all the love I can, but sometimes, that isn't enough for some people in the end. The burdens brought on to them might be too much.
But then again, everyone deserves a chance at life, and who am I to deny someone a life.

My nephew was born addicted to drugs(thanks to my sis), and its ultimately lead to him having many disorders, not any of the worst, but he has a bad case of ADHD, OCD, and something else, I forgot. He requires a lot of attention, not just because of his actions, but he himself likes it, and if he doesn't get it, he will go as far as setting stuff on fire, or cutting himself to get it. Note, hes only 6 years old. Alot of kids avoid him because of his behavior. Its not a lack of discipline, its just how he is. He has to take 3 differen't pills each day, and he has to go see a psychologist once a month.

He doesn't even have it that bad when it comes to disorders, but even he suffers. I couldn't imagine how it would be if it were something even more disabling.

[Tadiakichi]

.....does this have anything to do with the baby born with 4 arms and 4 legs?

[Yosei]

I'm sure it doesn't lol.