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How can these parents continue their pregnancy knowing their baby won't have a brain?

F

ForeverSilky

Banned
I just saw a site that encourages people that are going to have an anencephalic baby (born without a brain) to continue the pregnancy. They do this knowing that the child will just be a vegetable that won't be able to do anything on its own. Are these people so dillusional that they think the child will have a wonderful life? I would have an abortion, no doubt about it.

 
NOW remeber people, we are talking a baby with no brain.... I think thats whats called still birth. And they usually would, i guess bury the baby. but It might be emotionally less painfull for the mother if they did do induce labor very early. its scary to think about, no chance at all... making me more quesy than hanibal did.
 
What is Anencephaly?
Anencephaly is a neural tube defect (a disorder involving incomplete development of the brain, spinal
cord, and/or their protective coverings). The neural tube is a narrow sheath that folds and closes
between the 3rd and 4th weeks of pregnancy to form the brain and spinal cord of the embryo.
Anencephaly occurs when the "cephalic" or head end of the neural tube fails to close, resulting in the
absence of a major portion of the brain, skull, and scalp. Infants with this disorder are born without both
a forebrain (the front part of the brain) and a cerebrum (the thinking and coordinating area of the brain).
The remaining brain tissue is often exposed--not covered by bone or skin. The infant is usually blind,
deaf, unconscious, and unable to feel pain. Although some individuals with anencephaly may be born
with a rudimentary brain stem, the lack of a functioning cerebrum permanently rules out the possibility
of ever gaining consciousness. Reflex actions such as respiration (breathing) and responses to sound
or touch may occur. The cause of anencephaly is unknown. Although it is believed that the mother's
diet and vitamin intake may play a role, scientists believe that many other factors are also involved.

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/anencephaly_doc.htm


If they want to take care of something which is 'less than a dog' (in a manner of speaking), I don't really care, but an abortion would be the most logic choice.
 


<< I would have an abortion, no doubt about it. >>


No doubt.

Taking some posts in this place into consideration a lot of parents had another opinion in the past. j/k
 
Until you are the woman who is pregnant with that child, there is only person who can make that call, and it sure as hell isn't you.
 
Agreed, vi_edit, sometimes a woman can't have an abortion due to medical reasons. However, I still agree with ForeverSilky, if it was my wife and she could have an abortion, there would be no hessitation to have an abortion. There's already too many people in this world, and bringing in another one that will never have the opportunity to enjoy life is a disappointment.:disgust:
 


<< Until you are the woman who is pregnant with that child, there is only person who can make that call, and it sure as hell isn't you. >>



man i agree with you for the second time today...its beginning to become an ugly habit.
 
I would have the baby and allow its vital organs to be donated to babies in need. Generally speaking, anencephalic babies do not survive more than 24-48 hours outside of the womb. Unless things have changed dramatically, a diagnosis of anencephaly is a death sentence.

If I had a brain dead child on life support, that is also what I would do.

I would see to it that the baby felt my love for it every second it was alive and I would insist that it be given measures to avoid feeling pain, and I would honor its life by giving other children a chance to live.

The greatest good that can come from the greatest pain and tragedy is what I would shoot for.

Edit: From Elledan's link:

What is the prognosis?
The prognosis for individuals with anencephaly is extremely poor. If the infant is not stillborn, then he or she will usually die within a few hours or days after birth.

Given this reality, I would do exactly as I described above.
 
just to play devil's advocate, if you know the baby is going to die regardless of having an abortion, then you should do what ever will ease the suffering of the parents, especially the mother. If the mother 'believes' that there is hope for some kind of miracle or other supernatural intervention, then it would be wrong for that person to abort b/c she w0uld be reducing the chances for God to save her child. Now, I am agnostic and would certainly want my wife to abort the pregnancy, but for someone who is religious and defines herself through that religion then she should carry the baby to term, assuming that she is not endangering herself and remember what I said at the beginning too, the baby is doomed regardless.

no doubt, that woman will remember this baby for the rest of her life and its important that she does what she thinks is the 'right' thing to do.
 
Nothing wrong with carrying this baby to term, for a couple of reasons if not more. For one it's entirely up to the mother, no one else's input is of any real value. From the few that I've read about they usually do not live very long, minutes, hours, days I think is pushing it. The mother/parents actually would have a very good opportunity to donate organs to help another child have a go at life, that would be a very special way to remember your own baby who could not sustain life.

Not to mention, there are some truly horrific medical 'mistakes' made in assessing developmental defects prior to birth and I certainly wouldn't end a pregnancy until my facts had been verified - in triplicate - and even then I'd hold out some doubt and hope.
 
vi_edit summed it up perfectly for me. This is too emotional and personal of a subject to ever judge someone elses decision.
 
If it was mine, it would be out the moment I found out the news.

No point in making the female go through the ordeal for a vegetable.

I know sure as hell if I was a women pregnant with a baby like that, I would want it out ASAP, no need for the physical ordeal the body will go through.
Yea its a life, but frankly, a short and pointless one.
 
I'm in total agreement with vi_edit. It's easy for everyone to sit around and judge the situation, but until you're there, you really have no say in the matter.
 
No one is being asked to judge the situation, but for their opinions on the matter.
Yes you can't imagine how it is to know the life you made is in no way coming out right.
But persay YOU are having a child in that situation, what would YOU do?
Mabey the first post should have been in more of a question form.
 
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