Stories of Prenatal Diagnosis: B. M.

A prenatal diagnosis is often accompanied by the pressure to abort, leaving most parents feeling unsupported by the medical community and society at large. In our series “Stories of Prenatal Diagnosis,” we share testimonies of parents who received a diagnosis while pregnant and their personal experience in handling it. Today’s story is from “B. M.”

What conditions did your screening results indicate?

Triploidy.

Did it turn out to be the case that your child had these conditions?

Yes.

Please tell your story of your experience in your own words. 

My baby was diagnosed with triploidy around 13 weeks. We had genetic testing because I was 35. We then had an early ultrasound that pretty much confirmed the diagnosis. Baby Fianna was extremely underdeveloped, had mostly fluid in brain and had numerous other abnormalities. 

Doctor told us we could get an amniocentesis to confirm but we didn’t want an abortion so we did no further testing. She lived to 37 weeks and then passed away as a stillborn. We delivered via C-section.

What aspects, if any, did you like about the way your medical team handled the situation?

I was able to put in contact with the pediatric hospice team at the Medical University of South Carolina. They helped us create memories to treasure our daughter and provided a cold cot so we could spend time with her after her birth. My wishes to hold my baby were respected and carried out as I requested with no judgment.

What aspects, if any, did you dislike about the way your medical team handled the situation?

I was offered abortion numerous times by the ob/gyn. If I had wanted an abortion they warned me that it would be difficult to do so due to law and timelines around the baby’s development. I was high risk because I had already had 3 previous C-sections. They stated I would need abortion in an abortion clinic if I chose that. 

As a registered nurse myself, I couldn’t believe I would be sent to an abortion clinic to carry out an abortion being as high risk as I was. High risk medical procedures like that should be done in a trauma center operating room. Not a clinic.

I personally did not want an abortion anyways, and I am pro-life, but I do believe if a baby has a diagnosis not compatible with life that the parent should be well supported in carrying out a safe abortion. [I wasn’t even offered that safe option.]

What recommendations do you have for medical providers who are giving parents prenatal screening results?

I recommend [getting prenatal screens]. It does create a lot of anxiety but I am grateful I had the diagnosis early. We were able to prepare for the loss of our daughter.

What recommendations do you have for parents who are receiving prenatal screening results?

Hold out hope, it isn’t always correct, and we did have hope. In our case the results were correct, but keep hope because some things can affect those results and it won’t always be my case.

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