what am i sopose to do my unborn baby mite have down-syndrome!!!?

Question

ok well a, 16 weeks preg and i went for a scan today and they think my unborn baby girl has downs-syndrome i have to go back in 3 weeks, my other little girl is 14 months and fit and doing my gcse's shortly so i can get into college and go and do hairdressing, but will it mean that if my baby does have downs-syndrome i wouldnt be able to go to college because when my other little girl is ill i stay home with her. Is it my fault why my unborn child has downs becuase didnt know i was preg till i was 12 to 13 weeks preg and at that time i was pissing it up in the pub my other half thinks it is my fault and i agree so what do i do quite school to be repaired just incase she has? should i sign up for college? i have nt told my mum yet am thinking of tellin her at the right time. i do no what downs-syndrome because for my work placement i went to work in a speacial needs school and i loved it they were so cute and friendly to me.

i dont really care if by unborn has downs-syndrome and not going to give it up in any way because she will still be my baby no matter what am just wondering what do i do, and yeah i already know am to young to have children dont you think my mother says it all the time

Answer 1

First of all, downs syndrome is caused by a genetic mutation on a chromosome and there is absolutely no possible way that you, your partner, or anyone else could have caused it to happen. It just does, and that's that.
Secondly, the tests are not always accurate - they will have to do alot more testing to tell you for sure, so wait for the results before you jump to conclusions.
Third, kids with downs still go to school, have jobs, have lives, etc, so unless there are severe medical complications as well your child will not need round the clock care! For the first few years especially, they will need the same level of care as any other baby. Remember - Downs is not a sickness, and most kids with downs are healthy and totally physically normal. They can go to daycare like any other kid.
Go to hair school. Don't delay. Your kids are going to need a parent that can provide for them whether they have a disability or not.

Another thing - I work with children and adults with disabilities and have for years and years, and I beg you NOT to listen to what Katie B is saying! Perhaps that is her experience with her brother, but her statements about people with disabilities are only true of some people with disabilities. All those thing she said are just as true for people without disabilities, too!

Answer 2

There is a test that can be done around this time to determin if your baby might have birth defects. A needle is inserted into your uterus and takes a sample of the amniotic fluid. There is a risk of miscarriage with this test, so it's a descion you have to make. Ask yourself, if the child has downs will it make you think about abortion? If you will have the baby no matter what, then I wouldn't have the test. If you will terminate because of a birth defect, and I'm not pushing one way or the other, then I would have the test. There are two types:
Amniocentesis
Chorionic Villus Sampling

On another note: If your 16 with one child all ready, and your fetus is determined to have downs, I would terminate. Normally, I would never consider abortion except in extreme cases. But choosing to keep a downs baby while you are so young will severly hurt your ability to take care of your healthy child. I'm not getting on your case about being a young mother, kuddos for trying. I'm a young mother myself (daughter born while 21). But, you have to think of the child you have now.

Answer 3

It's wouldn't be your fault if your baby has down syndrome. I found this information on this website:

Screening Tests

* At this time the most commonly used screening test is “The Triple Screen.” This is a combination of three tests that measure quantities of various substances in the blood. These tests are usually done between 15 and 20 weeks of gestation.
* Sonograms (ultrasounds) are usually performed in conjunction with other screenings. These can show some physical traits that are helpful in calculating the risk of Down syndrome.
* Screening tests do not accurately confirm the diagnosis of Down syndrome. In fact, false positives and false negatives frequently occur.

I have heard of false results for down syndrome, not only by sonograms but by the triple screen test as well.

Answer 4

I was told and so was my sister in law that are babies were going to have down syndrome and that they wanted to perform a test to see. Well the test is useless cause they can not do anything for the baby while it is in you. I asked the doctor my mom works for about this and he said that since the ultra sounds that they do now are so high tech they pick up things that they could never see before so that sometimes there is something there in the 16 week ultrasound that they never seen in the ultra sounds back in the day. Needless to say our babies were born healthy and no sign what so ever of that c-18 or 20 or whatever it is that they seen in the ultra sound. My sister in law was going to get an abortion cause she said she couldnt deal with it we talked her out of it and she is so happy that we did. Please research this online it is very common in this day. Good luck

Answer 5

Down's Syndrom is NOT fetal alcohol syndrome. It is a Chromosonal disease and happens to women from all walks of life, used to be thought it only happened in older mothers but that has been proven wrong. What you choose to do is your own business...I will tell you that my best friend's eldest son has Down's and before he was born she was advised by doctors and family to either abort or have him "institutionalized" at birth because he would never "amount to much". Ok so he doesn't drive a car but he did manage to graduate highschool (yeah later than "normal" kids but he did it at age 20) He lives in a "group home" with other young people with varying forms of Down's, he has two jobs, one is delivering newspapers the other is a pediatric dental office as the "check in" clerk (he is great with kids). Go ahead and sign up for classes if things get to rough you can quit and go back at a later time, when it's easier.

Answer 6

Down syndrome was in place at the moment of conception, if the child truly has downs. Downs is not your fault and just as likely came from the father's genetic makeup as from yours.

At 16 weeks, they can't tell from a scan if the child has downs.

Look, more than 10 hours a week separation from mommy is very bad for infants and toddlers. So, already you are in a position of not being able to be a really good mom to your 14 month old when you go to school. Add to this another child, disaster. Add to this a child with a serious genetic condition, and your oldest child's life is shot. Not to mention yours.

Many people are willing to adopt kids with down's, so that is something you should look into.

Answer 7

My sister has downs (she is 11 years younger than me, she is 17 now). It has been a little harder than if she had been "normal", but she has been a blessing to all those around her. As i remember, we didn't start having problems with day-to-day life until she was about 7. She went to a normal day care and started kindergarten on time and my mom kept working. After that, life got interesting. She was in a few schools and finally is now in a good one (the local public high school). Times have changed a lot since she went through that stuff though.
As for blaming someone, it is no ones fault, just a genetic anomily (spelling?) caused by neither parent. I know some people do not know that the government will also help out with special needs children (through social security) so look into that. But don't freak out. My little sis leads a normal life, and we wouldn't want her any other way. Her "handicap" has led to a lot of good things in life from us meeting new people (everyone in town seems to know and like her, not because of downs, but her personality) to bringing our family closer. If you want to know anything else, let me know.
Do not quit school, with support from your other half and other sources you will make it. If he loves you he wont blame you cause its NOT your fault.

Answer 8

So it sounds like you have decided to keep the baby no matter what, you just want advice on what kinds of plans to make.. right? Don't decide to put off school until you know for sure what the situation is. Apply for college and see if you get in. When you're accepted see what options you have for help caring for your baby. Don't make a decision until it's time to put money into it. Even if you don't go to college full time, it might be possible for you to go part time. You're still going to need to support these babies, and a college education would help get you a higher paying job. At least if you go part-time, you are still working towards that goal instead of letting it pass you by.

Answer 9

I was told after an ultrasound that my 4th child had downs syndrome.... I went to the specialist a week later and had a special scan done, everything was FINE!! When I think of how many women would have terminated that pregnancy after the first test, I shudder.....The only reason I wanted to know for sure if there might be a problem was so that I could educate myself before he was born..

Answer 10

Its not your fault,yes u were drinking which isnt a very good choice but u didnt know u were pregnant right? Did u keep getting your period or something? Anyways,they only think they are not 100% positive..either way love that child no matter what,downsyndrome children are so precious and innocent...U can still be in school if this is the case,there are social workers out there that charge parents little to nothing to work with children with disabilities...Dont worry just yet,just pray about it..I have a brother whom is autistic and i wouldnt trade him in for the world..Good luck!