If someone finds out their baby has a fatal birth defect and will either die sometime during the pregnancy or at the time of birth, do you think it's wrong or the person to have an abortion or be induced prematurely into labor, or should they wait until their baby dies naturally. Remember, there's no chance for life outside of the womb AT ALL.
2006-09-18 08:08:50 · 18 answers · asked by Emily O 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Other - Pregnancy & Parenting
For those of you that don't know, there are birth defects in which there is no chance for life. One is called Anencephaly, and it is where the brain never forms at all, and the spinal cord ends at the base of the neck. For the man who said I was cruel for asking this, I have had a baby with this defect, and I had to face this decision (though I don't plan on sharing what I chose to do, as I want unbiased answers to this question). So stop judging, you ***.
2006-09-18 08:28:39 · update #1
Thank you, Mina, for the best kind of response - an informed, knowledgable one! I hate to be the one to break it to others that these things do occurr, but this is one of those many cases where ignorance or naievity can be alot crueler than knowing the truth.
2006-09-18 08:38:06 · update #2
omg have you people never heard of anencephaly? babies with NO brain other than the stem? I had a friend who had a child like that. of course there are instances where they KNOW for sure that life is not sustainable or possible. like not having a brain for one. I certainly would never fault a mother for not wanting to carry on a pregnancy such as that. In my friends case she did, but she was also carrying twins and the other one was healthy.
2006-09-18 08:22:51 · answer #1 · answered by Mina222 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I would prefer to let it die naturally, I would rather know for sure this is how it was meant to be if you abort a part of you will always wonder could they have made it? Obviously this is not the case with the disease you discribed but if they will die anyway why rush it enjoy the little time you have been given to know that precious life and let it go naturally. Im sure a baby with no brain can not feel pain so what is the harm in giving birth at least you will know you did what your body was made to do and you can move on knowing it was not your call. Sorry for your loss but I firmly believe everything happens for a reason.
2006-09-18 10:23:58 · answer #2 · answered by dreamgirl4myboy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Clearly you are trying to bait pro-lifers which is fine and fairly easy. But both sides of the argument have their faults and both sides have been molded by politicians to divide people on an issue which most find less compelling than taxes, education, or foregin policy. For instance, how can you be pro-life, except in the case of rape or incest? Is that not also a life, no matter how unfortunately conceived? Biologically, we know that life begins at conception-how can a pro-choice advocate claim otherwise? And pro-choice people eagerly wave the banner of Roe v. Wade, most without any idea as to how poorly the decision was crafted in court. The choice of whether to abort is one's own, as it should be in light of abortion's legality. The Federal Government certainly shouldn't be involved. If anything, it is a state's issue to resolve. But consider this: if a pregnant woman is murdered, no matter how ill her baby may be, the muderer is charged twice.
2006-09-18 10:18:09 · answer #3 · answered by Hanan w 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would give the baby a chance at life--no matter how short-lived or painful it might be.
Medicine is NOT an exact science. What if the doctors were actually wrong? (Yes, doctors have been known to be wrong before...) I'd spend the rest of my life wondering "what if?".
Case in point: After a team of experts examined me and did several tests, they told me that I had a viable pregnancy in my uterus, but also a twin that hadn't made it to my uterus, and had become ectopic. My ectopic pregnancy would have killed me if left untreated, yadda yadda. I opted NOT to have the surgery and risk losing the viable pregnancy which was in my uterus, and lo and behold--it was a f*cking corpus luteum cyst (VERY common during early pregnancy) that eventually ruptured (painless) and was reabsorbed back into my body. This was a group of specialists and a surgeon at a large, well-known hospital with an excellent reputation for pre- and post-natal care, located in a major US city.
2006-09-18 09:56:36 · answer #4 · answered by brevejunkie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This depends on how far into the pregnancy. If I didn't find out until late I think I'd wait and be able to have a funeral. Even a defective baby is still a baby. I guess if you could find out very early being induced for a miscarriage is an option.
2006-09-18 08:33:19 · answer #5 · answered by emily 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think that comes down to the individual. I, as my own person, do not have a strong enough faith to wait and see if a miracle will happen and the baby will be alright. God, just doesn' t give me those kind of chances. I would abort. Why prolong the mental torment in this situation?
Anyway...
Good Luck and Take Care
2006-09-18 08:22:18 · answer #6 · answered by brandy10006 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In the type of situation. Yes! after at least two other doctors confirm and concur of the original diagnosis And both partners must make that decision for their selves.
My wife and I are living with guilt that we had agreed to kill a little sole. As we were not married and being born out of wedlock. back then we feared ridicule and were selfish. we often wonder what the child would have looked like, as well as giving that sole a good chance at life, and a good home with 2 other siblings. We now hang our heads with terrible guilt such as that. You and I have the right to free choice. It is my hopes that you can at least understand that the lack of foresight in living with the guilt of assisting in the murder of a most precious gift. the gift of Life!
Best Wishes to your future.
2006-09-18 08:47:00 · answer #7 · answered by BONES 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is absolutely wrong. I know many women who've been told their baby would have all kinds of defects and the doctors tried to get them to abort. Those babies where perfect. I was even told my baby would have down syndrome and she didn't. My doctor told me he hates doing those tests because they are not always accurate. I wouldn't care what was wrong with my child. There is always a chance the baby could live. Even if the child dies, it's not our place to decide when. Let God decide what child to take to Heaven.
2006-09-18 08:27:39 · answer #8 · answered by M.P.H. 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
IF it is 100% chance that the child will die regardless and prolonging the pregnancy will also endanger the mother's life, POSSIBLY yes. One of my objections to abortion procedures is not only does it take a childs life but it is also one of the cruelest and most inhumane ways of taking a human's life. That is the problem I have to this question.
2006-09-18 08:21:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a spirit of cruelty to your question that bespeaks a lack of empathy, maturity and class.
I believe a woman has the right to choose for her physical and emotional safety.
But there are thousands of parents who would pray for jsut a few addtional precious days of life for the baby, born or unborn.
There is dignity in the struggle for life, it can not be valued by how long it lasts or whether it measures up to your idea of convenience.
2006-09-18 08:20:59 · answer #10 · answered by aka DarthDad 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋