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What would you do?
A recent conversation with my mom this morning has sparked my interest as to what some of you ladies would do if you were ever in this situation.
Back story: my twin sister has Cycstic Fibrosis. For those of you who don't know, it's an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive systems of the body. A defective gene, along with it's protein product, cause the body to prodcue thick sticky mucus which in turn clogs the lungs and obstructs the pancreas from breaking down and absorbing food. In order for a child to be born with this disease, both parents must be carriers of the gene.
So my mom emails me this morning and says that it would be a good idea for DH should get tested for the gene. There is a 50% chance that I am a carrier since obviously both my parents are.
Here's the question - what would you do if you found out that both you and your DH are carriers for a genetic disease such as CF? Would you still plan to have children, knowing the risks or would you seek an alternative like adopting? Or would you just decide not to have children?
Re: What would you do?
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personally, i would want to find out if you and DH carried the gene especially since its already in your family. it cant hurt to be ready for something like that or to at least know and understand the implications.
that being said, it wouldnt stop me from having children, because its not 100% that your kids will get it even if you are both carries, as your parents were and you dont have it.
its really a decision you and DH will have to make though. you have to think of the situation if you had a child and it had cystic fibrosis, would you be able to devote the extra time and money (im assuming the treatments are not cheap as they arent with anything nowadays) to taking care of the child. if it was me, though. id still go for it.
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I would get tested... While it wouldn't stop me from having children if we were both carriers, I would atleast be prepared with specialists and such immediately after the child is born in case they were impacted with the disease...
This is a fairly common discussion on the bump boards because there is testing for downs and other genetic diseases that are done in the 1st trimester... You get a lot of people who get on a platform about how they refuse to test because they refuse to terminate etc etc... Where, my stance was that of I want to know what to expect... I wouldn't terminate my pregnancy because my baby had downs, but I could at least be prepared and have PT and a team for high risk deliveries set up prior to the birth...
Now as for adoption... i am all about it... there are sooo many kids that need a good loving and caring home...
We're both definitely going to be tested - at least my DH will be. If he comes back as a carrier then I'll get tested as well. There is only a 25% chance that even if we both are carriers that our child will be born with CF. But given that I've grown up around the disease, I know (not to the extent of being the parent) what life would be like, with the medicines, surgery, treatments, etc.
I'm sure I already know what our decision will be if we find out we're both carriers but I just wanted to hear thoughts from others.
I agree with all of the previous posts. Knowing and being prepared is a great idea, but I would never not choose to have children because of it, nor would I choose to end a pregnancy because of it.
My Dr. has been telling me for the last year to go get genetic testing done to see if I carry the cancer gene since my mom had breast, uterine & thyroid & my grandma had colon cancer. I haven't gone because what does it matter?
If I do have it, theres nothing to do to prevent it or stop it from developing. It will just make me over worry about it even more & if I don't have it great! Im just gonna live my life the way I plan, have kids & everything.
So my advice to you is to just live your lives the way you want/plan. Just know that no matter what, anyone can have a child with birth defects or illnesses. Including perfectly healthy couples.
Hope This Helps!!