I'm a carrier...

[maryann]

Christina,
I'm so sorry for your situation. I, too, just found out that I'm a carrier and we've known for over two years now that my husband is. My sister had cf, so I knew the chances were good that I was a carrier. We have a healthy two year old, but while we were pregnant with her, we got my husband carrier tested to try to rule out the possibility that she might have it. Well, he came back a carrier of DF508. My mutation I carry is rare, 4942insT, and we just now finished carrier test. I got the results Monday. My daughter doesn't have cf- she tested neg. for DF508- but may be a carrier. Anyway, the options we know of- pre implantation dx and prenatal dx, both involve termination of the embreo or fetus and I don't believe in that. My best friend says to just trust God, but God let my sister have it, and furthermore, my friend doesn't know anything about cf. We've been so blessed with one healthy child and have decided that my husband should get a vasectomy. Watching my sister live with- and die of- cf was too much for me to risk it with my child.
As far as options, have you considered adopting embreoes? A friend of mine who is considering ivf for fertility problems- not cf- said that the dr suggested they could sell unused embreos. I prefer the term adopt. But aparently, that is available. I don't know the cost, but the parents could be carrier tested, but be sure, and then you could be pregnant with and give birth to your children.
Whatever your decision, I know this is a hard time and I wish you the best of luck. I'll pray for you.

 

[maryann]

Christina,
I'm so sorry for your situation. I, too, just found out that I'm a carrier and we've known for over two years now that my husband is. My sister had cf, so I knew the chances were good that I was a carrier. We have a healthy two year old, but while we were pregnant with her, we got my husband carrier tested to try to rule out the possibility that she might have it. Well, he came back a carrier of DF508. My mutation I carry is rare, 4942insT, and we just now finished carrier test. I got the results Monday. My daughter doesn't have cf- she tested neg. for DF508- but may be a carrier. Anyway, the options we know of- pre implantation dx and prenatal dx, both involve termination of the embreo or fetus and I don't believe in that. My best friend says to just trust God, but God let my sister have it, and furthermore, my friend doesn't know anything about cf. We've been so blessed with one healthy child and have decided that my husband should get a vasectomy. Watching my sister live with- and die of- cf was too much for me to risk it with my child.
As far as options, have you considered adopting embreoes? A friend of mine who is considering ivf for fertility problems- not cf- said that the dr suggested they could sell unused embreos. I prefer the term adopt. But aparently, that is available. I don't know the cost, but the parents could be carrier tested, but be sure, and then you could be pregnant with and give birth to your children.
Whatever your decision, I know this is a hard time and I wish you the best of luck. I'll pray for you.

 

[maryann]

Christina,
I'm so sorry for your situation. I, too, just found out that I'm a carrier and we've known for over two years now that my husband is. My sister had cf, so I knew the chances were good that I was a carrier. We have a healthy two year old, but while we were pregnant with her, we got my husband carrier tested to try to rule out the possibility that she might have it. Well, he came back a carrier of DF508. My mutation I carry is rare, 4942insT, and we just now finished carrier test. I got the results Monday. My daughter doesn't have cf- she tested neg. for DF508- but may be a carrier. Anyway, the options we know of- pre implantation dx and prenatal dx, both involve termination of the embreo or fetus and I don't believe in that. My best friend says to just trust God, but God let my sister have it, and furthermore, my friend doesn't know anything about cf. We've been so blessed with one healthy child and have decided that my husband should get a vasectomy. Watching my sister live with- and die of- cf was too much for me to risk it with my child.
As far as options, have you considered adopting embreoes? A friend of mine who is considering ivf for fertility problems- not cf- said that the dr suggested they could sell unused embreos. I prefer the term adopt. But aparently, that is available. I don't know the cost, but the parents could be carrier tested, but be sure, and then you could be pregnant with and give birth to your children.
Whatever your decision, I know this is a hard time and I wish you the best of luck. I'll pray for you.

 

[maryann]

Christina,
I'm so sorry for your situation. I, too, just found out that I'm a carrier and we've known for over two years now that my husband is. My sister had cf, so I knew the chances were good that I was a carrier. We have a healthy two year old, but while we were pregnant with her, we got my husband carrier tested to try to rule out the possibility that she might have it. Well, he came back a carrier of DF508. My mutation I carry is rare, 4942insT, and we just now finished carrier test. I got the results Monday. My daughter doesn't have cf- she tested neg. for DF508- but may be a carrier. Anyway, the options we know of- pre implantation dx and prenatal dx, both involve termination of the embreo or fetus and I don't believe in that. My best friend says to just trust God, but God let my sister have it, and furthermore, my friend doesn't know anything about cf. We've been so blessed with one healthy child and have decided that my husband should get a vasectomy. Watching my sister live with- and die of- cf was too much for me to risk it with my child.
As far as options, have you considered adopting embreoes? A friend of mine who is considering ivf for fertility problems- not cf- said that the dr suggested they could sell unused embreos. I prefer the term adopt. But aparently, that is available. I don't know the cost, but the parents could be carrier tested, but be sure, and then you could be pregnant with and give birth to your children.
Whatever your decision, I know this is a hard time and I wish you the best of luck. I'll pray for you.

 

[maryann]

Christina,
I'm so sorry for your situation. I, too, just found out that I'm a carrier and we've known for over two years now that my husband is. My sister had cf, so I knew the chances were good that I was a carrier. We have a healthy two year old, but while we were pregnant with her, we got my husband carrier tested to try to rule out the possibility that she might have it. Well, he came back a carrier of DF508. My mutation I carry is rare, 4942insT, and we just now finished carrier test. I got the results Monday. My daughter doesn't have cf- she tested neg. for DF508- but may be a carrier. Anyway, the options we know of- pre implantation dx and prenatal dx, both involve termination of the embreo or fetus and I don't believe in that. My best friend says to just trust God, but God let my sister have it, and furthermore, my friend doesn't know anything about cf. We've been so blessed with one healthy child and have decided that my husband should get a vasectomy. Watching my sister live with- and die of- cf was too much for me to risk it with my child.
As far as options, have you considered adopting embreoes? A friend of mine who is considering ivf for fertility problems- not cf- said that the dr suggested they could sell unused embreos. I prefer the term adopt. But aparently, that is available. I don't know the cost, but the parents could be carrier tested, but be sure, and then you could be pregnant with and give birth to your children.
Whatever your decision, I know this is a hard time and I wish you the best of luck. I'll pray for you.

 

[mom2lillian]

I woudl not take the 1/4 risk of putting my child through such torture (even with my hsuabnd having screening there is a 1/500 chance and I am a bit quesy about it). I have never understood the poeple who 'take the gamble' though I know a real life family who did. My husband more understands that point of view but I just cant seem to get my head around it.

HOnestly, you will probably get a 'warmer' reception and feeling for it over here on the pregnancy boards because most of us are helahty enought to live with the disease long enough to have kids. You may also want to get the opinion of some in the families and adults section but beware this is a HOT topic.

I think my life is great and worth livving but had my mom intentionally handed me this fate I am not sure I am a big enough person to not have 'twinges' where I woudl feel very upset about it.

I did IVF so if you have any questions regarding that I would be happy to answer them.

 

[mom2lillian]

I woudl not take the 1/4 risk of putting my child through such torture (even with my hsuabnd having screening there is a 1/500 chance and I am a bit quesy about it). I have never understood the poeple who 'take the gamble' though I know a real life family who did. My husband more understands that point of view but I just cant seem to get my head around it.

HOnestly, you will probably get a 'warmer' reception and feeling for it over here on the pregnancy boards because most of us are helahty enought to live with the disease long enough to have kids. You may also want to get the opinion of some in the families and adults section but beware this is a HOT topic.

I think my life is great and worth livving but had my mom intentionally handed me this fate I am not sure I am a big enough person to not have 'twinges' where I woudl feel very upset about it.

I did IVF so if you have any questions regarding that I would be happy to answer them.

 

[mom2lillian]

I woudl not take the 1/4 risk of putting my child through such torture (even with my hsuabnd having screening there is a 1/500 chance and I am a bit quesy about it). I have never understood the poeple who 'take the gamble' though I know a real life family who did. My husband more understands that point of view but I just cant seem to get my head around it.

HOnestly, you will probably get a 'warmer' reception and feeling for it over here on the pregnancy boards because most of us are helahty enought to live with the disease long enough to have kids. You may also want to get the opinion of some in the families and adults section but beware this is a HOT topic.

I think my life is great and worth livving but had my mom intentionally handed me this fate I am not sure I am a big enough person to not have 'twinges' where I woudl feel very upset about it.

I did IVF so if you have any questions regarding that I would be happy to answer them.

 

[mom2lillian]

I woudl not take the 1/4 risk of putting my child through such torture (even with my hsuabnd having screening there is a 1/500 chance and I am a bit quesy about it). I have never understood the poeple who 'take the gamble' though I know a real life family who did. My husband more understands that point of view but I just cant seem to get my head around it.

HOnestly, you will probably get a 'warmer' reception and feeling for it over here on the pregnancy boards because most of us are helahty enought to live with the disease long enough to have kids. You may also want to get the opinion of some in the families and adults section but beware this is a HOT topic.

I think my life is great and worth livving but had my mom intentionally handed me this fate I am not sure I am a big enough person to not have 'twinges' where I woudl feel very upset about it.

I did IVF so if you have any questions regarding that I would be happy to answer them.

 

[mom2lillian]

I woudl not take the 1/4 risk of putting my child through such torture (even with my hsuabnd having screening there is a 1/500 chance and I am a bit quesy about it). I have never understood the poeple who 'take the gamble' though I know a real life family who did. My husband more understands that point of view but I just cant seem to get my head around it.

HOnestly, you will probably get a 'warmer' reception and feeling for it over here on the pregnancy boards because most of us are helahty enought to live with the disease long enough to have kids. You may also want to get the opinion of some in the families and adults section but beware this is a HOT topic.

I think my life is great and worth livving but had my mom intentionally handed me this fate I am not sure I am a big enough person to not have 'twinges' where I woudl feel very upset about it.

I did IVF so if you have any questions regarding that I would be happy to answer them.

 

[rubyroselee]

I find this topic very interesting. We all seem to have very different perspectives on this issue. I also would not want to see my child living with this disease; although, I know that if my child did have CF that I would teach it to enjoy the life they were given to the best of their ability. When my partner and I are asked what gender of baby we prefer for example, instead of saying, "We don't care, as long as it's healthy," we say, "We don't care, as long as it's happy." Of course we would never wish that something were wrong with our child, but we believe (as we are not religious people) that everyone and everything has a purpose - whether you are born "perfect" or not.

This is a very personal decision. And regardless of what I said above, I still do not know what I would do in your situation. Before I tried getting pregnant recently, I did find out the carrier status of our donor (as we are using a sperm donor). If he had been positive for a CF carrier, I HIGHLY doubt that I would risk the 50/50 chance of having a baby with CF. I believe it would be selfish of me to so just so that I can carry a biological child. I have other means of having children by my partner.

I wish you the best.

Leah 26 w/CF, mom to non-biological son, attempting to get pregnant with IUI currently
<img src="C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Desktop\landon in tub.jpg">

 

[rubyroselee]

I find this topic very interesting. We all seem to have very different perspectives on this issue. I also would not want to see my child living with this disease; although, I know that if my child did have CF that I would teach it to enjoy the life they were given to the best of their ability. When my partner and I are asked what gender of baby we prefer for example, instead of saying, "We don't care, as long as it's healthy," we say, "We don't care, as long as it's happy." Of course we would never wish that something were wrong with our child, but we believe (as we are not religious people) that everyone and everything has a purpose - whether you are born "perfect" or not.

This is a very personal decision. And regardless of what I said above, I still do not know what I would do in your situation. Before I tried getting pregnant recently, I did find out the carrier status of our donor (as we are using a sperm donor). If he had been positive for a CF carrier, I HIGHLY doubt that I would risk the 50/50 chance of having a baby with CF. I believe it would be selfish of me to so just so that I can carry a biological child. I have other means of having children by my partner.

I wish you the best.

Leah 26 w/CF, mom to non-biological son, attempting to get pregnant with IUI currently
<img src="C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Desktop\landon in tub.jpg">

 

[rubyroselee]

I find this topic very interesting. We all seem to have very different perspectives on this issue. I also would not want to see my child living with this disease; although, I know that if my child did have CF that I would teach it to enjoy the life they were given to the best of their ability. When my partner and I are asked what gender of baby we prefer for example, instead of saying, "We don't care, as long as it's healthy," we say, "We don't care, as long as it's happy." Of course we would never wish that something were wrong with our child, but we believe (as we are not religious people) that everyone and everything has a purpose - whether you are born "perfect" or not.

This is a very personal decision. And regardless of what I said above, I still do not know what I would do in your situation. Before I tried getting pregnant recently, I did find out the carrier status of our donor (as we are using a sperm donor). If he had been positive for a CF carrier, I HIGHLY doubt that I would risk the 50/50 chance of having a baby with CF. I believe it would be selfish of me to so just so that I can carry a biological child. I have other means of having children by my partner.

I wish you the best.

Leah 26 w/CF, mom to non-biological son, attempting to get pregnant with IUI currently
<img src="C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Desktop\landon in tub.jpg">

 

[rubyroselee]

I find this topic very interesting. We all seem to have very different perspectives on this issue. I also would not want to see my child living with this disease; although, I know that if my child did have CF that I would teach it to enjoy the life they were given to the best of their ability. When my partner and I are asked what gender of baby we prefer for example, instead of saying, "We don't care, as long as it's healthy," we say, "We don't care, as long as it's happy." Of course we would never wish that something were wrong with our child, but we believe (as we are not religious people) that everyone and everything has a purpose - whether you are born "perfect" or not.

This is a very personal decision. And regardless of what I said above, I still do not know what I would do in your situation. Before I tried getting pregnant recently, I did find out the carrier status of our donor (as we are using a sperm donor). If he had been positive for a CF carrier, I HIGHLY doubt that I would risk the 50/50 chance of having a baby with CF. I believe it would be selfish of me to so just so that I can carry a biological child. I have other means of having children by my partner.

I wish you the best.

Leah 26 w/CF, mom to non-biological son, attempting to get pregnant with IUI currently
<img src="C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Desktop\landon in tub.jpg">

 

[rubyroselee]

I find this topic very interesting. We all seem to have very different perspectives on this issue. I also would not want to see my child living with this disease; although, I know that if my child did have CF that I would teach it to enjoy the life they were given to the best of their ability. When my partner and I are asked what gender of baby we prefer for example, instead of saying, "We don't care, as long as it's healthy," we say, "We don't care, as long as it's happy." Of course we would never wish that something were wrong with our child, but we believe (as we are not religious people) that everyone and everything has a purpose - whether you are born "perfect" or not.

This is a very personal decision. And regardless of what I said above, I still do not know what I would do in your situation. Before I tried getting pregnant recently, I did find out the carrier status of our donor (as we are using a sperm donor). If he had been positive for a CF carrier, I HIGHLY doubt that I would risk the 50/50 chance of having a baby with CF. I believe it would be selfish of me to so just so that I can carry a biological child. I have other means of having children by my partner.

I wish you the best.

Leah 26 w/CF, mom to non-biological son, attempting to get pregnant with IUI currently
<img src="C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Desktop\landon in tub.jpg">

 

[braydenzmom]

hi christina...i think it's wonderful that you had the testing done before you got pregnant. i am only 22 years old, and i found out i was pregnant in april. i am now 34 weeks anxiously awaiting the arrival of my little boy. at my first prenatal visit i was given the carrier screening. come to find out, i carry the DF508 gene, therefore they wanted to test my fiance. turns out he carries the R117H gene. so it was explained to us about the 25% (1 in 4) chance, and it was requested that i get an amnio. they did the amnio at around 16 weeks. the results took almost 4 weeks. it was one of the worst days of my life. our little boy has CF. how could it be possible? i had no idea what CF was, now i was expected to raise a child with the disease? for me, abortion was not an option. i was already 20 weeks, and the previous ultrasound had showed my little angel sucking his thumb. so there was just no way i could do it. my fiance and i are very young and it was extremely overwhelming at first, but i did my research, and i am trying my best to educate myself before hes born. ive already found him a pediatrician and a pediatric pulmonologist. at first it felt like NO ONE in my family truly felt the pain i was going through. now everyone is being nothing but supportive. its a very personal decision, but with all the treatments available now, i am hopeful. we are planning on having one more child in the next few years, and we will love BOTH of our kids with everything we have. CF or not. good luck in whatever decision you end up making.

 

[braydenzmom]

hi christina...i think it's wonderful that you had the testing done before you got pregnant. i am only 22 years old, and i found out i was pregnant in april. i am now 34 weeks anxiously awaiting the arrival of my little boy. at my first prenatal visit i was given the carrier screening. come to find out, i carry the DF508 gene, therefore they wanted to test my fiance. turns out he carries the R117H gene. so it was explained to us about the 25% (1 in 4) chance, and it was requested that i get an amnio. they did the amnio at around 16 weeks. the results took almost 4 weeks. it was one of the worst days of my life. our little boy has CF. how could it be possible? i had no idea what CF was, now i was expected to raise a child with the disease? for me, abortion was not an option. i was already 20 weeks, and the previous ultrasound had showed my little angel sucking his thumb. so there was just no way i could do it. my fiance and i are very young and it was extremely overwhelming at first, but i did my research, and i am trying my best to educate myself before hes born. ive already found him a pediatrician and a pediatric pulmonologist. at first it felt like NO ONE in my family truly felt the pain i was going through. now everyone is being nothing but supportive. its a very personal decision, but with all the treatments available now, i am hopeful. we are planning on having one more child in the next few years, and we will love BOTH of our kids with everything we have. CF or not. good luck in whatever decision you end up making.

 

[braydenzmom]

hi christina...i think it's wonderful that you had the testing done before you got pregnant. i am only 22 years old, and i found out i was pregnant in april. i am now 34 weeks anxiously awaiting the arrival of my little boy. at my first prenatal visit i was given the carrier screening. come to find out, i carry the DF508 gene, therefore they wanted to test my fiance. turns out he carries the R117H gene. so it was explained to us about the 25% (1 in 4) chance, and it was requested that i get an amnio. they did the amnio at around 16 weeks. the results took almost 4 weeks. it was one of the worst days of my life. our little boy has CF. how could it be possible? i had no idea what CF was, now i was expected to raise a child with the disease? for me, abortion was not an option. i was already 20 weeks, and the previous ultrasound had showed my little angel sucking his thumb. so there was just no way i could do it. my fiance and i are very young and it was extremely overwhelming at first, but i did my research, and i am trying my best to educate myself before hes born. ive already found him a pediatrician and a pediatric pulmonologist. at first it felt like NO ONE in my family truly felt the pain i was going through. now everyone is being nothing but supportive. its a very personal decision, but with all the treatments available now, i am hopeful. we are planning on having one more child in the next few years, and we will love BOTH of our kids with everything we have. CF or not. good luck in whatever decision you end up making.

 

[braydenzmom]

hi christina...i think it's wonderful that you had the testing done before you got pregnant. i am only 22 years old, and i found out i was pregnant in april. i am now 34 weeks anxiously awaiting the arrival of my little boy. at my first prenatal visit i was given the carrier screening. come to find out, i carry the DF508 gene, therefore they wanted to test my fiance. turns out he carries the R117H gene. so it was explained to us about the 25% (1 in 4) chance, and it was requested that i get an amnio. they did the amnio at around 16 weeks. the results took almost 4 weeks. it was one of the worst days of my life. our little boy has CF. how could it be possible? i had no idea what CF was, now i was expected to raise a child with the disease? for me, abortion was not an option. i was already 20 weeks, and the previous ultrasound had showed my little angel sucking his thumb. so there was just no way i could do it. my fiance and i are very young and it was extremely overwhelming at first, but i did my research, and i am trying my best to educate myself before hes born. ive already found him a pediatrician and a pediatric pulmonologist. at first it felt like NO ONE in my family truly felt the pain i was going through. now everyone is being nothing but supportive. its a very personal decision, but with all the treatments available now, i am hopeful. we are planning on having one more child in the next few years, and we will love BOTH of our kids with everything we have. CF or not. good luck in whatever decision you end up making.

 

[braydenzmom]

hi christina...i think it's wonderful that you had the testing done before you got pregnant. i am only 22 years old, and i found out i was pregnant in april. i am now 34 weeks anxiously awaiting the arrival of my little boy. at my first prenatal visit i was given the carrier screening. come to find out, i carry the DF508 gene, therefore they wanted to test my fiance. turns out he carries the R117H gene. so it was explained to us about the 25% (1 in 4) chance, and it was requested that i get an amnio. they did the amnio at around 16 weeks. the results took almost 4 weeks. it was one of the worst days of my life. our little boy has CF. how could it be possible? i had no idea what CF was, now i was expected to raise a child with the disease? for me, abortion was not an option. i was already 20 weeks, and the previous ultrasound had showed my little angel sucking his thumb. so there was just no way i could do it. my fiance and i are very young and it was extremely overwhelming at first, but i did my research, and i am trying my best to educate myself before hes born. ive already found him a pediatrician and a pediatric pulmonologist. at first it felt like NO ONE in my family truly felt the pain i was going through. now everyone is being nothing but supportive. its a very personal decision, but with all the treatments available now, i am hopeful. we are planning on having one more child in the next few years, and we will love BOTH of our kids with everything we have. CF or not. good luck in whatever decision you end up making.