Trisomy 13

Aside from getting a new Prime Minister, it has been a pretty sad couple of days.

My very good friend who is pregnant had her 12 week ultrasound yesterday and they found that her baby has severe deformities; it looks like it could be a disease called Trisomy 13, which means there are 13 chromosomes and a lot of difficulties with their health. My friend’s baby is alive, but there are some real issues. The chances of this baby surviving are very slim, they mostly don’t make it to birth and if born will struggle to live until their first birthday.

My friend text messaged me at 10am and couldn’t actually ring until 2pm because of all the tears. She was offered a termination, but she does not want to do that. There are all sorts of reasons, but who cares and that was her decision. She says she loves this baby already.

I really feel for her, I had an abortion many years ago when I was young and very silly and didn’t really think about it. I never told anybody either, which sort of makes it feel less real also. Now that I have my gorgeous baby I don’t think I could ever do it again, even if it meant having to care for a very sick bubby. It’s funny how priorities change and things you think about change as you get older.

It’s really weird this trisomy 13 thing, because a friend from mother’s group has a friend who also at her 12 week ultrasound found that her baby had the same thing. Her baby went to sleep yesterday, she also has one other child and had made a decision that she would wait and see what happens to the baby. Is it good or bad that it died?

My mum said she would pray that this happens to my friend’s baby too. I wondered what I should pray for. And basically I thought I would pray that whatever happens my friend is supported through it all because this baby must be pretty tough to still be alive with all its little problems. I’m just sending out vibes to the universe to be whatever my friend needs me to be.