Off topic: for any woman who has given birth

[cookderosa]

I was afraid something would be wrong with my son. I was told by my ob/gyn my labs were off. I had an 80% chance of having a son with down syndrome. I was told to abort.

But i didn't.

I know it sounds awful...

I didn't want my son to have down's syndrome....(of course I'd love him still) but I did want him to be normal.

Anyways, that's what I was afraid of before labor. I wanted a normal baby. Not one that had down's.(no one crucify me for saying that,ok? I am just being honest.) I was afraid he wouldn't be normal.

He's 4 now. Learned to read at age 3 on his own. Alot of people say their kids are smart....but ...my son is off the charts. I really don't know how it happened. To go from possibly having down's syndrome to reading books with no pictures...lol

Glad I didn't abort due to erroneous medical advice.

I'm glad too April! Thanks for sharing and being honest. Do me a favor, tell EVERYONE your story. You WILL save lives.
I read a book about 10 years ago that was about 35 stories of women who were told to abort and didn't, and how it turned out. Profound.

[april004]

I'm glad too April! Thanks for sharing and being honest. Do me a favor, tell EVERYONE your story. You WILL save lives.
I read a book about 10 years ago that was about 35 stories of women who were told to abort and didn't, and how it turned out. Profound.

The doctor also recommended an anmnio to find out if baby did indeed have down's. But even with an amnio there is a 25% chance(at least that's what doctor said) that I could miscarry after the procedure. I was already @ 16 -19weeks at that time. All I could think of was...what if I did the procedure...found out the baby was normal and then I miscarried?

Or what if my baby had down's? I already knew I wouldn't abort.

And of course I struggled with the fact I was a married woman with a good job(ok a job I detested at the time but still a good job) and my husband had a good job.

Why in the world would we abort?

I am so glad I didn't.

My son right now is telling me the difference between F1 and F5 tornadoes. People think I have him memorize these facts about "tornadic activity" (his words! And he's 4!) But I don't.

I feel guilty half the time. I cook dinner and sit him in front of the tv..(although often than not, it will switch from the cartoon network to the weather channel...yes, my son watches the weather channel for FUN!)

He knows my bf works at U of C and wants to meet Dr. Fujita(anyone who is into tornadoes knows about him). I don't have the heart to tell him Dr. Fujita has been dead for quite some time!

[Blessedx5]

1st child - afraid of pain (ended up with C-section & mean/yelling doctor)
2nd child - afraid of another C-section; new Dr not scary :-)
3rd child - no real fears
4th & 5th twins - I was 38 years old and I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to take my twins home right away, I had a 2 yr old at home and wanted ALL my babies together! They were fine and I took them both home on day 3.

Laura

[nicugirl]

Labor #1: the absolute unknown...little communication and explanation about problems occurring in the pregnancy.

Labor #2: didn't know what to expect as I was going VBAC having had an emergency C/S with first labor. No specific fear

Labor #3: fear of the pain without pain management. Second labor was successful but long and difficult VBAC but no anesthesia due to standard of care regarding it 24 years ago.

Overall I would say lack of knowledge and communication.

[ShotoJuku]

Why in the world would we abort?

I am so glad I didn't.

Infanticide :reddevil:
[B]Thank you for not choosing that route! :iagree:[/B]

[Maniac Craniac]

Why in the world would we abort?

The day I understand that is the day I wish I was never born. Three cheers for LIFE!! :hurray: :hurray: :hurray:

[cookderosa]

I really appreciate everyone's contributions to this thread

[bethanynash]

This might sound flippant, but I can't really remember being afraid of anything in particular when our son was born. We had a planned homebirth with a midwife, and I knew it might be painful, but I wasn't afraid of pain (incidentally, I think that attitude REALLY helped with pain management).

I'm due again at the end of Sept/beginning of Oct and again, not really "afraid" of anything. I'm a little apprehensive about tearing, but the human body's capacity for healing is amazing, so not really that worried about it. Birth is a natural process, and I'm just looking forward to meeting this new little person.

[cookderosa]

This might sound flippant, but I can't really remember being afraid of anything in particular when our son was born. We had a planned homebirth with a midwife, and I knew it might be painful, but I wasn't afraid of pain (incidentally, I think that attitude REALLY helped with pain management).

I'm due again at the end of Sept/beginning of Oct and again, not really "afraid" of anything. I'm a little apprehensive about tearing, but the human body's capacity for healing is amazing, so not really that worried about it. Birth is a natural process, and I'm just looking forward to meeting this new little person.

>>

Wow! Good luck to you, I'm sure your midwife will do an excellent job protecting your perineum. I've had 2 homebirths too, and enjoyed them very much. Thanks for sharing

[green]

LOL! This is funny...
BUT- my biggest fear was that the baby wouldn't fit through that tiny hole! I ended up pushing out a 8-1/2 pounder! What a miracle!! She was beautiful!