Doctor Vist #2

We anxiously anticipated our next visit to the doctor. We were scheduled to see a genetics doctor that would evaluate the probability of our child having some type of birth defect. We were relieved when we arrived in the ultrasound room and got to see a good visual of our little baby moving around. Even more reassuring was when we heard the beating heart. It was an emotional visit for me, because for the first time since I had received the news, I finally felt connected to the baby, and breathed a sigh of relief. I was ready to begin sharing the news with close friends and family members as soon as we left. That is until the genetics doctor met with us.

My excitement was cut short when after a few minutes of formalities, he began reviewing a chart that gave probability of having a child with a genetic defect. Of course as you get older, the probability goes up, and although Dawn looks amazing and most people think she's many years younger than she actually is, we had to face the reality of what the chart said: 1 in 57 chance that we'd have a child with some genetic defect. As if that wasn't a good enough punch to the gut, he then continued on by explaining potential complications with the birth, and other facts I can't even recollect. Both Dawn and I shifted our moods from excitement to concern. Not that any of this news was a surprise; we knew all of this already, but hearing it from a doctor that had charts and stats made it seem very real.

Although the conversation brought several reasons for concern, it really didn't change anything because we had already decided we were 'all in', and regardless of the stats, it was not going to change our decision to have a child. Short of the doctor telling us we were having an alien baby, we accepted his candid discussion and thanked him for his honesty.

Before we left, he did suggest Dawn give a sample of blood that would allow them to better evaluate the probability of a genetic disorder. They could triangulate the ultrasound with the lab results from her blood, with the dreaded age chart, and hopefully give us a number higher than 1:57

Neither one of us knew what the results would yield, and Dawn didn't want to freak out if the number came in lower than 1:57, so we instructed them to call me when they had the results. So much for sharing the exciting news. Once again, I decided to wait until I had more information.