Comments on: Amniocentesis

By: Pam McDonald

Pam McDonald — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:57:14 +0000

HI Susanna,
I love your blog about sweet Verity. I also love Barbara and Esther! I remember when Esther was born–she was such a sweetie and still is. She helps her mom in many ways and just makes life more nice when she is around.

lots of love,
PamMcD

By: Susanna

Susanna — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:04:25 +0000

I remember Jon talking about you and your family, Barbara! Thank you for reaching out to us!

By: Barbara Coffman

Barbara Coffman — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 21:40:51 +0000

Hello, Susanna,

You don’t know me, but I know your brother Jonathan and he sent me the link to your blog. 21 years ago (nearly 22 now) I had a little girl with Down Syndrome, Esther. I was on my soapbox during the entire pregnancy saying it was a bunch of humanistic propaganda that older moms had Downs babies, but God had some lessons to teach me! We had Esther at home and I had no prior knowledge that she would be Down Syndrome so it was a shock. I was nearly 45, so you’d think that I might be a little prepared, but I wasn’t. Esther was the 8th child in our family, so she had a big support group built in. She was healthy (thank the Lord) with no heart defect or anything that required immediate medical intervention. She did begin wearing glasses at 11 months but other than that, she’s been generally healthy.

A few years ago, I read an article called Welcome to Holland. It likens your journey to a trip that you’ve planned to Italy. You read all the manuals, study the language, make your plans for what you want to see and where you want to go. Then you get on the plane and when you get off, the stewardess says, “Welcome to Holland!” You say, “Holland?? I don’t want to go to Holland! I wanted to go to Italy!” But you’re told, “Holland is beautiful, but different than Italy. You will learn a new language, meet new people, see new places, but you will enjoy it!” So it was a comfort and it is true. Your life is opened up to a whole new support group of mothers and their children who you would never feel a bond with until you are actually one of them. It is not always easy, but these children are sweet and pretty guileless–usually! Esther has a friend who is 3 years younger and who has given Esther a very normal childhood–being silly with her, taking her to Chuck E. Cheeses, etc. She recently wrote an article about Esther and calls her her best friend! I was so blessed by that.

All for now. Good to be able to share with you.
Love,
Barbara Coffman

By: greta

greta — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:03:37 +0000

It was the last sentence in your post that made me breathe “Praise God” so if it seemed out of place at the time please forgive me…I do have a friend that lost her baby due to an amnio (she was 42 and worked at a hospital so she took it on a “due to your age, this is our procedure” factor). Well, PTL, she got pregnant again 2x and opted out of the test both times…she has a 5 and 7yr. old now

By: Susanna

Susanna — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 15:06:06 +0000

Oh ladies, I’m sorry I didn’t get to this sooner. NONE of the questioners were being anything but curious. They were not being critical, they were just wondering. I thought that if they had these questions, perhaps others would, too.

As I researched this, it was heart-wrenching to realize how the majority of parents are deciding between the risk of losing a wanted perfect child to amnio versus their risk of carrying an unwanted imperfect child to term. I came across very few who were motivated by a desire to protect their baby, regardless of any imperfections.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 13:42:26 +0000

((((Susanna))))) I agree with the others, here. I’m sorry you are having to answer these questions.

We also do not do this test.

By: Rebecca~asplendidtime

Rebecca~asplendidtime — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:27:24 +0000

Me too. I am sorry you are having to answer these questions.

We don’t think the benefits are worth the risks either.

By: Shari~hotfudgecustard

Shari~hotfudgecustard — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 04:58:01 +0000

Bless your heart! It grieves me that you’re having to answer this question for people. I agree with you — Keep that little one safe! You’re doing a great job mothering her already.

Love you!

By: Tami Swaim

Tami Swaim — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:30:57 +0000

I remember when they talked to me about this screening with my last pregnancy with Moriah since I was 35. Mark and I were together. We listened to them explain all the tests. This test seemed so invasive and the risk surely does not match up with any benefit. We simply said that we are happy and fine about the ultrasound and the measurements that they take but didn’t want to do any other the other screens.

By: greta

greta — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:42:13 +0000

Praise God!