To Test or Not?
Prenatal tests can help identify health problems that could endanger both a woman and her unborn child, some of which are treatable. There are many things that parents would love to know about their unborn child. With prenatal testing this can come to life. There are pros and cons to prenatal testing. The major pro would be finding problems that can be treated. Many prenatal tests are given only if the woman has a high risk pregnancy. When this occurs, many factors come into consideration. It is the belief of many that finding out things that are beyond our control is wrong. I have to say that I agree to a point. Certain tests that were done on my wife when she was pregnant were routine. I would not have wanted to know if the chances were high for Down Syndrome, Spina Bifida or Cystic Fibrosis. Only God knows what we have in store for us and what we are meant to be or do. We need to leave some things in God’s hands and not to medical science sometimes.
I respect your decision to leave certain things “in Gods hands”, but even if you did not choose to terminate the pregnancy there are factors to consider. It is important to remember that Down syndrome children are often afflicted with more than mental retardation. They are at an increased risk for a variety of medical problems including congenital heart defects, increased susceptibility to infection, respiratory problems, gastrointestinal disorders, childhood leukemia and more (Down syndrome, 2008).
ReplyDeleteA severe form of spina bifida, myelomeningcele, usually requires surgery within 24 to 48 hours after birth. Knowing that the child has spina bifida allows the medical staff to prepare for birth by providing a specially equipped medical center that will allow any necessary treatment or surgery after the baby is born. In addition, babies with myelomenincele have a greater risk of being in a breech position. Advance warning allows doctors to prepare for a cesarean delivery. A cesarean delivery can also reduce the severity of paralysis that sometimes occurs with a baby suffering from spina bifida. Sometimes surgery is preformed before a baby is even born. Early repair may help to prevent damage to exposed spinal nerves in unborn child. This can reduce paralysis and other complications. However, there are risks associated with this procedure. Parents should research the pros and cons of this surgery and make an informed decision (Spina bifida, 2009).
Cystic fibrosis is another medical problem that needs to be identified. It is the most common death related genetic disease among people of Northern European descent. Some of the babies born with cystic fibrosis have meconium ileus when they are born. This is a condition that causes the small or large intestine to become obstructed with meconium. The small intestine may also become twisted or not develop properly. Some babies appear fine at birth, but later develop breathing problems or exhibit low weight gain and poor growth. Knowing that the child is suffering from cystic fibrosis can reduce the risks associated with this disease (Cystic fibrosis, 2006).
HIV testing is also important. There are now drugs available that prevent the transmission of the AIDS virus from mother to child. Testing for HIV is non invasive. Even if the mother is sure that there is no way that she has a sexually transmitted disease, there is no harm in making sure that the child is protected (Bilheimer, 2003)
The main point is that prenatal testing is important for the health of the mother and child. Hiding your head in the sand will not make these problems go away. Knowledge is power and the power to protect their child is in the hands of the parents and medical staff.
I posted a video to my blog that discusses a new non invasive test that isolates the babies DNA from the mother’s blood and allows the testing of a variety of genetic disorders. This test can be done in the first trimester and eliminates the risks associated with more invasive testing.
References:
Bilheimer, R. (Writer/Producer/Director). (2003). A closer walk [Motion picture]. United
States: Worldwide Documentaries.
Cystic fibrosis. (2006, October). Babycenter. Retrieved March 8, 2009, from
http://www.babycenter.com/0_cystic-fibrosis_10869.bc
Down syndrome. (2008, August). KidsHealth. Retrieved March 8, 2009, from
http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/genetic/down_syndrome.html
Spina Bifida. (2009). March of Dimes. Retrieved March 8, 2009, from
http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/4439_1224.asp