subject: Just Tell Me What is Wrong Already! The Challenges of Birth Defect Diagnosis [print this page] Just Tell Me What is Wrong Already! The Challenges of Birth Defect Diagnosis
Have you recently learned that your unborn child is going to have a defect? If so, I want you to know that I've been there and I feel your pain. When my wife was told (in 2001) that our son's brain was not the right shape because of the "extra water on the brain," we still had no idea what to expect. After further testing, we learned that our boy has spina bifida and that his "nueral tube" didn't close properly 6-8 weeks into the pregnancy when he looked as much like a chicken as he did a human. The hardest part of the pregnancy is knowing that something is wrong with your child, but no one can tell you exactly what it is or how bad it's going to be.
It's a cruel fact, but there is no perfect or absolutely conclusive diagnostic test or procedure that will give you all the information that you want. The more you learn, the more questions you will have. But there is more to your baby than the defect that he has. Let's take brief look at the common diagnostic test and what they can and cannot tell you.
The ultrasound (even the new 3-D ones) can only give a sense of the shape and size of things. A reflection or shadow of what's real. You get hints of what your baby may look like, how many fingers and toes there are, even the shape and size of his heart and other internal organs. That's all wonderful, but it doesn't show anything about your baby's spirit, sense of humor, loving nature or determination to overcome whatever challenges it may have.
A more invasive Amniotic Fluid Test is based purely on a chemical and genetic analysis. This test is used as a confirmation of a defect that, in most cases, was detected in some other way. It is quite reliable, but still not 100% conclusive. It is an excellent method for determining that a problem exists, but there is no conclusion about how bad the problem is. There is quite simply no comfort in that.
The MRI is effectively the same thing as an ultrasound. It shows the "watery" parts of the baby's body in astonishing detail. We can look inside of our bodies without having to actually get inside. AMAZING! But far from conclusive about your child's potential problems or achievements. And there is no information about how you are going to get through the challenges of raising a special needs child.
The bottom line is that even with all of our modern-day technology, until you meet this child face to face, touch him, hold him, cry for him...you will not truely know how much you are capable of LOVING him, no matter what his diagnosis or challenges.
So, get all the information that you can. Be prepared. Get help. Have resources at your disposal. And ABOVE all that...LOVE Your Child because that will do him and you more good that any test result.
Visit www.findjoyinspecialneeds.com to learn more.
