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?

Yes that's true Martianbishp. People forget that in the 60's people with LD's had no right to an education. Of course things have improved - and expectations are higher.

I feel differently to nooki. I have had all tests offered to me. And I would have everyhting offered. I like to 'know'. Whether or not to abort is a trotally different issue. Some people like to 'know' and prepare. Some people would rather not know.

expat -will send you the surfing photos. Hang on.

I taught some kids today who were amazed when I told them that some children with downs go on to do GCSEs

Oblomov- but recent -about to be published- research has shown that for every 3 cases of DS picked up by amnio and CVS 2 'normal' babies are miscarried. NIcolaides is apparently talking about it on Channel 4 tomorrow. That's a high toll for information.

jimjams, do you mean to be so condescending?
Of course you can read up, contact support groups and generally find out about the condition your baby may have. You read about things to be informed don't you?

But people are expected to unconditionally love their children and not coping is somehow linked to not loving and so stumbling upon this 'different not difficult' discussion full of people who have been enriched would not help a struggling parent now would it? I don't believe that every parent who gives up a disabled child would have kept it if they had better support.

Message withdrawn

I agree so stongly with the points about society being scared of visible disabilities, at the same time in some ways it's harder for parents of children with severe autism etc as people just assume the child is naughty and tut at the parents.

I taught at a school for children with SLD - the parents were good, bad, brilliant indifferent, devoted. All of them, even the ones that didn't look after their children very well, loved them deeply.

Ditto the above for the mainstream school I taught at.

People can want the tests so that the right medics are on hand to help the child from the minute of delivery.....downs syndrome if there is the suspicion that there is a problem with the heart , for example

People can want the tests so that the right medics are on hand to help the child from the minute of delivery.....downs syndrome if there is the suspicion that there is a problem with the heart , for example

People can want the tests so that the right medics are on hand to help the child from the minute of delivery.....downs syndrome if there is the suspicion that there is a problem with the heart , for example

sorry!

Jimjam I didn't mean it in that trivial way. I meant it seriously. Some people find it a shock to find out their child is autistic/diabetic/ whatever.
For some people knowing/finding out is helpful. They can come to terms. Investigate. Find out more about it, through mumsnet/internet.
I didn't mean it in a petty - toughened glass way.

The echos are my few thoughts left in my head after teaching this very topic to year 10 today!

Jimjams do you mean Nicolaedes - Dr or Prof Nicolades from Kings College hospital - which is where i am treated for my diabetes ?

i'll be waiting, jj .

I had a termination at 21 weeks as my daughter had anencephaly. I knew that there was nothing I could do for her, and that she had no chance of survival, and yet signing that form was the hardest thing I've ever had to do - somewhere in the hospital there's a form so blurred with tears it must be unreadable. I didn't have the triple test in her pregnancy, nor the next with dd2, and if I get pregnant again, I won't have it.
But I will be honest and say that the idea of having a disabled child scares me - it's simply fear of the unknown - would I be a good enough parent? How will my child cope in a difficult world? etc. So, if I'm to be brutally honest, one reason - perhaps the main reason - I don't want the tests is that I do not want that option to cross my mind. Because although I am certain I would not terminate for anything other than a fatal condition (and by that I don't mean life-limiting), I think the guilt of even having considered it for a second would be awful.

"Terminating isn't avoiding a major disability in the baby, it is extinguishing the life of a unique individual."

We are now disagreeing on a point that has little to do with Down's Syndrome or any other disability.

I don't feel that abortion at four months or so is murder, because the fetus is not yet a human being.

Cote, please be careful how you word things. My tiny daughter was utterly and recognisably a human being, missing skull or no. I know that you are coming at it from an "intellectual standpoint" but for some of us this is very raw and painful.