Amniocentesis is a prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities and fetal infections as well as for sex determination. It is a biological test by which a scientist tries to see if an unborn baby has a disease or other health problem or disabilities
In this procedure, a small amount of amniotic fluid, which contains fetal tissues, is sampled from the amniotic sac surrounding a developing fetus. The test checks for fetal abnormalities (birth defects) such as Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis or spina bifida.
The problem is that after such test is carried out, some feotus are aborted due to the fact that they are carriers of defective genes rather than leaving them to reach full pregnancy term.
This is where different school of thought comes in. The pro-choice and the pro life group.
The pro choice claims that the woman carrying the pregnancy has a right to choose to terminate the fetus while the pro-life claims that abortion can only be allowed if the mother’s life is threatened. It is also said by the pro-choice that life begins at birth while the pro-life holds that life begins at the moment of conception.
I am Mrs Williams a 56year old woman. I’ve been married for 30 years and I just conceived after 30 years of marriage. I was advised by my doctor to carryout amniocentesis due to my age which is not really healthy for pregnancy. I went through with it with the concent of my husband. When the results were out it was diagnosed that I was carrying a fetus with chromosomal abnormalities particularly down syndrome. I was shattered.
I cried home to my husband. “I really want this child. I want a child I can call mine” I cried in a loud voice. I was consoled by him that everything is going to be alright.
Few weeks later I noticed some strange behaviors from my husband towards me. He was unnecessarily being cold and avoided me at every slight opportunity. I knew something was wrong. I went up to him and asked ” Do we have a problem?” “No we don’t” he answered. I have a problem with that ‘thing’ you’re carrying in your womb. Just because we don’t have a child doesn’t mean I am willing to accept an abnormal child. I can’t be a father to an abnormal child!
That was when it dawned on me that my marriage was in trouble. I love my husband but I can’t abort my child. I was in the state of confusion. I’ve prayed for a child for 30years, now my prayer is answered but on the other hand left with the option of abortion if I want to remain happy in my marriage.
Was it a good idea that I went through with amniocentesis ? If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have been faced with this. I wouldn’t have been faced with an option of abortion. But now that I know the state of this unborn child, is it selfish of me to bring him to the world where he might be stigmatized all his life just because I want to have a child?
I was in a total state of dilemma…….
“Amniocentesis and abortion” Does it’s advantage outweigh the disadvantage? What would you do if you were in her shoes?
Written by
Elemue Tuvie, Delta State University, Abraka, NIGERIA
This problem is not really a medical problem. It’s a problem of wills. But this woman should understand that she didn’t pray for the child alone( for the husband to have endured for 30 long years), she also didn’t get herself pregnant and the child is most definitely not hers ( it belongs to both parties). So, what will actually kill her marriage is not amniocentesis, it’s gonna be the bad decision of keeping and personalizing that child. Bless🙏
Like royamajesty said, the child belongs to both parties. If she’s still persistent, She can try to look more into the condition and how it would affect the child and if they can handle it. If it would be too much, she should drop it if not she can share it with her husband and see if he’ll agree.
If he doesn’t, they can pray and try again or adopt a child.
Amniocentesis is just a biological test to come to know if a child may have a defect and what defects the child may have.
It can’t be described as good if the test is taken to only declare abortion if the child may have a defect. So if in it’s usage, good motives and purposes are not clearly outlined then the perceived advantage shouldn’t be spoken of either.
What choice to make on this, since it’s the choice of keeping a life or taking a life then comes to the Highest value of God. Let’s break it down this way, taking the child’s life because of the defect and big issues that child may have is similar to any of us saying; “I wish I had never been born into such a cruel world”. It must come to the Highest value on making a decision for that child that hasn’t seen the light of day yet. What is the advantage of aborting a life that Yes! has a defect with either body or mind but will never come to know what friendship, and kindness is or what it means to be parented.
All of us especially Doctors must ask the question of the Highest value since we are working with the lives of people.
Speak with your Husband again ma’am, Miracles that Doctors can’t explain do happen and even if one doesn’t, just being alive is a miracle itself.🤗🤗🤗
I feel it’s better to abort the child, whether the mother’s life is threatened or not.
While some might feel it isn’t right, I feel it saves both the parent and child from discomfort, unnecessary finances and mental instability
🤔A choice of deciding if the baby lives or dies based on a test of how good the baby’s genes are.
I do hope this won’t encouraged in the society starting from the family unit or we could as well decide to kill off every person with possible defects that may manifest ranging from shortsightedness to inherited diabetes to thalidomide deformities and so much more and why not ? Let those with the best genes live👍
Doctors don’t take lives. Doctors save lives. How many disabled people that are more mentally stable and bring goodness to the lives of people? Taking the lives that have not even put to trial isn’t good. This should be left to the hands of Almighty the creator of all (Allah).
If doctors could decide who lives or dies, then what’s the use of being them doctors? Would even there be hospitals? I have this simple question there-regards doctors decision on matter of such. There are many bad people some are rapists, some are thieves, terrorists and many others… such people are seriously disabled…why do doctors don’t take their lives b4 coming?? This shows that doctors as they deal with people’s lives, they cant foresee who is good and who is bad.
There are things that only Allah decides. I stand against her decision.
Against her decision in the end??