questions about cystic fibrosis?

Question

I am 17 weeks pregnant and found out that i am a carrier for cystic fibrosis and i was wondering if anyone could tell me a little about wany that it is? i have an appoinment to meet with the doctor monday to discuss everything but i am curious now....anything u can tell me would help....does this harm my baby??

Answer 1

I babysit for a little girl with cystic fibrosis. Your baby will only get it if your partner is also a carrier, and then it is only 50% chance of a carrier child, 25% normal, and 25% disease. This is because it is recessive ( you have to have a copy from each parent to get the disease)

Basically, one of the genes that codes for a protein is mutated, and will not produce a usable protein that keeps mucus in control. Mucus builds up in the lungs and digestive tract causing coughing and difficulty getting nutrients from food. The immune system is also weak; CF kids get sick a lot, and that wears them down and the disease gets worse. CF kids are smaller than average due to the difficuty of getting nutrients.

Treatments usually involve a protein pill taken with each meal to aid digestion and nutrient absorbtion and a vibrating vest treatment once or twice a day to loosen mucus in the chest. Life expectancy depends on the severity of symptoms and how often the child gets sick. Treatments are improving, and the life expectancy is around 30 or 35 years now.

Keeping your child healthy so they live a good life will be a lot of work, but will be well worth it. The little girl I babysit for is one of the most intelligent, caring and unselfish little girls I have ever met; she is one of my inspirations to work in microbiology and genetics. I myself, want to be as patient understanding of others as she is.

I wouldn't worry too much yet. Wait until you talk to the doctor. It is a quarter chance, but that's a much better chance than 100! and It will only be a chance if you and your partner are carriers. Keep that in mind. Check out this website for some information:
http://www.cff.org/

Answer 2

yeah its not good, basically the lungs get gummed up and the life expectancy right now for someone with CF is like 30. but just because youre a carrier doesnt mean your baby will get it, im not a doctor and i dont know a ton about CF but i think its a recessive genetic disease so both you and your husband would have to be carriers for there to be a chance your baby would get it. if your husband isnt a carrier as well, there would be basically no chance that your baby would get it, the worst that would happen is your baby would become a carrier. and the odds your husband is also a carrier are fairly low, so dont lose too much sleep over it for now. but i dont know if im giving you totally correct info or not, see what your doctor says

Answer 3

CF is a very serious, and often fatal condition. Back when I was in the 5th grade (many years ago!), one of my classmates actually died from it. It was sad watching her wither away months prior to her death. But, since then, over the many years, medical technology has advanced, and better treatments have come around, with a higher survival rate.

CF is a lung disease. It forces over production of mucus in the lungs, causing the person to be unable to breathe. Many people get relief from medications and oxygen tanks. Some even get lung transplants that have proven to be successful, but I think it all depends on the severity of each case.

Instead of asking the people on here, and risking getting too many wrong answers, making your stress and worrying way worse than what it already is, you should just look up the info online yourself, or wait until you talk to you doctor so you can get the true information on the condition. Good luck and I hope everything works out for the best with your family.

Answer 4

if your baby gets it, it will be hard but just cause your a carrier doesn't mean your baby will get it. I would look up cystic fibrosis on the internet...try not to worry though, your baby probably wont get it and I pray for your bub!!

Answer 5

There is a test to determine if your baby is affected with this condition, I recommend you consult your doctor about it and go from there.

Answer 6

i am not 100% possitve on this but i remember reading once that both parents have to be carrier's for the baby to get it.

Answer 7

it is a very serious disease i'm sorry to say. many who have it dont live to thier 20's. sorry. thier lungs get cloged by mucus and they cannot breathe. its extremely painful for them.

Answer 8

nadobranich