Pregnancy...and chaos

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Regarding the test "where you get a shot in the stomach"
I think what you may be refering to is the test where they take a smaple of the amniotic fluid to test for Down Syndrom and other genetic concerns. These tests are not very accurate - I have heard that they can be wrong up to 60% of the time, the test itself increases the risk for miscarriage almost as much as the risk for the disorders that it is testing for. When I was pregnant my partner and I asked ourselves - What would we do if the test was positive? - our answer was we would do our best and love him no matter what. In this context the test was then not worth the risks associated. We would not abort regardless - so we decided to wait and face what ever comes.

What ever your position on genetic screening, remeber that this is your body. They can recommend tests and such but it is always up to you. We on the Spectrum sometimes have other concerns that play into these decisions that may not be well understood - for example I know that my sensory issues would make such a test difficult and a voluntary abortion would be impossible. Of course this played into my decision - did the docs understand? of course not! did they respect it? Barely . . . but in the end they had to accept that what ever I decided was my choice.

There are so many pressures on women when pregnant - these people are there to offer advice - only advice. It is your body in the end and you are the one who is having that baby - not them. So always do what you know is right *for you*.