What to do if amnio shows DS baby?

LegacyUser

Hi,

I am only newly pregnant but am wondering because we live in Ireland - what happens if you have an amnio and it shows that you have a baby with Downs or another more serious chromosonal anomoly and you decide to have a termination? I assume it is at around 16 weeks I have heard the amnio is done? Is it treated like any other termination meaning that you have to go to England or is there anything they can do here in Ireland?

Thank you

Moonbeam

Amnios are not routinely done here normally so you would need to ask for one, and yes you would have to go to England.
I am not 100% sure if they are routinely done for older people as they would be in a higher risk category.

http://www2.vhi.ie/topic/amniocentesis

mumof2maybe3

They are not done here, im 38 and was not offered one this time or last time. If they did and found baby was ds they have nothing to offer you, like england, you would be given option of termination.

CathyMoran

You can have an amnio here if you are high risk (such as myself - diabetic, over 35 and cancer survivor) but you have to ask for it and really bug them to get it done even then...they will not do a termination, you have to go to the UK for that...best wishes.

silja

You can get one done, but you must ask for it, and as early as possible. A friend of mine had one done; she had no risk factors but wanted it done as she is from the USA, where the test is routine. She had it done at about 12 weeks.

LegacyUser

Thanks everyone - I found out the Rotunda definitely do amnios with no problems at all. I am going there at 11 weeks to do a first trimester screening to see what my risk level is and then I'll decide from there about an amnio. Apparently as the Rotunda is Protestant, not Catholic they are much more open there to all of this.

Thanks!

sachamama

I don't know where everyone is getting there information from. I'm over 35 and I was offered one in the Coombe as part of their procedure for women over 35.
I wouldn't do it because it increases the risk to the baby. But for those women who do, I'm not really sure what the available options afterwards would be.

mumof2maybe3

Im getting the information from me!!!! Im nearly 38 and 28 weeks pregnant and was not offer one.

Kashkai

My wife is over 40 and at our first visit to Holles Street yesterday (our 5th child), the doctor was very up front and open about the options available to test for DS. Apart from amnio, there is a blood test that can be done prior to 18 weeks that is about 70% effective in identifying DS and doesn't carry the miscarriage risk that an amnio does (although its not as effective at identifying DS as the amnio). He said that if we felt that we wanted to check for DS, then we should just attend the hospital in the next 2 weeks and have the test done there and then.

The big but is............. what would we do if the result was positive for DS? I'm not remotely religious but to me, that growing bump inside my wife is my child and I could never have it aborted (I would say killed but that might offend others). My wife's views are somewhat different in that she doesn't think its right to bring a severely disadvantaged child into the world, especially if they will spend their life in pain/have a short life span. However, we have decided not to have the test done in any case and to hope for the best, like all parents do.

lalalulu

Prosperous Dave wrote: »

My wife is over 40 and at our first visit to Holles Street yesterday (our 5th child), the doctor was very up front and open about the options available to test for DS. Apart from amnio, there is a blood test that can be done prior to 18 weeks that is about 70% effective in identifying DS and doesn't carry the miscarriage risk that an amnio does (although its not as effective at identifying DS as the amnio). He said that if we felt that we wanted to check for DS, then we should just attend the hospital in the next 2 weeks and have the test done there and then.

The big but is............. what would we do if the result was positive for DS? I'm not remotely religious but to me, that growing bump inside my wife is my child and I could never have it aborted (I would say killed but that might offend others). My wife's views are somewhat different in that she doesn't think its right to bring a severely disadvantaged child into the world, especially if they will spend their life in pain/have a short life span. However, we have decided not to have the test done in any case and to hope for the best, like all parents do.

I suppose that's all you can do. I'm not sure if i would have the test as i would be afraid i would make the wrong decision so probably best to leave it up to faith.
My sister had a baby girl four months ago she was born with ds and she is the most beautiful little girl. She's laughing, gooing, trying to lift herself up. All the things other four month old baby's do. She doesn't have any major health problem's the hole in her heart will close by itself so no surgery needed. My sister was told to treat her daughter like she treats her other two children to allow her to play like the other kids and to involve her in everything. I know his might seem the obvious thing to do but i have known others who wrap their child with ds up in cotton wool which in turn holds them back. DS dosen't mean a child can't have a some what normal life (whatever normal is)