Breeding Genetic Disorders?

[blas87]

I don't want a designer baby with a certain eye or hair color or body type.

I'd want screening to check for Downs or mental retardation, etc etc or diseases that could render the child physically handicapped.

[IDrinkaRum]

Blas - Once you reach 35, there is a test that is mandatory (at least it seems so in Virginia), where they take a large needle, draw out some of the amniotic fluid and will test your baby for at least down syndrome (not sure what else they test for).

If I get pregnant again, it's a test I'd definitely want to do even if I wasn't in the bracket to get it mandatory.

[Kimmik]

I don't want a designer baby with a certain eye or hair color or body type.

I'd want screening to check for Downs or mental retardation, etc etc or diseases that could render the child physically handicapped.

Blas and I wouldn't call you selfish for that. For me abortion is not an option.. nt saying it is wrong or right, just for me it is not an option,, so to do the test in my case is a mute point. Some people can handle a child with disorders some cant. It doesn't make you selfish any more then someone choosing to not have children or to have children when there is a chance to pass on a disorder.

I am 35 and had my first child at 34, was told I would never have kids... ooo boy were they wrong. My first died.. my second is now a month old... omg that month went by fast. There are many conditions that I may have passed on to my child.. and we will cross that bridge when we get there.

I am one of those everything happens for a reason.. like with my son.. he was here for 2 weeks 4 days.. but I believe though he couldn't stay he was here to say have faith mommy.. and less then a year later i have a health baby girl.

[jackfaire]

In 1958 my 48 year old grandmother without the help of modern medicine gave birth to my mom.

[Greenday]

Blas and I wouldn't call you selfish for that. For me abortion is not an option.. nt saying it is wrong or right, just for me it is not an option,, so to do the test in my case is a mute point.

That's the one option for testing. What about in vitro? You can find out before even getting pregnant to prevent abortions.

[the_std]

The test could also help prepare you for a potential disorder and the things that it requires dealing with...

[blas87]

Thank you Rum I completely forgot about that test. My coworker Mary had to have it because she had her first baby at 40.

But she had a rough time because every doctor she saw had her all paranoid with their "older women have retarded babies" hysteria.

[Boozy]

There's a reason that amniocentises aren't done routinely in low-risk pregnancies. The tests themselves carry risks such as infection. Most doctors will not perform them on mothers under the age of 35 unless there are very compelling reasons to do so.

Down's Syndrome is usually picked up via ultrasound.

[BlaqueKatt]

If that's selfish, I don't want to be selfless.

That is the opposite of selfish-you know you can't handle a child with issue x, and are not willing to have a child with issue x to fulfill your need to have a child-you're putting the(hypothetical) child's needs before your own, and being rational and mature enough to say-" I know I would not be able to meet those needs" Rather than forcing yourself to try and meet needs you can't and ending up resenting the (hypothetical) child.


I knew I couldn't handle raising my son alone, my ex-husband had support from his family while I didn't, while I love my son more than anything and miss him terribly, he has a better chance living with his dad-was that selfish?

Or was that putting the needs of my son before my own wants?

See I just Want my son to be with me but he needs the structure and support that I can't give him.

[fireheart17]

There's a reason that amniocentises aren't done routinely in low-risk pregnancies. The tests themselves carry risks such as infection. Most doctors will not perform them on mothers under the age of 35 unless there are very compelling reasons to do so.

Down's Syndrome is usually picked up via ultrasound.

I think amniocentesis tests have a very low infection rate (around 1-3%) and an even lower miscarriage rate (somewhere between 1 in 200 and 1 in 1600).

Chronic Vilius Sampling has a higher degree of risk, but can be done earlier. I think that might be the one where it's not performed for mothers under 35.

[XiaoTortuga]

This is one of those things will always have to be left up to the individuals, hopefully with deep consideration and consultation with appropriate medical professionals.

If you know your potential offspring have a good chance of suffering horribly and dying young and you want to try to reproduce anyway, ask yourself why. To me that seems cruel and selfish.

Just a note, forced sterilization of "undesirables" occurred in the US much later than many think. From what I know the last time was 1981.
http://www.people1.org/eugenics/eugenics_article_6.htm

It was practiced in Virginia in mental institutions in the 1970s, while most states stopped in the 1950s, I believe.

[Lace Neil Singer]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tay-Sachs_disease

This was the kind of genetic disorder I was thinking of. Children born with the disease will suffer all their short lives, before their premature deaths at around four or five. Why put a child thru all that, when you know you're a carrier? It's just the height of selfishness. If you want kids and carry a disease like Tay-Sachs, then adopt.

[Boozy]

I think amniocentesis tests have a very low infection rate (around 1-3%) and an even lower miscarriage rate (somewhere between 1 in 200 and 1 in 1600).

It is not common practice in Canada or the US to routinely perform amniocenteses on mothers under the age of 35. However low the risks are from the procedure, they are still greater than the odds of actually diagnosing a problem.

[Greenday]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tay-Sachs_disease

This was the kind of genetic disorder I was thinking of. Children born with the disease will suffer all their short lives, before their premature deaths at around four or five. Why put a child thru all that, when you know you're a carrier? It's just the height of selfishness. If you want kids and carry a disease like Tay-Sachs, then adopt.

Or do the in vitro tests...

[Lace Neil Singer]

And then abort? Some people don't believe in abortion, or they'd be too attached to the fetus to want it killed. Far better not to have the child in the first place.