I pose the question, if you knew you had a genetic condition and there was a high probability of passing it on to your children, would you have kids?

Flip reverse it, if you had a genetic condition and there was, say, 1 in 600 billion chance...i refer you to the question above.

Would you think more about yourself and the desire to have children rather then the aftermath.

Remember, we're not talking about a baby in the womb who we'll say has downs, we're talking about prior to conception knowledge.

Be interesting to see how folks justify things.

Nope

I think I would choose to adopt. Most of my life if I ever envisioned children in my future, I had always thought adoption anyway.
But then again, I don't know you can ever really be sure. And if I found myself pregnant and that were a possibility, I wouldn't end the pregnancy.

I'm not crazy about the idea of having kids in the first place, so I'll say no. I'm just not good with "baby" speak. The thought of being responsible for a child scares me too. Their life is in your hands for at least 18 years. I'd wanna die if something happened to my child.

One of my very best friends has hemophilia. He is one of the sweetest, smartest, nicest, most talented people on earth and it would have been a huge shame if his birth parents had decided to not have a child. They did decide for whatever reason to place him for adoption and let some wonderful people raise him. Despite becoming HIV possitive from blood transfusions, he has had a long and worthwhile life.
I suppose it would depend on the illness but I don't think it would be the deciding factor really. All children have something to give the world even if their life is brief.

I think it's scary that some parents are starting to make their decision whether or not to have kids based on their genetic predisposition. In many countries if you are likely to have a child with a genetic condition the medical community will almost bully you into deciding not to have a child or to have an abortion if the pregnancy has already occurred. To me, this strongly reminds me of the nazis and their "racial hygiene" policies. Every child is welcome into this world in my opinion.

Maybe if the risk of a life-long, completely incapacitating condition was close to 100% I would think twice about it, but otherwise no. Besides, the issue wouldn't come up for me anyway since I would never ask to have my or my woman's genetic predisposition looked at beforehand. Some things are better left alone.

Like said before, I would Adopt.
I have no problem with adoption whatsoever. Nor do i have a problem with having my own kids. But, If A disease made me chose between adopt and having one. I'd most certainly adopt. Without a doubt.

SaraWright10 said:

Would you adopt one with a disease or handicap? Or would it have to be perfectly healthy?

You seem to be kind of against women wanting babies or something

As for me I don't think I'd take the chance unless the odds were greatly in favor of not passing it on. BUT I'm not sure that I ever want kids anyway so it's not as big a deal for me.

For a lot of women (it seems) there's an actual URGE to have a child. It's not necessarily "justifiable" or "logical", it just IS. So I can understand someone weighing their options b/c they really wanted a child. It may not be the right thing to do in the case where it's likely to pass it on, but I do understand the want
[Edited 5/26/07 7:57am]

shellyevon said:

perfectly healthy

I know that sounds shallow, and cold hearted but I am the worst with handling diseases and MH.
it's so hard for me. I wish i could but i just can't

retina said:

I agree. I think it would depend on many, many factors. How well you trust your doctor's "diagnosis" would be key as well as what type of disease, etc. If I thought I'd have a diabetic child (which diabetes runs in my family), I'd think nothing of it. But I admit, certain things might make me take pause. But again, I'm also predisposed to adoption anyway. Plenty of children already need our care, no need for me to "make" more.

SaraWright10 said:

Well if that's shallow & cold, I'm the queen of shallow & cold. Life is hard enough & raising a child is the most important thing anyone can ever do. As a selfish person who know's I may not make the best mother, I know for damn sure that a kid with mental or physical challenges deserves much more care & patience than I'm equipped to give. Why volunarily make a tough situation (raising kids) even tougher? It's one thing if that's the hand you're dealt but givent the choice, if I ever adopt I want the kid to be as healthy as possible...

CalhounSq said:

THANK YOU! I thought I was the only person in the world who couldn't handle it.

SaraWright10 said:

Nah, it's gotta be the toughest thing one can do. It takes really amazing people to give of themselves like that. I wish every kid with special needs had that kind of support

Muscular Dystrophy runs in my family. I had three uncles and two cousins with the disease.

My uncles and cousins were GREAT people and would always say that it was better to be born than not at all so I think the women (who carry the gene) never thought about not having children because we knew the full lives they could have. Also, my uncles and cousins had a slower progressing MD. My cousins and one uncle died in their twenties. Another uncle, the only one that had a hard time with having MD, committed suicide in his 30s. My other uncle lived until he was 60, had two kids and three grandchildren. He would remind us that he has lived just as long as some so-called "healthy" people. He passed away in 2005. When he was on the way to the hospital, his daughter, of course, was crying and very upset. My uncle reminded her that he has lived longer than most and even longer than was predicted. He was told he'd be dead by the age of 15. Most of them were told this and all lived longer.

Because of this experience, I never thought about it beyond that I would love and care for the child no matter what. Children with disabilities are just as much as a blessing. I would never even think twice about adopting a child with a disability.

Some ppl have healthy children and raise them to be demonic evil hateful children. Which is worse?

no.
I understand that this makes me selfish and cowardly in a way.
But I wouldn't want a kid growing up with a condition that could cause pain or kill. and let's face it, people can be very very cruel.
Parents who have had children who are aware of those risks are far more brave than I am.

No.I don't wanna my child suffer 4 all of its life.I would prefer 2 adopt 1.
And no I don't think it's selfish @ all cuz with that move u don't bring in life a child who will suffer all of its life and will have the same problem and dillema with me so no.

its funny that "healthy" ppl think those with illnesses and disabilities are "suffering".

Suffering is relative.

This issue really is having a child when your marriage is messed up or to save a relationship.


Those children have it worse.

Whatever I think now, if actually put in the position, I don't know for sure what I'd decide to do.....people change their values and logic when faced with reality.
depends on the genetic disorder, survival, etc.....if survival isn't likely, then no.

CalhounSq said:

I don't think it's shallow and cold, I was just asking.

The thing is, a child can be perfectly healthy and things can change so fast, an accident, a serious illness. From healthy to handicapped in a matter of minutes or hours.
Once you have a child,it is yours no matter what happens, whether you adopt them or not.

No way. I think it's simply cruel to have children knowing there's a good chance of passing on the illness.

No.

Nope....adoption!!!!

my friend has cystic fibrosis in her family, her brother and cousin died at young ages. She has made the decision not to have children, although her other brother has had 2 children, both healthy.

It's a tough call, I think. I would do the same in her position I think. Horrible quality of life for the child

I have a Chromosomal Disorder called Turner Syndrome... I can't concieve but if by some miracle of nature I did, it would most likely be a female baby and there is a very very high percentage chance she would not only have Turners also, but spontaneously abort.

for that reason I will never have a child with any of my DNA naturally or with help like IVF.

shellyevon said:

That is so true.....I dont find it shallow and or cold ether..
I have been thrown into a tough spot with a sweet little girl who was born rather early.. for about a week she was healthy then slowly got sicker and sicker. as her liver didnt fully develupe. She spent quite a while in the hospital..Shes doing much better now but will most likely run into problems again as she gets older.. I may not be her birth mother nor an adoptive mother but strick me dead if I would want anything but having her around.

all babys have risks of becoming ill in many differant ways sometimes alot worse than a genetic illness.
But then everyone has their own veiws on matters like this.

Having a genetic illness myself even though its not that bad (at times) I wouldnt let it stop me from having children of my own if I really wanted them.