trisomy13

[rybri]

my daughter-in-law is 20 weeks pregnant the baby has trisomy 13 how do you decide to terminate the pregnancy and what is the best way (least painful for baby)?

[Sha2004]

I don't mean to interupt your conversation. I'm really sorry to hear about that. But what exactly is trisomy? I'm new to pregnancy so I don't know too much.

[BabyNumberEleven]

Trisomy is when there are 3 copies of a particular chromosome (in this case, chromosome number 13) and there are only supposed to be 2 copies of each chromosome.

[jifnif]

i would think you cant even take advice to terminate a pregnancy.  For me it is a felt thing.  Like to terminate an unwanted pregnancy or not, you have to just know what you want and dont want.  I am sure she is getting educated on what that means and will make her decision from there w/ the help of the father and the dr.  I'm sorry, I am sure that is a hard decision.

[kris123]

I think it is up to the persons involved.  One knows in her heart what to do.  I too can not give advise on wheather to terminate a pregnancy or not.  Hope all works out.

[Sha2004]

Thank you^

[my3kidsmummy]

My sister in law was pregnant with a trisomy 18(edward syndome)baby, she found out at christmas time, they did lots of tests on her to confirm, they did an u/s to confirm since the baby's not "normally"formed.They decided to terminate the pregnancy since the baby would have passed on either immediately or hours after it's birth and they didn't feel it was fair to either the baby or themselves to have to suffer more.They induced her and she had a little girl whom they buried at the children's hospital gravesite made for this time of situations.She was absolutely devastated by this but feels she made the right decision for her and her family.Your daughter in law and husband need to do what's best for them and the baby.Good luck to them and your family.

[jen023]

After reading your post, I was curious as to what this was and I found this website. There are also a lot more out there but I wanted to share this one with you.


http://groups.msn.com/Trisomy13Support/_whatsnew.msnw

I'm so sorry that your family is going through this - I will keep you all in my prayers!!

[Emma1]

First off, I'm sorry  she is having to go through this. I lost a baby with Trisomy. I didn't have the option to terminate or not. I think it's up to her. Have they told her what odds she may have if she continues with the pregnancy? It's a very hard decision and one I would take time to think through. I hope the best for you and your family!

[girl522]

www.livingwithtrisomy13.org

[Tamara551]

I'm not sure what the effects of trisomy 13 is but my daughter has 18q- (that is where the long arm of the 18th chromasone is missing.  She was suppose to of had a 95% chance to be metally retarded, have major heart problems, major ear and eye sight problems, structual problems in the face, etc, etc, etc.  Well what the test could only tell us is that she had it but not how bad.  She accually has the lighter side of it.  She is not metally retarded but slow at learning, she does have hearing problems but her ears were developed, no eye problems yet, has two holes in her heart but not big enough for surgery yet, she has low muscle tone, and tyroid problems, and a few structural abnormalites but minor.  So what I am getting at is can they tell the severity of the trisomy 13.  Like my daughter there might be a chance that it is on the milder side of the syndrom (syndrome).  I was glad I did not terminated the pregnancy.  Every situation is different though.  They have to do what they think is right in there hearts.  They may need to get better eduacated before making the discion.  Wishing ya'll the best of luck.
Tamara

[first time mama]

I'm sorry they have to make this hard decision!

[latina_love_goddess]

do you know what a fetus looks like at 20 weeks?  Its a living baby....it has just about everything we have but just not well developed.  I'm 20 wks preg. and just last week at 19wks I found out I was having a baby boy.  He was in there kicking his little legs and moving his jaw up and down...he little bladder was full.  Its an unfortunate thing but it wasn't the baby's fault.  I had IVF so I decided no matter what I was going to have this baby and just deal with life's challenges...after all God did not grant me a baby to terminate it...if that was the case then it would have self aborted by itself.

[AnnieBrooke]

Please, before you lecture this grieving woman on "a fetus" at 20 weeks looking just like a baby (how do you know this one looks like any other?), educate yourself on the severity of what she is talking about.  I read one of the sites listed and this is an extremely severe condition, with many babies not making it even as far as birth and something like 50% of babies born with it dying very quickly, and 25% more dying within one month, and the severity of the conditions associated with it a list of horrible, painful medical trauma.  Say your piece, but please, do it from an informed and sensitive perspective.  She is having to deal with a terrible, no-win reality.  

rybri, I wish you and your family strength and understanding in the face of an intractable and unexplainable fate. All you can do is know life does go on. My prayers will be with you all.

Annie

[Harley-girl]

Well said!!!

[have 2 kids]

I can't imagine what your son and daughter in law are going thru right now.  My heart goes out to them.

[girlybuff]

How dare you.  This is supposed to be a forum for women to talk openly and freely without judgment about their pregnancy concerns.  You have no right to preach to anyone.  
Also, since this is the hardest decision a woman will ever have to make you should make sure you're informed about the facts before you sound ignorant and cruel.
At 15 weeks I got an sono that showed an abnormality that was an early marker for cystic fibrosis.  I decided before I got the amnio results that I would never bring a child into the world and allow them to endure a life full of the pain that CF brings.  I was lucky and she was fine.

For your information, here are some facts about Trisomy:
Over 90% of children with Trisomy will have a congenital heart malformation; these include: ventricular septal defect – an opening between the lower chambers of the heart which prevents the heart from pumping blood correctly (a heart murmur is generally heard from this finding); atrial septal defect – an opening between the two upper chambers of the heart making it difficult for the heart to pump sufficient oxygen rich blood to body tissues (a heart murmur is often heard); patent ductus arteriosis – a heart defect involving the lack of closure of the channel that usually closes near the time of birth. This then is a persistence of the opening of this channel. In addition, children with Trisomy usually have an alteration of one of the four heart valves. This combination is referred to as a ventricular septal defect with polyvalvular dysplasia. About 10% of children with Trisomy will have a life threatening heart defect noted before or soon after birth. These include a double outlet right ventricle and hypoplastic left heart.
The increased occurrence of infant mortality is related to a combination of factors but most importantly central apnea, where the brain does not give the message to breathe. Other complicating factors include difficulty feeding with aspiration with a predisposition to aspiration pneumonia, and under development of the lungs. The heart defects can play some role in this but are usually not the only cause of this increased mortality. Important and common birth defects seen in Trisomy:
Congenital heart defects 90%
Multiple joint contractures 10%
spina bifida
hearing loss 50%
radial aplasia (underdevelopment or missing radial bone of forearm) 5-10%
cleft lip 5-10%
birth defects of the eye 10%

I have a strong belief in God but I don't believe in a God that would cause anyone either born or unborn to suffer in their lifetime the way children with this disease do.

[Shell_]

I was so shocked at how cold hearted and ignorant some women can be. Thank you ladies for putting that straight because if you had not then I would have said something to. This is a very hard decision for someone to make and it is not one to judge. I have a brother who is mentally handicapped and retarded with tuberous schlerosis due to mutations on genes tsc1 & tsc2. He has nurses looking after him 24 hours a day and he is now 32 years old. Its a very hard decision and it no matter what you decide to do remember its what you feel is the right thing to do..... in these cases there is no wrong from right. I am so sorry that you are left with such a heartbreaking decision. Please know that I am thinking of you.

shell