Noe's Neck Thickness

For those of you who wondered what the previous post was all about, lemme tell you a bit about what happened this Saturday. We had our pregnancy check up, and Dr. Cheng did the Neck Thickness measurement, where we would be able to find out the likelihood of having Down's Syndrome (DS). We were sad to know that the neck thickness (of 2.8mm) was beyond normal limit, and increased the likelihood of having DS (1 : 500 likelihood). DS. Dr. Cheng then arranged for OSCAR testing the next monday to find out the risk in greater detail.

However, while waiting for the OSCAR test to take place on Monday, we were sad and panicked, and started to think of the worst case scenario. If the monday test came out positive high-risk, we may be recommended do Amniocentesis to diagnose the genetic condition, to then decide either to terminate the pregnancy or not. The possibility of being given recommendation to terminate pregnancy really upsets us, we can't believe that this little living thing should die if DS is proven to be positive. How unfair it is! Why DS baby can't be given a chance to live? Moreover, a few weeks ago, we saw the baby waving at us through the USG scanner! What can be more obvious to show that the baby is indeed a living being!

Hence we decided, to keep the baby, whatever condition he/she is in. We believe that there must be a reason for every baby being born, and all babies are a blessing in whatever condition. Perhaps there is no such thing as a bad condition for the baby. As Mas Indi elaborated, "A problem is a solution that you don't like", meaning, a supposedly bad condition of the baby is actually a blessing and there is something good in it - a purpose and a reason -, which we adult may not like.

Then I thought of other things. I have a friend who aborted her babies, just because they were conceived outside of marriage. I really cannot believe that somebody have a heart to do this. Now that we are faced with this possibility of having to choose, it becomes difficult for me to comprehend my friend's action.

Anyway, we were preparing ourselves for any possible outcome of the test over the weekend. We were "pasrah", and prepared to accept our baby in whatever condition God has given him/her.

We had the second neck thickness scan on Monday (part of the OSCAR test) and the result came out to be different from the Saturday's test. The NT was 2.5 mm, which is at the higher end but still within the normal range. This gives us a sense of relief.

The blood test result (hCG and PAPP-A) was then combined with the NT scan result, giving a combined risk factor of 1 : 8185. The smaller risk number ruled out the need of having further Amniocentesis test, and we would not have to choose either to terminate the pregnancy or not (Again, we will not terminate the pregnancy even if the OSCAR test was proven to be high-risk!). Thank you God to give clearer picture of the pregnancy condition.

The saga over the weekend really woke me up, and felt how important is the baby to our life. It taught me to take a better care of the baby. It taught me to be grateful of whatever good and "bad" thing God has given us. It taught me to "pasrah", to give every matters to the hand of the Creator.

Please pray for Noe so that he/she will be a healthy and happy baby!