Aborting Down Syndrome Babies
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90% of all babies with Down Syndrome are aborted.
When asked the question, "would you abort a baby with down syndrome?" some people have answered with the following:
"While some people are prepared to take on babies with learning difficulties, not many are -- and I wouldn't condemn a child to a life drifting through the care system."
"In my opinion I think it is cruel to force a living being to live a life destined for pain and loneliness. We shoot horses to put them out of their misery and yet we still cant find it in our heart to relieve or prevent human suffering "
"I would AND would prefer to be myself aborted rather than live with a condition like that."
"I would not have a down sydrome child or one with a disability if I could prevent it I would. I would terminate the pregnancy and try again in the future for another one. I think it is great that we are able to screen for these defects now early and can prevent DS and other Disabilities. Like polio, ds will be a thing of the pass."
"I think that it would be the best thing to do for the child and parent in the long-run, though, it would still be very hard."
What is Down Syndrome?
Down Syndrome is a chromosomal disorder caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 21st chromosome. Usually Down syndrome comes with impaired cognitive ability and physical growth. The disorder can also include a higher risk for congenital heart defects, gastroesophageal reflux disease, ear infections, obstructive sleep apnea and thyroid dysfunctions.
Testing for Down Syndrome
Down Syndrome can be detected in the womb through genetic testing. It used to be that this testing was done on women 35 years and older. Recently, though the the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, have recommended that all pregnant women, regardless of age have their fetus tested for the extra chromosome that causes Down Syndrome.
Amniocentesis is a test performed between weeks 16 and 18 week of a woman's pregnancy. The doctor inserts a hollow needle into the woman's abdomen to remove a small amount of amniotic fluid from around the developing fetus. This fluid can be tested to check for genetic problems. Amniocentesis carries a slight risk of inducing a miscarriage.
Chorionic villus sampling is usually performed between the 10th and 12th weeks of pregnancy. The doctor removes a small piece of the placenta to check for genetic problems in the fetus. This test carries the risk of inducing a miscarriage.
Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS) is performed after the 18th week of pregnancy. Blood is taken from a vein in the umbilical cord and examined for chromosomal defects. This test carries a greater risk of miscarriage than does amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling.
Ultrasound is a test done during pregnancy which uses sound waves to generate a picture or image of the fetus. Symptoms that can be seen via ultrasound include: a decrease in femur length, an increase in the skin behind the neck, cysts in a section of the brain that produces spinal fluid, heart defects and intestinal blockages.
Blood testscan be done along with an ultrasound to measure the levels of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and a hormone known as human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). Abnormal levels of PAPP-A and HCG may indicate a problem with the baby.
References
1"Prenatal Test Puts Down Syndrome in Hard Focus", The New York Times, May 9, 2007 by Amy Harmon
2"Down Syndrome Support Groups Rise to Counter Physicians’ Poor Diagnostic Practices" CNSNews.com October 16, 2008 by Penny Starr
3"Mothers: Doctors Too Negative When Diagnosing Down Syndrome" ABCNews.com October 13, 2005
The Medical Community's Negative Spin
There are a few problems associated with testing for down syndrome. One is that the tests can be inaccurate. With the ultrasound and blood tests, one in 20 women will have a positive result - far more than those who eventually deliver a baby with a chromosomal abnormality. Most women who have a positive result from a screening test deliver healthy babies. With Amniocentesis, CVS and PUBS, the results are between 98 and 99 percent accurate.
The other problem with this testing is that when it is found that a baby could have down syndrome, doctors often portray a gloom and doom scenario to the parents. When parents are told their baby has Down syndrome, it is often put in such a negative way by medical professionals, that the final result of the process is a Down syndrome abortion. If medical professionals and health care workers had a more positive attitude to Down syndrome pregnancies, then the Down syndrome abortion rate would drop substantially.1
Dr. Brian Skotko, a pediatrician at Boston Children’s Hospital, conducted a survey of more than 1,000 women who had a Down syndrome child, 12.5 percent of which were mothers who had received a pre-natal diagnosis. Those 141 women reported “incomplete, inaccurate or offensive” information about Down syndrome at the time of diagnosis. They also said they weren’t connected to resources that could help them understand their child’s condition.2
In another survey, mothers of children with Down syndrome reported physicians were overwhelmingly negative when diagnosing fetuses and newborns with Down syndrome, often advising the mother to discontinue the pregnancy or to put the child up for adoption. The findings of the survey fueled a complicated debate over termination of fetuses diagnosed with a disability, with abortion opponents citing the survey as proof doctors can influence a woman's decision to keep her baby or not. 3
- Faith\'s Mom\'s Blog: Sarah Palin\'s Letter From God
This letter was written a couple of days before the Palins' child, Trig was born.
Fighting Back
In May 2008, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, announced the formation of the Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus. Its mission is to educate members of Congress and their staff about Down syndrome; support legislative activities that would improve Down syndrome research, education and treatment; and promote public policies that would enhance the quality of life for those with Down syndrome.
In the fall of 2008, a bill called the Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act, sponsored by Sen. Sam Brownback and the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, was signed into law by President George W. Bush.
This Act aims to promote programs to give new or expectant parents the latest information about Down syndrome or other disabilities and to give them referrals to support services. The law also authorizes the government to help create a national registry to connect birth parents with people who want to adopt a child with Down syndrome.
There are also groups being formed, such as KIDS - Keep Infants with Down Syndrome, whose objective is to challenge the misinformation that often leads a mother to abort her child diagnosed to have Down Syndrome. KIDS was founded by Eileen Haupt and Leticia Velasquez, who both have daughters with Down syndrome. As Haupt said, "The one thing that prenatal testing cannot tell you is the unspeakable joy that your child with Down syndrome will give you."
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god speed great hub
Great Hub!! We need to start looking at babies in the womb as a life...a life that God has created. If God decides to give us a "special" gift, we should except it and know that God gives "special needs children" to "special" parents.
I have a Down Syndrome nephew. He is now 26 years old and the only thing we would change about him is his health problems with his heart. Other than that, he has been a sweet and loving boy. Since he stays about the same age mentally, all of my kids have had him as a playmate at one point or another.
Ghost Whisperer - I agree it is sad that any baby is aborted. Eugenics is an evil mindset.
The kids and adults I have come across with Down Syndrome are such beautiful people. They have so much love and want to help so much. They are so nonjudgemental.
Thank you so much for your wonderful comment!
thevoice - thank you so much for your comment.
SpecialK - Life is life no matter what! Thank you for sharing about your nephew - it is sad that these kids have to sometimes contend with other health issues. But even after everything they go through they continue to be loving and kind - they are truly a gift!
Cari Jean, yes, we are for life. Many people are sick, are we going to kill them all?
Materialism and Marxism do not care. But we do.
Great hub. Thanks.
Vladimir - I've wondered that too. Many parents decide to abort their baby when they learn it has down syndrome or some other special needs but would they kill their baby if at three months old it was diagnosed with cancer or something? It just doesn't make sense. If it's murder out of the womb it should be considered murder inside the womb.
Cari,
I had not planned on doing much reading here as I am planning a hub series, but I could not resist this one. I gave a special place in my heart for DS kids and adults. thanks for writing this
CS
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this hub! I know while we're all trying to write hubs it can be hard to make time to read them as well.
This is a wonderfully written hub and you explained all the testing very well. I am pro life and I think it is wrong to assume because a child isn't perfect you just discard it. The attitude of many is ignorant as any gift from God is to be treasured. Good hub.
Impaired cognitive ability , a high risk for heart disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, ear infections, obstructive sleep apnea and thyroid dysfunctions and on and on.
With the utmost charity-but these are probably conditions many abortionists actually have.I wonder what gives their lives so much value.Of course they have power-to destroy life -and throw a God given gift of preserving life back in His face.
I've been watching this debate since it began. We never imagined it would be used as birth control! Nor did we know there would be prenatal testing for not only birth defects but the sex of the child. I know of a couple with two daughters who kept on aborting girls, hoping for a boy! As for children with Down Syndrome, I've socialized with young adults with it, and wish I could be as happy as they are!
Great article, thank you for highlighting the tragic abortion rate of our children and our work with KIDS.
I am sorry to say that the money from the Prenatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act, five million a year, will go to Down syndrome agencies Nation Down syndrome Society and National Down Syndrome Congress.
Sorry because, the month after the Act was passed, they met with Genetic Testing Groups and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynocologists, and worked out a plan of action on how to educate parents called "Towards Concurrance"(available on the KIDS Facebook page). We at KIDS are all for educating the public about the potential of our kids, however the end of "Toward Concurrance" is a section which is called 'Misconceptions'. In this section these groups deny Dr Skotko's established statistic of a 90% abortion rate. They deny that doctors push women into abortion and they deny that amnio and the other pre-natal tests are often used as 'search-and-destroy' missions to as the March of Dimes who developed amnio says 'lower birth defects'. Lowering a non-inherited birth defect by killing unborn babies who have it is nothing short of eugenics.
Please do not contribute to NDSS or NDSC until they repudiate the lie that our children are not targeted for destruction.
Pamela99 - thank you so much for your comment. It is sad that just because a baby isn't "perfect" then it doesn't deserve or have the right to live.
itakins - wow! well put how many people have their own illnesses or defects who wouldn't think twice about aborting a baby who isn't perfectly healthy. I guess you're right, they do it because they can. Thanks for this thought-provoking comment.
sheila b. - that is awful about the couple who aborted their babies because they were the wrong sex. That truly makes me sick to my stomach. I think that prenatal testing can be a good thing but of course there are those who will use it in the wrong way. Thanks for your comment.
Hey Cari! A tough yet delicate subject to address and present but you did a good job. Bravo!
I always wonder why people want to play God, is it exciting to have the final say on someone else's life? is it nice to know that you have the power to let another person live or die?
"I would AND would prefer to be myself aborted rather than live with a condition like that."
thats what you prefer but how about the child you're going abort? I think people these days are becoming too selfish, they think that just because their child has down syndrome or a defect that he/she doesn't have the right to live or that down syndrome causes pain and suffering to the one who has it, even though they have not experienced it themselves. I would just like to remind everyone that our rights end where the rights of others begin and that includes the right to live
Great hub! I work with a middle school girl who has Down Syndrome and I love her!! She is such a joy and blessing to everyone in our entire school :)
Really nice Hub Page. To be honest, when I first came to this page I thought it would be a preachy, self-righteous lecture about how those that decide to terminate pregnancy with this syndrome are awful people. That's not what this is at all. Instead, you brought in another side of the story that, at least I think, people rarely hear. Extremely well done. I think anyone, regardless of if you are "pro-life" or "pro-choice" could benefit from reading this.
Cari Jean
I have taken the liberty of sending this hub to my blogsite,it will automatically backlink to here.
Great hub.
Leticia - I was pleasantly surprised to get a comment from you. I greatly appreciate it. I'm sorry to hear the news about the money going to the Nation Down syndrome Society and National Down Syndrome Congress. It is terrible what is written in the 'Misconceptions' section and I totally agree with your statement that "Lowering a non-inherited birth defect by killing unborn babies who have it is nothing short of eugenics." It is a true tragedy that people have this kind of mindset.
Thanks again for your comment and for adding the link to this hub on your blog.
Ann Nonymous - thank you so much for your comment, it is very appreciate and encouraging!
brandyBachmann - very well-put comment. I think people like to "play God" because it makes them feel like they have power or it makes them feel like they are in control. The reality is that God is in control and I would much rather have it that way than try to control everything myself!
swosugrad09 - thanks so much for your comment. I totally commend you for working with special needs kids! It seems that most kids who have Down Syndrome have such a positive effect on people. They are so full of love and joy!
ForkArtJunkie - I truly appreciate your comment and how you honeslty felt when you first came to this page. I love that you said, "I think anyone, regardless of if you are 'pro-life' or 'pro-choice' could benefit from reading this."
itakins - wow again! Thank you so much for adding this link to your blogsite! can you give me the link to your site - I'd love to check it out!
Thanks for thinking this through and expressing it in such a objective manner.
Great hub! It is so sad to think that people could make comments like the ones at the top of the article. People like that don't deserve to have any children, what if there child has a speech impediment or hearing problems or isn't beautiful?
Thanks for the great hub. I agree with what the others have said. A family friend and our nextdoor neighbors have children with DS. I would challenge anyone to look at these beautiful kids and tell them that their life is of less worth than a "normal" person's.
HealthyHannah - thank you so much for your comment.
kj8 - Exactly! I agree with you 100%! Some babies are aborted for being the wrong sex or for having a club foot - who are we to think that every baby should be perfect? Thanks so much for your comment.
Painted Seahorse - any special needs child's life is worth just as much as anyone else's. Thanks for your great comment.
itakins - I checked out your blog - love the live feed widget you have so I decided to add it to my blog as well. Thanks again for adding my link!
That is sick that someone should abort a baby just because they have DS. Every baby has the right to live and no human has authority over the life of another. I believe that's why one of the ten commandments is "though shall not kill" just shows what a selfish inhuman world this earth has become. Great hub hun xx
I agree it's a difficult prospect, and it absolutely takes a very strong person to deal with a situation like this. As cruel as it sounds, no one ever hopes for such a challenge in life. How we deal with it when faced with it is another story. My pro-life leanings cause me to believe that ALL life is precious. And I think we've seen, in the case of Down Syndrome, plenty of examples of very happy folks in this lot...so...
Mamelody - Totally 100% agree with everything in your comment. I don't get why people can't see that abortion is killing - it is murder.
Springboard - That's the thing - no one knows they are able to handle a challenging situation unless they come face to face with it. Some people say they wouldn't be able to handle a situation like that - but it's amazing how strong we really are! I didn't think I would ever be able to handle having a child who can't walk but I am able to face it and overcome obstacles everyday. Anyway, thanks so much for your comment.
Enjoyed reading your article and all the comments. I am grandmother to a ten year old Down Syndrome girl. She is the delight of our lives. She currently is helping her daddy with a Down Syndrome Awareness Project. She helped design this and it's a tribute to all Down's Children. Please go and see what she can do-------read her story and vote for her for the next few days. Just follow the links. www.nikisride.com Please help her, her smile will win your heart!
linda lester - I appreciate you reading this hub. I often hear that Down Syndrome children are the light or the joy of our loves from their families. I think that is so wonderful! It's great your granddaughter is working on that project! I will check out the website and put in my vote for her!
Wonderful and true; you will notice that the hundreds of pro-murder advocates on hubpages have stayed away from this hub. The reason is simple; the truth shines through debate. You are truely wise...thank you.
Abortion is a big NO NO, babies are precious no matter what heppen. Before I used to tell myself that only if the mothers life is in critical danger will I probably abort the beby, I pray that this will not happen, Thank you Cari, and for bringing this to our attention, Maita
blangrehr - thank you so much for your comment. I have found it interesting that there have not been any comments from those who are pro-abortion. I did do an article on my thoughts on abortion and I got a ton of negative comments. I really think that those who believe it is ok to abort a baby w/ a disability don't dare view that opinion because it is going to make them look like a not-so-nice person.
prettydarkhorse - I appreciate your comment so much. Even when my life was in danger I didn't abort my baby but I wouldn't expect others to make that same decision for themselves. It's a tough call but for me I knew God would take care of me and I know others do not have that same faith.
To me, this is a very thought provoking Hub. My feelings run deep about it.
Its good you shared your opinions though.
Best Wishes.
Lady_E - Thanks for your comment - I'm curious about your feelings on the matter. If you would rather not share, I understand. Be Blessed!
i HAVE A 1 YEAR OLD SWEETY HONEY PIE WHO HAPPENS TO HAVE DS AND SHE IS THE JOY OF OUR ( MY HUSBAND AND HER 7 BROTHERS AND SISTERS ) LIFE! WHEN I FOUND OUT, AFTER SHE WAS BORN, THAT SHE HAD DS, A FLOOD OF JOY CAME OVER MY WHOLE BEING!
i ALSO HAVE A FRIEND WHO WOULD LOVE TO ADOPT A BABY WHO HAS DS. SHE SAID THERE IS A WAITING LIST FOR ADOPTING THESE SPECIAL PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY ARE IN SUCH HIGH ESTEEM AND DEMAND. I DON'T DOUBT IT!
ROSE - thank you for reading and for your comment. I hear it over and over again that children with DS are the joy of their family's lives. It is a shame that there are so many people willing to adopt these precious little children - if the mothers would at least give them a chance at life before aborting them, there would be a lot of happy adoptive parents!
the world view of evolution is a huge reason many people are confused about the value of ALL life and life itself. Thy miss so much. It's sad and the perverted view is DANGEROUS!
rose - that is a good point about evolution - when we are taught that we derived from monkeys it's really hard to truly value human life which comes from God.
I'm pro choice and I respect the anti choice side. If you feel in your heart that keeping your child is the best for you emotionally and spiritually then I am happy for you and wish you the best in your lives.
Though I would have a child with DS aborted, as I would get an abortion if there were any other huge negative problems with my child, I understand that the choice would offend many people. I would keep it to myself in my personal life.
Wanderer-I commend you for the respect you have for those who choose life for all humans. It's not always about feelings and mothers emotional health. Sometimes it's a hard choice for a mother to let her baby live. Isn't there a lot of choices we make in life that are HARD but the noble thing to do? It's not always about ME!
Just because US laws says something is legal doesn't make it right or just. If our laws do not coincide with Gods laws then you are still breaking God's laws even though it's "legal." I would'nt be too concerned about offending people. I'd be concerned about taking someones life because thier blood will be on your hands.
yeah i never thought about things like this until it happened to me.when i got a call that would change my life...and the decision i would have to make. being pregnant and what i didnt expect
posted by jamexican in Home & Family
Rose-
Thank you.
I don't enjoy the idea of offending people because I anticipate their negative reactions and/or actions in general against me. I can make very sound choices and there is a very good chance that some percentage of the population is going to shake a fist at me. By being a woman and working I offend some portion of the world who will tell me that their God commands different.
I do have friends who are very supportive of my decisions and others who would not be.
What it comes down to for me is what I believe is right. Just because something is legal doesn't make it right, no. (Though if something is illegal there tends to be a reason for it.)
Looking inside, weighing my feelings and considering my options are the three things I do. Fortunately, in this country, women are given a choice. That choice lays in their hearts, not in the hands of others. Many factors have to go into certain choices and while many of them may be selfish it wouldn't be right to deny a human being their free will.
I am not religious. I go by my head, my heart and what the combination of both tell me.
I do not believe in the use of abortion as a method of birth control multiple times. At some point we need to get contraceptives to these people.
I understand your point about blood being on someone's hands, but it still wouldn't be right to force a woman to give birth when she didn't want to. If she makes the choice to abort she has to deal with that herself. Take away her choice and she will find an illegal, less safe way to do it.
If someone doesn't want to give birth to a child that they cannot take care of no one can force them to go against their wishes. The idea of choice being taken away scares me because it's the first domino in a chain taking women back to being barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen, and that isn't where I see myself.
On the same token, I have a lot of respect for any family who is strong enough to take care of a special needs child. I respect their strength and their decision.
Unfortunately, abortion is just one of those subjects that will always exist no matter who makes the rules. There will always be those who oppose it and those who support it.
It's just nice to see an actual talk rather than people shrieking at each other. I've been shrieked at a lot for my opinion.
Wanderer, you are pleasant to dialogue with.
I have time to comment on one point you made.
We have laws against murder, theft, kidnapping, child porn, ect... Some people want to do these wicked acts, but in your logic ( " it wouldn't be right to deny a human being their free will " ), these prople are being legally denied to exercise their free will.
A baby, in any of its stages
of cell development, is a living being ( that is scientific ). Why is it "ok" to kill this life if it is growing inside a womans body? It's not really hers anyway ( remember, we are not allowed to own people, slavery is illegal ). She didn't create it. She just did what was necessary , with the "tools" given to a man and a woman to procreate. A baby ultimately belongs to the one who created life and that is the creator of life, God Himself. We are intrusted with a baby for a short time while on this earth, but a baby has a soul and will live forever.
catch you later. Rose
P.S. Wanderer YOU have value because you were made in the image of God and He has given you great value.
Thank you, Rose, that means a lot.
I do see your points and I can see where you're coming from.
There are indeed many laws that stand for a good reason. Rape, Child Pornography and Murder are all heinous crimes against others.
I think the main issue may be the definition of where mother and child begin. I am not religious so I do not really tap into the God creating us vein.
I more so see it as a choice of a woman.
There is value in all life, and I will not deny that. I am an animal lover and a vegetarian.
There will never be a way to justify abortion to those who are against it, just as those who are pro-choice probably will continue to be.
Arguments pro or con fall short when it comes to the other side because the arguments may be based in different realms the other is not familiar with or using as their basis for judgment. I hope it doesn't come off as an insult, because I do not mean it to, but because I am not religious I don't see it from that point of view.
I see it from a "This is my body" point of view, not "This is God's Body and His Creation" point of view.
It's all very murky in the end however, and in many ways I do agree with many of you. I spent a good portion of my youth being very pro-life until a friend of mine was raped when she was 15.
Her parents made her have the baby and it was a terrible labor for her, and traumatized her. She tore during the labor since she wasn't quite at a good age to be birthing a child, and had to be sewn up. She was never able to look at the child so they had to adopt him out. She never wanted to even think about having any other children from the shame of it. She'd begged for an abortion and was denied it.
Many would say, "Good. Her parents made the right choice for her. The baby should not be punished because the mother was raped." But should the mother be punished further for being raped? Even 12 years later she has not moved on or even dated.
Murder is wrong any way you show it.. And nothing can make abortion truly "right". But for some people it is what they choose.
And yes, denying a human being their free will can be taken many different ways. The usual logic was "if it harms none, let it be" until abortion came up. It does harm someone. It kills the child. But in the opinion of many pro-choice activists the child is a fetus within the mother and she has the ultimate call on part of her own body.
I do differ from many pro-choicers when I say this: I only condone early abortion. Very early. It may still seem atrocious to many, but I do have a boundary.
wanderer- your speech is full of deception and lies and I don't think I can say anything to change your thinking. I will be praying for you. Love you, Rose
Wanderer - it breaks my heart to hear that you would abort a baby with any significant special need. Would you consider having the baby and putting it up for adoption?
I think if you did have the abortion and kept it to yourself you would have emotional distress as a result. Even those who think having an abortion at the time was the right decision, they end of regretting it years later. I would hate for you to be in that position.
Thank you for your comment.
Rose - thank you for your response to Wanderer.
jamexican - I hope everything turns out okay for you and your situation. I will keep you in my prayers.
Thank you all for taking the time to read and reply.
It's comforting to have a conversation rather than an angry free for all.
Rose, sorry you feel that way.
No, I am pretty sure in my feelings.
But thank you for your kind words.
Cari Jean,
No, I would not have the baby.
I do really appreciate the comments back. I suppose I just wanted to offer the opposite standpoint since no one else had.
We can never really see the others' point of view, but it's nice to know that we can still talk like people.
Cari Jean
Great hub. Thanks. Bless you. Rose
Wanderer
I did not express any feelings in my last comment other than some wrapped up in the " Love you "
Cari,
Thank you for highlighting KIDS (Keep Infants with Down Syndrome) in your informative article. If mothers only knew the joy their child with DS will bring them! They would never abort. And these kids and adults with DS can accomplish so much. They soften the hearts of people whose lives they touch. We are becoming a less compassionate world as we snuff out these bright lights. Thank you for your article.
Eileen - thank you so much for your comment. Yes, I agree we are becoming less compassionate. Some people think any child with special needs are burdens but they are indeed blessings.
Cari Jean-Thank you for writing this hub!
First let me tell you, I am a nurse, and you are right, doctors are not always right ...in fact they are very often wrong. (Medicine is not a science it is an art). Like when they say abortion is painless for the baby and the mother...what a load of crap that statement is!
If God has given you a disabled child, you should thank him that you have a child at all, since many couples in America are infertile.
I think the best thing would be to talk to other parents of disabled children. Unless you live with something like this, you probably do not know what it is like.
I have so much respect for Sarah Palin! She unknowingly has helped countless other couples who are faced with having a Downs Syndrome baby. She shows off her little guy, just like any other proud mother would a normal child. And in many, many ways these children are normal!
Wonderful hub Cari...I wish I could give it more than a thumbs up!
Dear Wanderer
I think what you need to know is that your choice to have an abortion may not be as informed as you think it is!
That's what this hub is trying to get across, that doctors are only human, and they make mistakes.
And, actually...you have many choices!
You had the choice to engage in sex while using a good form of birth control, you have the choice not to engage in sex at all if you don't want to get pregnant, you have the choice to get a second opinion that a baby really does have DS, you have the choice to give your child up for adoption...and the list goes on.
The only one who does NOT have a choice is the unborn child inside of you. That baby is depending upon YOU to make the right choices for its survival and future.
Many, many women who have had an abortion regret it in the future. Once you have an abortion, your choices end.
Think about it.
Abortion is never the answer, life is. Plus, if you have an abortion your chances of getting breast cancer increase almost 100%!
Wonderful hub and magnoliazz is as insightful as ever!!
magnoliazz - thank you so much for your wonderful and insighful comments. I agree it would be good that when parents find out they are going to have a baby with a disability, they should try to find other parents that have a child with the same disability and talk to them. I think it would give them a different perspective and more understanding.
Sarah Palin totally rocks when it comes to how she handled her situation. She has helped in an amazing way to educate those who may end of having a child with down syndrome.
dreamreachout - thanks for your comment and yes, magnoliazz is very insightful.
magnoliazz,
Those are some really good choices. And depending on certain circumstances in life some of them may be an option.
I make sure to know my options in life. I do my research and make informed decisions.
Being on the pill is a definite plus when it comes to being safe about pregnancy. If and when I want to get married and have a child, which may be further down the road since I am still in the middle of getting back on my feet, I do plan on getting the test to check for DS. Mistakes are made, and I realize that, but I would prefer to know my chances.
I am not entirely sure of the accuracy rate of amniocentesis, and it is late so I will check at another time, but I would take a high risk seriously and abort.
I would never push my opinions on another woman when it came to her own decision. I respect any woman who chooses to have a child over aborting it. But I also respect choice in general. I respect that many people feel like the fetus should have a choice. I can grasp what you're saying. It delves into a whole, much uglier can of worms though wherein we dig into the whole concept of a fetus' rights trumping those of the mother.
I don't look at the spiritual aspect as much, and it doesn't seem like an ethical or moral problem to me. Abortion is a painful, traumatic procedure and often leaves women scarred and at risk for cancer later on. But if they are educated they can use that information to make their decision later on, if they consider abortion. I know the risks and I'd only get one if I deemed it necessary.
If I became pregnant right now and my child didn't test positive for DS I would adopt it out as I am not in a position to take care of a child. However, considering all of the precautions I take I have a slim chance of that.
The real problem is that the issue is religious/ethical. It's good when someone brings up some physical and scientific points. It's much better to show those to a pro-choicer because we don't often click with the religious opinions and moral quandaries.
Very good insight on this board.
There are many highly qualified families who are hoping to adopt special needs babies. If you don't feel able to parent there are alternatives! Check out: specialneedsinfantadoption.blogspot.com
Kelly - thanks so much for this site! I am going to check it out and I hope others do as well.
Thank you for the hub and all of the information.
Life is a challenge for people that must deal with having a child with DS. We should pray for them and their child.
electricsky - thanks so much for your comment. You're so right - we do need to pray for these parents along with their children. It is a challenge but it can be so rewarding as well.
Cari Jean, I somehow happen upon this absolutly awesome Hub and I am so happy that I did. Thanks for sharing this wonderful Hub that is filled with love and understanding for children with DS. I am the father of Five and the Grandfather of twelve and a PRO-LIFER. Thanks Cari Jean
cybersupe - thanks so much for your encouraging comment. Sounds like you have an amazing family and that you are very blessed!
Cari, I love your hub. I will never forget the day my Daughter in law got the final word from the test results at age 22 she was pregnant with a Down Syndrome Baby. I think it is important to Educate people better. The He-- she went through from ignorance including the Genetic Doctors way of handling them was nearly unbearable for her. The (Education)??? we got from the specialist was UNCLEAR, CONFUSING, AND MISLEADING. If my daughter in law would have put stock in anything they said she would have aborted. Thank God she had a mind of her own and decided to keep the baby. The biggest and most frustrating part was a lot of extended family members opinions about what she should do. Today 4 years later all of those people have to look at my Grandson who is the Light of everyones life and know that they tried to talk his mom into aborting. It is really hard for some of them to live with now. HE is the most awesome soul and I know he was sent as a special gift. He lights up the room the minute he walks in. It is heart wrenching to know that so many women abort children that other people want. I would rather give away something I didn't want to deal with rather than kill it. Unfortunately these women do not have enough information.
I think that all of you people who think you should terminate a human life just because the baby has DS are sick! I think unless you are not financially stable you should let the baby be born. Even if your not stable you should let the baby be born and give the baby up for adoption. It isn't fair to end a persons life when it hasn't even begun!!! They have feelings too if you would just let them be born! All of you who disagree can shove all you got up your butts cuz your wrong!
Kali - thank you for your very passionate response to this article. It is unbelievable to me that people are capable of killing any child inside the womb - unhealthy or even perfectly healthy. And you're so right - give the baby up for adoption, at least let them have a chance at life. There are so many people wanting to adopt - even children with special needs.
Thank you Cari for bringing this delicate subject to the attention of so many by writing on the web about it. I was advised to terminate a pregnancy because they suspected the baby would be born with Down Syndrome. She was born but had Edward Syndrome which was a much worse condition and while she only lived for 8 1/2 months at least she had her chance at life. I don't regret my decision for one moment even though I now struggle daily with the grief of having to say good bye.
Karen - thank you so much for sharing a part of your very touching story. It is so wonderful you had your baby despite what the doctors predicted. It takes way more courage to have the baby than to abort it. I'm so sorry to hear her life was so short and I cannot imagine losing a baby. I will be praying for you.
Why would you want to bring something into society that would not be able to contribute to anything. Other mammals let the sick and weak die and that keeps impaired useless creatures from roaming about. If I had a ds child I wouldn't think twice about aborting it. It would be for the well being of the child to do so. I think being able to function normally is one of the things I cherish most in life.
lori - So what would you do if you did have a healthy baby but then she/he had a stroke and ended up with cerebral palsy and couldn't "contribute to anything"? Would you, as other mammals would, just let her die?
Glad I came across this hub. My uncle has down syndrome and he is one of the happiest people I have ever known. He works a full 40hrs a week through Opportunities Unlimited,seperating recyclable materials. He always smiles, rarely gets upset and loves everyone without prejudices. My grandmother used to tell me People born like him have been protected by God from having the faults of normal men. She said he doesn't suffer the emotional confusions and short-coming most men do. We should all be as loving and caring and free as your Uncle. He has his problems but truly is an amazing man. Why anyone would abort, let alone for an issue such as DS is beyond my understanding. I say to anyone thinking of aborting a down syndrome baby just go and spend one day with someone who has the disorder, I honestly believe they would change their mind after seeing the love and acceptance and caring attitudes they live their lives with. Wonderful hub, Thankyou!
That's my baby in that picture up there ... :)
Jeremy - your comment is great, thank you so much for sharing about your uncle. It is a shame that some people don't understand just what a blessing any child or person with any type of disability can be.
Bethany - I'm going to take the photo of your daughter down. If I get your permission to repost it, then I will.
Go ahead :)
Thank you so much, Bethany!
After watching my mother's struggle with raising a child with severe developmental and cognitive delays, I can say without a doubt that I would abort any baby that tested positive for down's syndrome. My mother loves and embraces my brother, who is a wonderful person, but at the expense of her own life and freedom. She now has to commit her entire existence to raising him, and I hardly think that it is fair for her or anyone else in my family, and certainly not the kind of life I want for myself when I'm ready to have children.
Caitlin - as a mother of a special needs child, I can attest to the fact that it can be a challenge and there are days I do wonder if I am going to be taking care of her for the rest of my life. BUT because I am a Christian, I can look to God who gives me strength and helps me to realize the joys my daughter brings to me and everyone else around her. Despite her disability, her life has value and I am honored and blessed to be her mother.
I couldn't even finish thje rest of ur alls comments....but I will say this....I felt the same way u did. Stop judging. A parents true duty is to do wht they feel is best for that child. Renewing their life for a chance of a better life is what id want 4 my child. Do u have a ds child byw?
rebecca - I'm not trying to be judgemental, I'm simply trying to be a voice for one of the most innocent of lives that cannot speak up for her/himself - the unborn child. And I'm trying to convey the message that the medical community always points out the negatives of having a ds baby and none of the positives - of which there are many. And no, I don't have a ds baby but I know parents who do and they couldn't be more proud of their child. I do have a child with other special needs and if I would have known she wouldn't be able to sit up on her own or walk, I would have had her anyway.
i agreed wit every comment. i dnt want kids, but if i was going to have one and the doc told me it had down syndrome, id abort it. enough retards in the world if u ask me.
lexi - All I can say in response to you is I'm sorry you feel that way. Nothing I say can make your change your mind all I can do is pray that someday you have a change of heart.
Ignorance, ignorance, ignorance. These are OUR angles!
Lexi,
You ARE ignorant!
Get a life and thank you (G)god.
You ingnorant idiot!
M. Noe - thank you for your comments, although even though I totally disagree with Lexi, I don't like to resort to namecalling. Hopefully Lexi will someday have a change of heart.
You are all clinging to "Gods word"...god does not exist. The hardships every person has to face in this world however are. The fact of the matter is that down syndrome is a disability not a blessing. And actually as a species,humans are becoming more compassionate,for hundreds of thousands of years,until very recently,the weak,disabled and deformed were abandoned to die or left to rot in sanatoriums. If a woman,or indeed a couple do not want to being a disabled child in to the world then that is their choice. No amount of telling them "it's a blessing" will change their minds. We all have our own opinions,it is interesting that you pro-life types are so convinced you are right. Oh and don't bless me/pray for me either. I'm an atheist.
Amber - there is obviously nothing I can say that will change your opinion. What I do know is this - I have a daughter with cerebral palsy and she IS a true blessing. No one can possibly understand this unless they themselves experience it.
Well, Cari, you certainly do stir up a lot of opinions by not being afraid to speak out courageously. Bravo! You of all people have earned the right to speak on this issue. Taking care of a special needs child is a lot of work and like you say, only someone who has gone through it could understand.
It is very dangerous for our societies to dictate who is "worthy" of living and who is not. There are many who are less than perfect, and where do we draw the line if the line is not firmly drawn in the sand with the words, "life is precious, period."
Thank you for writing on such difficult subjects. God bless you.
prairieprincess - I always enjoying hearing from you! Yes, this is a topic close to my heart.
My heart breaks that a baby's life is ended just because he or she has a defect - whether it's a simple one or complex one the baby does not deserve to die. All life is precious.
Hey, I've really enjoyed reading the hub and comments. I myself have a Ds brother and personally would not Change a hair on his head. He is by far the most loving, kind, considerate person I've ever met. I find it awful that 90% of Ds babies are aborted, what gives us the right to to make a decision on a human life.
Hey Lexi.
That's just a moronic comment.
Rob - thank you so much for your comment. I agree with your statement about what gives us the right to make a decision on human life - esp. whether that human lives or dies. Thanks so much also for sharing about your brother and I totally agree with you on Lexi's comment. It is hard to believe some people actually think that way.
It saddens me that people (as the one who wrote in this article) think that way about children with disabilities. My son is a my joy, he's 9 mos and has DS and he is the happiest baby! Your in trouble when you focus happiness on health & appearance. You can be healthy, rich, & have lots of so called friends and be miserable & suicidal. Some people you like to call normal grow up to be unhappy & depend on drugs & alcohol & take their own lives overdosing and mixing, so should they have been killed in the womb, because you knew what they would do in the future so why let them suffer? No because your not God and you don't know what anyone future holds. Kids don't need all the material mess to be happy, we couldnt afford it, i had alot of cousins and we made up games, and i appreciate that quality time we had, that is what you remember in the long run, not all the friends you had, who says lots of friends make you happy, if you evaluate some of your friends, how many are really real? Lastly, I dislike it when people that have no personal relationship with God, tell us that do how he works through our kids and in our lives, because if they knew him, they'd know that he has a purpose for everything/person he creates and whatever he creates is good, (read Genesis). Newsflash, there will be children with DS, cerebral palsy, trisomy 18, HIV and ect. in heaven (but restored to full health according the Gods word) but since you feel they don't belong in the same space as you, I guess you won't make it in!
Melissa - I'm a little confused by your comment - I think the same as you about kids with DS and other disabilities. In fact I have a daughter with CP. I am totally pro-life and in this article I was focusing on what others think and why they think the way they do about aborting such precious babies and a lot has to do with how the medical community puts a negative spin on DS and often encourage the mother to abort - which I think is wrong. I just wanted to make this clarification.
Hi Cari,
I came to your site after googling 'why are downs babies aborted' ? I never had any opinions pro-choice or pro-life before until recently when I heard a friend had aborted a DS child a long time ago. She is one of the most caring, compassionate people I know and loves her children. To say I was shocked when I heard about the abortion is an understatement. She told me about the abortion with tears, but still thinks it is a good decision for her family. Among the many reasons she gave me was both her husband and she were scared that having a DS would not allow them to be a good parents to the rest of their children as that child would need a lot of care. Most of all they were scared about what would happen to their DS child after her and her husband were dead.
I did not want to probe too deeply as it evidently was something that upset her even after all these years, but her reasons made me google as to why people abort DS babies as I was not sure what exactly it was.
Alexis - first of all, thanks so much for your comment. As to why a person aborts a child with DS or any type of special need for that matter - there are a whole bunch of reasons that sound quite logical. In the end though, I believe it is a decision that can cause pain, suffering and depression and people who make that decision - and who are really honest with themselves - will wonder down the road if they had made the right decision.
I have a daughter with special needs - she is an only child and yes I do wonder what will happen to her after me and my husband pass away but that's where our faith in Jesus comes in and we believe she will have all that she needs in that time. Also it can be hard to balance having a special needs child and other children but more often than not, the child with special needs can teach a family about unconditional love and true acceptance.
Thank you for a great hub. Very passionate, and informative.
Michael
www.passion-4-life.org
Encouragement - thanks for your comment - I'll be sure to check out the website.
Of course, all fetuses are considered as living. but don't you think if YOU had down syndrome, were ridiculed, bullied and stared at on a regular basis, people said absolutely horribl =e things behind your back and you never got that many oppertunities because you ould be dependant on someone your whole entire lives, you would want to be brought into the world? Not saying DS babies aren't gifts just like every other child, but really
Not to mention that along with DS comes medical issues, some may even be severe
What kind of life is going through hospitals constantly, being bullied all the time and not getting every oppertunity possible for a child? In my opinion, it would suck and if I had down syndrome, and knew how my life would be, I would not want to be brought into this world.
WOW How negative the comments can be. Down Syndrome children are a gift. They are our humanity, they let us see our flaws through Love. They are not bullied or stared at.They love being who they are. From a mother of a Downs adult and a nurse in dayprogram dealing with Downs adults, you dont know what you are missing they are the best. They change your life for the better always always.We could and should learn from them. Look at any family out in public with a Down Syndrome family member do they look unhappy/ No! Thay are blessed.
Anonymous - but don't kids without disabilities get ridiculed and bullied as well? I know a girl my school who was teased horrendously just because she wore thick glasses - does this mean she does not have the right to live? Kids can be mean - it's fact and you just have to teach your child - disabled or not to help them have high self esteem regardless. My daughter has cerebral palsy - she gets stared at all the time because she is in a wheelchair but because of how she is raised she does have high self esteem and believes she can do anything she sets her mind to. I myself was born with a congenital heart condition where I was constantly in the hospital and missed lots of school due to surgeries. Any time I overexerted myself I got horrible migraines. Sure as a child none of this was very fun but I sure am glad my parents decided to have me anyway!
Susan - I couldn't have said it better myself. THANK YOU so much for your wonderful comment. If only everyone would have your attitude!
I have a brother who has down syndrome and it's absolutely nothing like the world perceives it to be. sure there can be medical complications and there are times that people stare or bully but it's that the same way it is with everyone. EVERY child deserves a chance to live! disability or not!! anyone who disagrees is just ignorant.
Hi Brittany - thanks so much for your comment. You are right - that is the way it is with EVERYONE - people are made fun of whether they have a disability or are perfectly healthy. People just need to have a heart change in realizing how amazing kids and others with special needs are.
Who are these people whp say disgusting things like i would prefer to be aborted then live a life with that condition. they are sad and ignorant people who do not appreciate or understand the joys of life. superficial, foul people. they disgust me, right down to the bone.
joe - i really appreciate your comment. I guess it is just a part of the sad culture in which we live - a culture where there is no respect for life. WE must continue to pray and believe that one day these people will have a change of heart.
We would have an abortion if we found out our child had down syndrome at 10 weeks. It was a hard decision, but people in my family have done this, and I can understand their perspective.
I have recently been told after having an ultrasound that there is a possibility that my baby may have DS. After working for many years with kids that suffer with physical and mental disabilities, I can see why parents choose to abort babies with DS. It is not an easy life for this children and their families. Other siblings, grandparents and other family members are also affected by having a child with disabilities. For anyone you negatively comments either way about the decision parents make and have not been put in this position, maybe you should keep your comments to your self. You might just find yourself in the same position one day and having someone judge your for the decision either way doesn't help. It is the choice of the parents and no one else.
Peter - So just because other people in your family have made the decision to abort their baby just because he/she had Down Syndrome, that makes it ok for you to make the same decision? Why don't you be the strong one - have the baby anyway and just see what your other family members missed out on?
Anonymous - I appreciate your comment but to me it seems that in this day and age even having a perfectly healthy child can be a challenge.
Anonymous - I appreciate your comment but to me it seems that in this day and age even having a perfectly healthy child can be a challenge.
Disabilites vary from child to child, just as a person's ability to raise a child with a disability varies. Choices should be personal. Expectant mothers should obtain all the facts before making a decision. I know with Down Syndrome pregnancies most of the time the facts are one sided the whole story is not told. I am in the process of telling that story in a manuscript both from a Mothers point of view and from a nurses perspective. It is a story of pain,love loss and of thankfulness for sharing a life well lived.I think it is a story that needs to be told.
Susan - thank you so much for your comment. Your manuscript sounds very interesting. I do agree that expectant mothers should get all the facts and do not just listen to the negative regarding having a baby with DS.
Doctors advised my friend and her husband to abort their baby due to a birth defect. They decided against it, and their baby is a medical doctor today and is in perfect health.
If a person with a birth defect should be aborted, I wonder why Jesus did not feel that way? He healed many people with mental and physical disabilities. These people are valuable to Him, yet many think that they have the right to ban God's creation from life. Not so.
Levertis - thank you so much for your comment. I totally agree with everything you have to say. God can heal a baby in utero and outside the womb as well. Many people consider those with disabilities to be among "the least of these" and Jesus desires the world to love such people just as much as He does.
You people are SO saccaharine. "Unspeakable joy"? you're not talking of every parent's experience. I have worked with down-kids and even befriended one in my teens. (She almost choked my friend to death for disagreeing with her.)
My experiences have comfirmed I will abort if I know I will have one. And give away if I will give birth to one for the sake of other kids and my hubby.
Johannavann - thank you for your comment. I understand that there are some parents and other caretakers who struggle with their disabled or mentally handicapped child. It can certainly be challenging. However, many things in life are challenging and with the right attitude, these challenges will only make us stronger. We have to learn to embrace difficulties rather than just escape from them or in this case, abort them.
A big problem with that attitide. Yes its ur choice BUT if i would have listed I would of aborted my 10 lb son because the dr said it could have dows. I didnt listen to anyone and made a decision to keep MY BABY. They were wrong. He was a bigboy and he is still hugh
Point is they think they are always right on this but THEY CAN BE WRONG so always do what u want and block out those people who want what they want. Also get several opinions. Some people they mess it up and THINK theres something wrong buthere isnt
Brenda - thank you so much for sharing part of your story. You are absolutely right - mistakes can be made. I'm so glad you made the decision that you did!
7 billion people on the planet....
I feel it is important to address the issue. I found out I had a 1 of 24 percent chance of having a child with Down syndrome while I was pregnant. I chose that it did not make one bit of difference to me. And I am in the special education field, so I was well aware of children with disabilities. My daughter was born and the diagnosis was confirmed. As I learned about the differences she will have I was so very suprised about how barbaric the doctors and nurses outdated information and opinions were. Please do not just take the advice or information the doctors give you. My daughter does and will have differences but it is amazing how much like my older 2 daughters she really is. My daughter really brings so much love and life into my home. I worry about her just as much as I worried about my other two. A lot of the data is so outdated due to early intervention and the new idea that if we educate any child they will learn, Remember long ago children with ds were not educated just sent off to institutions.. There is no test for blind or deaf or autism - would all of those children be aborted as well. What a boring world we would live in then. A perfectly healthy child could have a terrible accident and have a life of therapy would we change our mind about our child then? The point is in our country we do have choices but please remember to do all of your homework before making one of the biggest decision of your life.
Being a mother of a child with downs I can not believe the harsh statements from people saying they would abort. Children with downs are truly a gift from God. My child is not being pushed through the system she is well educated and smart because her family believes in her. I actually feel sorry for the closed minded people who don't understand these children. My daughter doesn't have a disability she has an ability, to not pass judgment on physical characteristics, to love like no other, and to see the world for the simple things we often look over. She is my angel and my blessing. It hurts my heart to see how many downs babies are aborted because people are misinformed and live in what they consider their "perfect world"
Let em go - all I can say about your comment is that I pray God changes your heart.
Christine - thank you so much for your comment. It is very disheartening that some medical providers put such a negative spin on certain disabilities and that their information can be so outdated. I agree with you - what if there could be tests done in utero for deafness, blindness, autism or other disabilities - I'm sure some mothers would choose to abort those babies too.
Proud Mother of Downs baby - thank you so much for sharing about your daughter - I think it would be a much better world if everyone could see the joy and happiness that can come from a child w/ downs syndrome or any other type of special needs. Blessings to you!
It's sad to think that if my mother,who had Downs,had aborted...then I wouldn't be here today.
Nancy - thank you so very much for your very powerful comment.
Where are you getting the "90%" figure from, I have been trying to find it and I am not having much success but I would like to know the source
slovadan - here is a link with that information. There are many other articles on the internet that is concurrent with the 90% figure. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/09/us/09down.html?p
I was just given a 1:20 chance that the baby I'm carrying has Down Syndrome. I am 32, married and have two kids ages 5 and 6. The doctors came to this conclusion after a nuchal translucency screening which showed a 3.8mm nuchal measurement and no other obvious abnormalities. I am scheduled for an amnio in 1 week. I have to say, we have been steered towards abortion from the medical community. Well, they've told us over and over that lots of women do this and that it's ok if that's the choice we make. I am not Pro-Life per say. I'm not real religious. I'm scared and nervous and I cannot fathom being the person to end the life of this baby. However, I wonder how we can parent a child with special needs? How do we pay for a child with special needs? We are middle class and have awful insurance. We don't qualify for heath assistance but I doubt we can foot the bill for all the things that might come our way with a baby that may need surgeries, therapy and so on. We feel like we've been given lots of resources on how not to go through with this pregnancy but not on how to live with a prenatal diagnosis of Downs. We live in Minnesota, so if anyone has any advice (given that we get a Downs diagnosis next week) or resources or anyone we can contact, it would be appreciated.
u can abort yourself and not have to worry about any babies suffering with down syndrome to, don't pretend like u care the only person really given the chance or choice to suffer here is you.
NP - I apologize for the delay in responding to your comment. IT is so sad that the medical community does not offer more support. I am so sorry for what you are going through. By now your probably have found out if the baby has Down Syndrome or not. It is expensive to raise a child w/ special needs, as I can attest to but I also believe that if you make the decision for life, God will honor that decision and will help you in your journey.
anony - I must admit I am a little confused by your comment. I don't think we really do have the choice to abort yourself. I think one can cause others to suffer but it is up to us to determine how we are going to handle that suffering - are we going to forgive or be bitter?
The question isn't whether to abort or not. The question is do you want to have a healthy child or child with the down syndrome (DS)?
I'm PRO-LIFE so I chose to give life to healthy child over disabled child. Keeping DS child will take the place of one or more healthy children you could have otherwise. So chose life instead of dead end.
I also agree with religious people in the sense of god's love, he made sure they can't reproduce themselves which pretty much speaks volumes for itself.
I am Pro Choice!!!
Joshua - What if the question was - do you want to have a healthy child or do you want to have a child that will be diagnosed with autism at age 3? Then what? Do people like you, who call yourselves "Pro-life" decide not to have a child at all in case the child is one day diagnosed with some special need or a disease? Your argument that says you are pro-life because you desire a healthy child is a dead end.
CJ - your input has been noted.
Wow, you really don't have a better argument than that? Your comment about "PRO-life" people is as ridiculous as asking whether you should breath air if there a chance of getting lung cancer.
Are you seriously comparing possibilities with facts?
If the fetus skin cells are diagnosed (amniocentesis) with extra chromosome it is not a possibility of DS it is a fact that once born child will have DS.
There is a reason you've been given an option of choice.
Termination doesn't have to be the end, it can be the begging of something better (than life with DS).
Good article with useful information. Can defiantly help a woman learn a few simple options to discuss with her doctor. Personally I am pro choice, and could careless if you are or not. I couldn't bring myself to have a baby with DS and don't ever plan to.
I have always thought of myself as a pro choice girl. If you are pregnant and do not want to be a parent of any child I thought abortion would be best.
I have a four year old son and I am four months pregnant with my second. We were told the chance of DS are high and flags were made on ultra sound.
We have no plans on doing the amnio because simply it doesn't matter a bit! the thought of turning my back on my helpless baby because of it being different I cant even imagine it!
I love my four year old more then life I can't imagine loving him less if he's not perfect.
Who are we kidding none of us are! This baby is the baby I wanted nothing will stop me from mothering this little girl she is already perfect she's mine.
I guess it really bothers me that someone would decide to have a baby and become a PARENT and then give up on life's first hurdle. The people who abort just because of a little thing like ds should not be the parent of any child. Don't they know there's no garintee that the "normal" baby they bring home will always act perfect or never become disabled. I thought a parents love was unconditional. Not I will love my baby and he can only continue to live and grow if he meets my standards. What cruel people I will have to protect my baby girl from regardless if she has ds or not. My son will grow up knowing how to treat people in this world with love regardless of if they look the same as everyone else
Oh my goodness, Jess. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Your comment! You are so right that when one decides to become a parent they should not abort the baby due to some disability. No one knows what the future of the baby is, at 3 he or she could be diagnosed w/ autism or leukemia or something - what then? Does the parent then give up on the child?? A parent's love truly is unconditional and that unconditional love begins when the baby is the womb so to get rid of the baby just because of a diagnosis while still in the womb is something that I cannot comprehend. Thanks so much for sharing and I truly wish you the best with your son and that sweet little girl growing inside your womb!
Thank you for your response and thank you Cari for taking your time to defend the innocent. Your time and energy has not gone unnoticed you have many fans. I'm one of them.
I guess I'll be the Devil's advocate and say I would definitely abort. And that doesn't mean I would kill my child if they were diagnosed with cancer at three months. That is just stupid to say.
I don't know how most people are but when I was pregnant I did not feel like it was a baby growing in me at all, but when I held him he became a person.
I also wouldn't want to be a parent forever. I realize that may sound selfish but I wouldn't want to be the parent of an 8-10 year old my whole life and I think that is what many people think of when they find out about the diagnosis.
Furthermore if I suddenly hit my head and became mentally disabled I would definitely want someone to kill me. Can you imagine being a burden to everyone around you for your entire life and giving literally nothing to society?
In conclusion I would abort without ANY guilt.
Ghost Whisper 77 2 years ago
Ohhhhhhh what a great hub! Sad to hear people aborting any baby! I am PROLIFE-PRO GOD no matter who in this world deems worthy or not worthy to live! It is just another case of eugenics!
Down syndrome babies are so lovable and adorable and sweet and I could never imagine any one saying the things they have in your hubs. Often medical science and their tests are WRONG and innacurate. Can you imagine the thoughts of those who not only aborted but found out that their was nothing genetically wrong with their baby? (I can bet that those who removed the baby wouldn't even tell them their ooopsies but that it happens more often than one knows!)
Oh I just love these little ones that I have met and they are gentle and so sweet. God loves them so much! I do also! I would never abort, especially a baby with downs syndrome. I would just love that baby the best I could! Great hub!!!
That picture of that cute little girl with pigtails is just so adorable!!!!