Why is it that people are so obsessed with testing for Downs syndrome, when there are so many other disabilities which cannot be tested for, that are far, far worse?

[wannaBe]

It baffles me.

When we fall pregnant we are offered tests, and scans, most, although not all of which relate to the detection of Downs Syndrome.

At 12 weeks we are offered a nuchal fold scan to determine the likelyhood of the baby having downs, and women over 35 are routinely offered anmio to detect whether the baby has downs.

92% of pregnancies where Downs is detected are terminated .

And yet there are lots of other disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, autism, other disabilities which cause learning difficulties, which cannot be detected in utero, but which can be much, much worse than downs.

So what is it about Downs that is so scary?

Or would people have far more stressful pregnancies if all disabilities could be tested for, and would they feel that they had to be sure their baby would be perfect?

So, why was op posted? What was the point in op?

No, I think we've established that I'm dim as well as sad and bitter and angry and all the other insults you've hurled at me but I meant which posts by Thomcat and litlemydancing etc? Couldn't find them.

By cariboo on Thu 18-Sep-08 20:13:10
Without reading the other posts (there are almost 1,000 of them by now), I think that it's not that Downs is scarier than other disabilities, it's just that it's one of the only genetic ones that can be tested for early on in a pregnancy. As delightful as many Downs children (and adults) are, they are still considered by many as a "burden" to families & society in general as people with Downs need much more care. An older mother is more likely to conceive a child with a genetic disorder than a younger one and therefore may not be able to care for her child into his or her adulthood.

there is that word burden again

5candles
who are these "some people"
you keep talking about?

As for why I'm obsessed with people disagreeing with me.

I have actually answered this about 10 pages ago. I don't mind that people disagree with me but I do mind the way people disagree with things they think I'm saying but actually haven't or wouldn't.

That does rile me.

So people have made stuff up including quotes and whole belief systems and then I obviously think I have to defend myself because actually the stuff that is assumed I believe or made up is really quite noxious and I would hate people to think that I was like that or did believe those things. Also I wonder why people do that? Make things up I mean.

So the stuff about me believing that children with disabilities are a burden etc etc makes me feel physically sick because it is very far from what I believe or have said and I can't believe that people have said it.

Does that answer your question?

Also, I thought the OP was an interesting question although sadly nobody was really interested in discussing people's fears and instead these were dismissed etc which I thought needed addressing.

And oddly enough parents with children with disabilities do not have the monopoly on experience of disabiity or interest in it or concern about it. Like I said I lived with someone with MD before dp, my father has MS, I work with mayn students and their parents with disabilities, I have been through antenatal testing (opted for Nuchal testing privately cos it wasn't offered routinely in my area on NHS) and pregnancies, it is one thing putting me off future pregnancies etc so all of these issues do or have affected me. As the mother of dds I imagine they will affect my kids too.

Is that ok? Am I allowed to participate?

If I stopped posting the thread would collapse anyway.

2shoes I did answer that. At length. Quite a few times.

so your main sources are a older man and people you have know for a short ammount of time, not having a dig just curious.

2shoes wasn't it you who asked me the same question about 500 posts ago? If you mean who are the 'some people' who are not constantly joyful about being disabled or having a disabled child then I could list all the people that I know and have read about again and repeat the stats on disability and depression again but I don't really see how that helps.

I'm sorry that this is news to you and I'm glad that you've never met anyone who feels this way (or who would tell you they did) but there are people in the world who are not happy. Some of these people are unhappy largely because of their disability or rather the way it limits their independence or causes them pain or anxiety or whatever.

This may not be your experience and it may not be typical but it is true.

I probably have nothing more to add to this thread. If you look at my posts its amazing how much of my time has been spent challenging what people have ASSUMED I've been saying or even invented.

Like I said some people just aren't interested in listening. They are hearing what they want to hear which is gulfs away from what I am saying and gulfs away from what I believe and feel.

That is really upsetting. Obvously I don't mind being challenged on what I have said and do believe.

Five, just walk away. you have made a very good and rational case that many families find it a hard slog and struggle to cope with a severely SN or disabled child.

Good advice Twelve. Night.

'If I stopped posting the thread would collapse anyway.'

Is it safe to come back in yet?

Bye!

it was 501 posts ago actually

expat have you read the whole thread, you have to every time you post, it is the law

I wonder what heppens if you don't will mn ban the person or do you get sent to the naughty step

Happens not heppens

dear this is so boring and my cp is playing up

dear this is so boring and my cp is playing up

dear this is so boring and my cp is playing up

dear this is so boring and my cp is playing up

dear this is so boring and my cp is playing up

dear this is so boring and my cp is playing up

see pc not cp and it keeps posting over and over

see pc not cp and it keeps posting over and over

see pc not cp and it keeps posting over and over

see pc not cp and it keeps posting over and over