Hello. I have been recommended to come and post on here by some of your regular posters who have seenmy post over on the 'Pregnancy' board.
I just wanted your honest feedback on your experiences on bring up a child with special needs. Impacts on both yourself, the child and other relationships in the family. What is life like day-to-day? What sort of daily are is needed?
I am pregnant and my doctor is recommending I abort due to exposure to a drug called Isotretinion during the early part of my pregnancy.
Here is some information on the possible effects of the drug:
"The risk for having a miscarriage may be as high
as 40% when a woman takes isotretinoin in early
pregnancy.
Isotretinoin causes a pattern of birth defects in
more than 35% of infants whose mothers take the drug
during pregnancy. Most of the infants with birth defects
will have small or absent ears, hearing and eyesight
problems. Some will have a small jaw, small head, cleft
palate and some will be born with a small or missing
thymus gland. Life threatening heart defects and fluid
around the brain are seen in almost half of the exposed
infants.
Many of the exposed children will have moderate
to severe mental retardation. These difficulties do not get
noticed at birth, but are discovered in childhood. The
long-term effects on any exposed child are still
unknown."
I would really appreciate any help you could provide me about caring for a child who has special needs. I guess I am trying to get a handle on what life could be like for everyone involved.
Thanks so much for your help. I really appreciate it.
Duke.
xXx