If you discovered your unborn baby would have Down syndrome

[Xionide]

ABORT!!!!!!

 

[Yeeny]

Originally posted by: dderidex

Originally posted by: Yeeny
No, simply because I have handicapped people in my family, including my brothers, and i know how wonderful they can be. They are a gift, not a burden. And I also plan on taking them in, when my mother passes. Taking care of family doesn't mean giving up your life, it just means making some adjustments. Also, my cousin was pregnant, and they told her to abort, that the baby would have DS, webbed feet, water on the brain, etc. The child was born, and she is now 10 years old and perfectly normal. So they never know for sure.

That's not entirely true.

*Sometimes* they CAN know for sure. At least, nowadays. Granted, 10 years ago it was much more hit or miss. But genetic testing now can provide near certainty (as in 99.9%) of some conditions. And if you don't like the results, test again! 99.9% done twice is as close to absolutely, completely, guaranteed as is possible.

Further, no offense, but....

They are a gift, not a burden

Gift to who? Our gene pool? How is increasing the odds of genetically defective DNA to be able to reproduce 'a gift'?

My brother is autistic, and mentally retarded. And yes, while there were times he was harder to deal with than normal children, he also has been a huge gift to me and my family. He will forever be a five year old in an adults body, but he is one of the sweetest human beings to ever walk the earth. He is never mean or cruel to anyone, and he is always loving. If they had the technology 36 years ago that they have now, they would have told my mother to abort him, and that would have been a great loss for my family. Having him in my life has taught me patience, and understanding, and how to just be a better human being. I guess its just something you cannot understand until you can see it for yourself.

Different does not always mean defective.

 

[Defc0n6]

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
I would abort. But, that's easier to say when not actually facing the situation.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: MrDingleDangle
Im pretty sure there is no way they can be 100% sure that it would have down syndrome

Downs Syndrome comes from having an extra chromosome you're not supposed to have. So yes, they can be 100% sure.

 

[CFster]

No.

We're so sure to the point that we didn't have an Amnio done. That in itself can cause birth defects. I mean, what's the point - we would have kept the baby anyway. We would consider it a gift.

Now, maybe this has to do with the fact my wife worked with special needs children and knows what to expect. If that hadn't been the case I'm not sure what my answer would be. But I do know this - people rise to the occasion. Sure it's difficult, but you do what you have to.

 

[StageLeft]

Gift to who? Our gene pool? How is increasing the odds of genetically defective DNA to be able to reproduce 'a gift'?

I think that yeeny's post should answer that one for you.

Making a bad analogy, my cats are thoroughly useless animals. They're fixed and they just lie around the house all day sleeping and eating, but they are little gifts to us as well.

 

[SilverTorch]

If it was a planned thing, I would lets her make the choice, I would fully support her in anything that she would do (since she will be carrying it for a better part of a year).

 

[kranky]

Well said, Yeeny.

My niece and her husband, who don't have children of their own, adopted a one-year-old Down's child who was unwanted by her natural parents (I shouldn't say this, but they were California high-society people and they were embarrassed by her and also unwilling to change their lifestyle to accommodate her needs).

After two years, they adopted another Down's child.

All I can say is it's a mistake to see such a child as a burden. They voluntarily took one in, and then took in another one. Clearly it's not a burden to them at all. I had not known anyone with Down's before that, and they are a delight.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: eigen
Abort. No questions asked.

^

 

[slurmsmackenzie]

Originally posted by: MrDingleDangle
Im pretty sure there is no way they can be 100% sure that it would have down syndrome

they most certainly can. i think that's a huge no. i would love and cherish my children no matter how they were born. no question. the thought actually sickens me.

 

[slurmsmackenzie]

Originally posted by: halik
yup,

personally I wouldn't wanna go thru life with down syndrome.

i wouldn't wanna go through life a moron, but i'm not gonna stop you from doing it, though. l....<sigh> too much. enough with this thread

 

[SuperTool]

Kids are prescious, err expensive. Why would you want to pay more to raise a defective one?

 

[PCboy]

Originally posted by: Quixfire
No