Stories of Prenatal Diagnosis: K. Y.
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 “K. Y.”
What conditions did your screening results indicate?
That my kid was a girl, nothing unusual but the concern.
Did it turn out to be the case that your child had these conditions?
No.
Please tell your story of your experience in your own words.
The first appointment was to see how far along my pregnancy was but the first thing the doctor said was I was still able to abort (pre-reversal of RvW). I was already stressed out due to being unplanned, but the first thought was, “What’s wrong with the baby, what’s wrong with me?” My husband’s side of the family had not had a live girl born in seven generations so that also added more tension.
What aspects, if any, did you like about the way your medical team handled the situation?
They did research for anything that could cause a miscarriage or fetal anomalies in females.
What aspects, if any, did you dislike about the way your medical team handled the situation?
Telling me at the start that abortion was an option. I wish they’d not told me or gave the answer if I had asked about it or other options.
What recommendations do you have for medical providers who are giving parents prenatal screening results?
If required by law to list abortion as an option, do so if (1) the parent asks; (2) after giving all other options; and (3) give any concerns and risks of any options including abortion. The parent is already in a stressful situation; they do not need another weighty decision to make.
What recommendations do you have for parents who are receiving prenatal screening results?
Give any family history for fetal anomalies and/or miscarriage to the medical team as soon as you can.
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