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Original poster

Would you abort for Edwards syndrome?

104 replies

nappyaddict · 27/04/2013 11:49

I know they say that most babies with Edwards syndrome are stillborn or die before they are 2 months old. But then there was Luke Winston-Jones who died at 10 months old and little Baby Grace who died a couple of days ago aged 5 months. After seeing how happy she looks in some of the photos and videos it has made me question whether I would abort for Edwards syndrome. Her own parents have said despite the broken hearts they have they would do it all again in a heartbeat because the last 5 months have been the best of their lives.

OP posts:
Branleuse · 27/04/2013 11:53

yes

CoteDAzur · 27/04/2013 11:57

Yes. It is not fair for anybody, least for the little baby.

VinegarDrinker · 27/04/2013 11:57

Yes, I would. Those cases are very much the minority. Most of all I don't think it would be fair on my toddler DS to deal with a sibling who was definitely going to be severely disabled and die in infancy.

2cats2many · 27/04/2013 11:59

Yes I would. But I might have a different view if the baby was my first and I didn't have to think about the impact on my existing children.

Essexgirlupnorth · 27/04/2013 12:01

Yes I would terminate for Edwards. There are exceptions with babies living for several months but the congenital abnormalities are severe and most miscarry or die before birth. I don't think the baby would have much quality if life and could not put myself through that.

5madthings · 27/04/2013 12:02

What a sweet baby girl Grace was, smiling and laughing, sooo cute :)

I don't know what I would do tbh and ask grateful I have never had to make that choice.

5madthings · 27/04/2013 12:04

I echo what other posters say re siblings, I would have to think about the impact on the children I have but I still don't know what I would do.

TheOrchardKeeper · 27/04/2013 12:04

I would terminate.

The only good thing that came out of my labour was my DS. I wouldn't have coped with the aftermath, problems & pain if my baby had died or was going to die. But it's a personal choice, if you could handle that then that's you.

I'd still be gutted that I had to terminate (pro choice but would not want to do it myself) but it'd be less suffering for all involved.

TheOrchardKeeper · 27/04/2013 12:05

(also, I wouldn't want to put my DS through the loss of a sibling so young)

Tigresswoods · 27/04/2013 12:07

I know 2 people who have & I believe they made the right decision for them.

MadameJosephine · 27/04/2013 12:07

I would definitely terminate, I couldnt bring a baby into the world and then watch it die, I just couldn't

WouldBeHarrietVane · 27/04/2013 12:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

5madthings · 27/04/2013 12:10

I am totally pro choice BTW just don't know what I would do, I can speculate but until you are actually living it with the feelings and emotions that go with reality I think its hard to say.

Part of me says it would be best to terminate so the baby doesn't suffer, that it would be better for my own children etc. It there would be a tiny part of me that would want to hope for the miracle, for it not to be as bad as the drs predict and tbh I think either option would break me. Either way means losing a child that I loved iyswim?

cherrycherry41 · 27/04/2013 12:12

I would never abort, even if the condition was incompatable with life, id give my baby the chance to live even if its hours, days, months or years. Would still be a blessing to be part of the babies life for however long.
Would never judge someone for terminating though, its entirely a couples choice and alot of other things need to be taken into account (other DC etc).

saintmerryweather · 27/04/2013 12:13

I couldnt put a baby through so much pain and suffering, know that ultimately it would die anyway, so yes i would have a termination

colditz · 27/04/2013 12:17

Yes I would. Knowing that we cannot cure it, or relieve it in any way, knowing that the only cure is death, I would not have a baby born to suffer.

It is different to many other disabilities, like Down's syndrome and Williams syndrome, you can see that although those children have difficulties, they also have lives full of joy. This doesn't seem to be the case with Edwards syndrome and I wouldn't give birth to a child who has to live in a hospital until he or she dies.

MortifiedAdams · 27/04/2013 12:22

Yes. Allowing a baby to be born with Edwards is to know they will die soon after birth. How is that right for the baby?

5madthings · 27/04/2013 12:25

colditz that's what I thought but the baby Grace had time at home, is clearly smiling and enjoying bath time etc. But the majority with Edwards dont or maybe as the majority are terminated we don't know if more would be like Grace? Its an awful choice to make but I wouldn't want my baby to suffer but equally a part of me would want to give them a chance?

If the drs could guarantee me that the baby wouldn't suffer, is could have pain relief etc so they could die peacefully in my arms, which would be awful but if they didn't suffer. Of course there are no such guarantees :(

HumphreyCobbler · 27/04/2013 12:25

Yes I would terminate for Edwards. I have terminated due to Patau's, which is also a terminal condition. It was the worst thing I have ever had to do, but there is no doubt in my mind that it was the correct thing for us to do. I could not bring a baby into the world knowing he was going to die, or knowing that I could lose him at any moment.

5madthings · 27/04/2013 12:38

There is a video linked to on Graces fb page about a baby boy called Eliot with trisomy 18 and his short life, 99 days but he was at home with his parents, enjoyed bath and massage etc. A short life but one filled with love and celebrated and treasured. I can see why some would choose to try for that, to have sometime, however short to love and hold their child.

Its heartbreaking whatever option you choose :(

cupcake78 · 27/04/2013 14:19

Yes! We had to make this decision while waiting for Amnio results and decided we would. This was 5 yrs ago and I still think I would.

Was easily the hardest decision I have ever had to make.

MrsJohnDeere · 27/04/2013 14:32

Yes

elliejjtiny · 27/04/2013 15:03

I don't know, but I'd be swaying towards not terminating. DS2 went to preschool with a little girl who had edwards syndrome. We lost touch when they went to different schools but at 5 years old she was still alive and doing well. I didn't realise how rare that was until later so I might be a bit biased.

VinegarDrinker · 27/04/2013 15:25

ellie I would imagine that girl had mosaic Edward's syndrome, where not all cells are affected. The only cases I have ever heard of surviving over a few months have had mosaic Edward's. You would know this from the amnio/CVS.

GibberTheMonkey · 27/04/2013 15:55

I'm the same as 5mad I just don't know if I was in that position. I suspect I would as I think dh would sway that way too.
I can't imagine having to make such a choice and I'm sad for anyone who has to

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