I work in the childbirth field, and yet I feel like I'm learning new things every minute:
READ THIS
Although I'd heard women of multiples getting one "sucked out" (which, by the way, is not how it works at all), I had never read about the procedure or how controversial it is.
Actually, it's not all that controversial when women are found to be carrying triplets (or more) and opt for a reduction. It becomes controversial when a women with twins wants a reduction to just one baby.
Instead of writing a big long post about this, I thought I'd get your opinion.
Would you reduce a pregnancy if you found out you were having twins?
Wow, that's the most thought provoking thing I've read in a very long time!! I have miles of opinion on it, but I won't clog your comment feed :-)
ReplyDeletePersonally, I wouldn't reduce a pregnancy if I was having twins. From having a sister with Down Syndrome, I am very uncomfortable with the idea of playing God when it comes to pregnancy. She's totally amazing, and I was shocked when I recently read a quote that 90% of DS babies are aborted in North America thanks to prenatal testing. In a similar vein of thought, I think it's easy to get really scared and overwhelmed by the thought of having twins. Of course their are unique health concerns and it will change life dramatically, but at the same time, but how do we really know until it happens?! Nothing in life is certain. Ahh. such a slippery slope.
Yes, the prenatal testing is a bit scary. I had it done without really thinking about it, but now I wonder "what would have happened if I'd gotten a positive test?" Now that I have a child of my own, I know that there's no way I could ever terminate on those grounds. However, I do remember as a first-timer how much harder it is to relate to your baby, as you've never done it before. As you said, you never know what will happen until it happens!!
DeleteWow! I have never heard of that before. Quite controversial. I thought the line about ethics evolving with science and technology was interesting food for thought.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea what I'd do because I think every set of circumstances is unique. What are the medical reasons; what's best for mom/baby/family. Like a lot of parenting decisions I wouldn't judge someone who did or didn't reduce because I'm not them and don't know what's best for them.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, it's not for anyone to judge. I think it's just interesting to think about what I personally would do. But it's hard to say until you're in the situation :)
DeleteSuch a controversial procedure! I find it interesting that they compare it to abortions.......I find the 2 scenarios quite different. A woman facing an abortion is often doing so due to an 'unwanted' or unplanned pregnancy. This article is talking about women who have gone through years of ivf and treatments to become pregnant - quite the opposite! But then you look at someone like 'octomom' - was it responsible or ethical to allow her to carry that many babies?? A lot to think about! On a personal note I can not imagine going through this procedure. It sounds horrifying.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good point, the comparison between an abortion and a reduction. They are quite different...
DeleteYes, if I was suddenly pregnant with 8 babies, I have no doubt that I would do something in order to reduce the risk of losing all the babies. It becomes tricky with 2, as the article said - which one do you choose? Ugh, sounds awful!!
DeleteMy husband probably wouldn't be here if his mum had a reduction. He is a twin and I don't think that either him nor his sister would be happy kids if missing their "unborn" twin. They would be a "lone twin" and even if they wouldn't know about the other officially they would feel an unexplained emptiness inside. So knowing this I would never ever "take away" the twin of my child if I want it to be happy in life.
ReplyDeletePam
Pam, yes, I thought about that whole twin thing, and whether they would always know. I have friends where one twin died at birth - I wonder whether he ever felt the loss. The parents certainly talked openly about it with him.
DeleteAbsolutely not. Just my opinion, but how could you ever know you had done the right thing? And I would always wonder about the child who would have been. Maybe that's the crux of why--I believe they are a child right from the beginning, not tissue, not "the product of conception".
ReplyDeleteBut having said that, even though I completely disagree with reduction of multiples, it's not my decision to make for others. I just hope anyone considering it will also consider the possible emotional and psychological repercussions of the decision.
Right, and if your belief systems are that babies are babies (and not fetuses), then this procedure wouldn't be for you - unless, of course, it was medically necessary. I would hope that women would understand the emotional toll this might take. I'm not even sure it could be done here in Canada!
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