Testing for Down syndrome

I was not aware until recently that not all insurance companies paid for the triple or quad screen, apparently it was just covered for those who had a greater risk of at risk babies, due to maternal age etc. My insurance had paid for it with both of my pregnancies, thought I didn't have it with my first pregnancy. Anyhow now all insurance companies have to cover the cost of this test. The current statistic is that around 92% of couples who have a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome abort their baby. It makes me sick. After my quadscreen I was told that my baby had a 1 in 201 chance of having Down syndrome. That is a half of a percent. At my age, 25 at the time, my normal chances were 1 in 1200. After a level 2 ultrasound showed no markers for Down syndrome the doctor assured us that our baby was "normal." We could have opted for an amnio but the doctor told us there was a 1 in 200 chance of a miscarriage, which of course we didn't want to chance. I was angry after Ella was born that the doctors had been wrong, and wished that I had known that she had Down syndrome. But I now know that it was definitely best for me that I didn't know. I like to think of myself as a planner, like I HAD to know with both of my kids if they were a boy or a girl so I could prepare for them. So, here is what would have happened if I had known Ella had DS, I would have been on the Internet seeking information non-stop. I would have found all of the medical problems that she could have, and how incredibly delayed she could be. I would have been a wreck. Maybe I would have been better when she was actually born, but I doubt it. I also firmly believe that had I known Ella would have been born way more premature than she was since they told me she was premature because of my stress as it was.

I try not to pass judgement on those 92% who abort their babies, instead I just feel sorry for them. Maybe they see all of the medical problems their child could have and envision their futures as the only caretakers for their child.I think the problem is that most OB doctors do not

know what it is like to actually have a child with Down syndrome. I saw the pure surprise on my OB's face when she saw how wonderful Ella is. There just needs to be more information out there and more resources available prenatally as well as once the child is born. I have given permission to Ella's therapists to give my name and number out to anybody. I have also asked my OB to give my name and number out, though I highly doubt she would, she seems to be the type who would strongly discuss your options. I think that if people who are debating whether or not to keep their baby could see a real baby with Down syndrome, and see that she is just a baby would be better informed than if they just read all the problems they could have.

My feeling is this though, if you choose to have a baby, what makes it okay for you to abort that baby because it is not what you wanted. There is no perfect baby, except the one you have. Here is an article about DS testing http://www.sltrib.com/ci_6101963

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