My Vasectomy Reversal

At my last doctor’s visit, we discussed first trimester screening.  The first trimester combined screening can help to determine the risk of having a child with Down’s Syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities. The test will determine your risk based on combining factors like your age, info from a blood test, and the results from an ultrasound to measure the amount of fluid at the back of the baby’s neck (called the nuchal translucency).  It’s not definitive, and if the test comes back showing high risk, you have to decide whether or not to have more dangerous tests like chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis. Since this test is not available in our isolated community (we’d have to drive 2-1/2 hours, one way, to get the testing done), the question is, is it worth it?  

Besides the inconvenience of travel, my real concern with this test is the need for more testing that can result in miscarriage if the results come back positive, and the fact that I’m not sure what I’d do if I was told I was likely to have a baby with Down’s Syndrome.  People with Down’s can have health problems and lower IQ, but many lead healthy, productive lives.  They are often very sweet, loving kids.  I’m just not sure it would make a difference to me.  Not to say it wouldn’t be different than having a “normal” baby, but I don’t think I’d want to end the pregnancy because of it.  But Rich is not sure what he’d want to do in the case of a positive screening result. 

So what are we going to do?  At this point, we’re planning to have the screening done, and spend more time talking about how we’d handle a positive result.  Part of my reasoning is that I’d like the reassurance (or the time to prepare).  Another reason for going ahead with the testing is a purely selfish desire for yet another ultrasound with a decent machine. It just makes me feel better at this point, since I can’t feel the baby, to see that it’s there, and growing normally.  Plus it gets us out of our isolated little town and we can go shopping – another stupid reason to have the test, I know. 

Technorati tags: Vasectomy reversal, First trimester screening