Birth and testing, was Re: doom and gloom
DiamondAir
> From: " Valerie Stewart" <vlos@...>Interesting. Both of my babies were born in Washington and neither of my
> ***This is my take also. I had a midwife and homebirths. In this state,
> it was required of the midwife to take blood twice (to test for possible
> Downs and spinal bifida) but that's it.
midwives gave me these blood tests. I had to sign some sort of paper saying
yes, they had offered and I refused, and that was that. I'm not sure it's
required in Washington that they test you, only that they offer the test.
> It was understood that if the babybeen
> was a Down's baby, this would just give us time to prepare for that, and
> that if the baby had spinal bifida, then a vaginal birth wouldn't have
> a great idea. Again, preparation, abortion wasn't even mentioned.I understand the "time to prepare" argument, but these blood tests are so
notoriously innacurate that I think more often than not, they give people
time to panic, grieve, despair, come to terms with the condition of their
baby, only to realize upon the birth of a normal, healthy baby that they
spent those 6 months of pregnancy in mental hell for nothing. I've known two
women now who were told that they were having Down's babies, only to
discover at birth that their babies were chromosomally normal (what a relief
that they didn't miscarry from an amnio or have an abortion - not that women
are be told that their baby was normal after they aborted it, I'm sure).
I've also had friends who ran the gamut of tests, ultrasounds, etc. and were
told that their baby was fine, only to have it be born with a fatal heart
defect. Personally, I'd rather have the peace during the pregnancy. There
are so many unknowns at birth that cannot be foretold, that I believe the
best preparation for me was a peaceful and happy mind and heart for the
duration of my pregnancies. I know others may make different choices
though...
Blue Skies!
-Robin-
Mom to Mackenzie (8/28/96) "Asa is running her voice out"
and Asa (10/5/99) Who sings "the alien song"
http://www.geocities.com/the_clevengers Flying Clevenger Family
[email protected]
In a message dated 04/18/2001 4:51:27 AM !!!First Boot!!!,
diamondair@... writes:
Exactly!
Nance
diamondair@... writes:
I know others may make different choices
though...
Blue Skies!
-Robin-
Exactly!
Nance
[email protected]
In a message dated 4/17/01 9:51:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
diamondair@... writes:
<< Personally, I'd rather have the peace during the pregnancy. There
are so many unknowns at birth that cannot be foretold, that I believe the
best preparation for me was a peaceful and happy mind and heart for the
duration of my pregnancies. I know others may make different choices
though... >>
Yes, I felt this way also! When I was pregnant the second time, I
skipped one of the blood tests for that reason and later, at 7 mos, my doctor
had me go in for an ultrasound because I was gaining so fast and we all
discovered it was two babies (a shock but a good one). Had I had the blood
test, it would have come out abnormal because of the twins (he said back at
the time he offered it that this was one reason for an abnormal result). We
would have been stressed out for no reason. But I do understand, as you say,
that others may feel differently and have different choices (being prepared,
as was mentioned).
Just a weird sidenote...I was pregnant with my 4th (3rd time) in Germany
(my husband is retired Air Force) and they closed the base hospital so I was
going to a German doctor. I asked him what would happen if I went overdue
and he said he would have me come in every day after the due date to take
samples of amniotic fluid. I asked what if I chose not to have that done and
he said he was the expert in that area. I ended up going back to the U.S.
early because I was so uncomfortable with the situation. I had thought that
Europe was more natural about births but Germany was the exception and had
much less of a patients' rights movement than the U.S. My landlady (and
friend) over there said they call them the gods in white coats.
Lucy
diamondair@... writes:
<< Personally, I'd rather have the peace during the pregnancy. There
are so many unknowns at birth that cannot be foretold, that I believe the
best preparation for me was a peaceful and happy mind and heart for the
duration of my pregnancies. I know others may make different choices
though... >>
Yes, I felt this way also! When I was pregnant the second time, I
skipped one of the blood tests for that reason and later, at 7 mos, my doctor
had me go in for an ultrasound because I was gaining so fast and we all
discovered it was two babies (a shock but a good one). Had I had the blood
test, it would have come out abnormal because of the twins (he said back at
the time he offered it that this was one reason for an abnormal result). We
would have been stressed out for no reason. But I do understand, as you say,
that others may feel differently and have different choices (being prepared,
as was mentioned).
Just a weird sidenote...I was pregnant with my 4th (3rd time) in Germany
(my husband is retired Air Force) and they closed the base hospital so I was
going to a German doctor. I asked him what would happen if I went overdue
and he said he would have me come in every day after the due date to take
samples of amniotic fluid. I asked what if I chose not to have that done and
he said he was the expert in that area. I ended up going back to the U.S.
early because I was so uncomfortable with the situation. I had thought that
Europe was more natural about births but Germany was the exception and had
much less of a patients' rights movement than the U.S. My landlady (and
friend) over there said they call them the gods in white coats.
Lucy
[email protected]
In a message dated 4/18/01 10:20:10 AM, LASaliger@... writes:
<< I asked him what would happen if I went overdue
and he said he would have me come in every day after the due date to take
samples of amniotic fluid. >>
That would be about the equivalent of inducing labor, I bet, by sampling with
a big enough needle to break the sac.
I've needed LaMaze breathing more AFTER I had kids and heard more doctor- and
hospital-stories than I needed it during labor. <g>
Sandra
<< I asked him what would happen if I went overdue
and he said he would have me come in every day after the due date to take
samples of amniotic fluid. >>
That would be about the equivalent of inducing labor, I bet, by sampling with
a big enough needle to break the sac.
I've needed LaMaze breathing more AFTER I had kids and heard more doctor- and
hospital-stories than I needed it during labor. <g>
Sandra
Johanna
I would have run from the office screaming if I
was told that!
Johanna
Life is the ultimate learning experience!
Life is the ultimate learning experience!
----- Original Message -----From: SandraDodd@...Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2001 12:46 PMSubject: Re: [Unschooling-dotcom] Birth and testing, was Re: doom and gloom
In a message dated 4/18/01 10:20:10 AM, LASaliger@... writes:
<< I asked him what would happen if I went overdue
and he said he would have me come in every day after the due date to take
samples of amniotic fluid. >>
That would be about the equivalent of inducing labor, I bet, by sampling with
a big enough needle to break the sac.
I've needed LaMaze breathing more AFTER I had kids and heard more doctor- and
hospital-stories than I needed it during labor. <g>
Sandra
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