Isn't this against some sort of medical code?

Have you heard the story of our third child? In the big scheme of things, it's not much, but in our little family, it's a doozy. (If you've heard this before, scroll down a few paragraphs!)

I'm at the dentist, 3 year old KT in tow so she can see mommy at the dentist. Just a cleaning and quick check up. Then the doctor says, "could you be pregnant?" HA! ME? PREGNANT? It took 6 years of trying (REALLY trying) to make the first one, and a ton of drugs to get her and her brother, so NO, I could not be PREGNANT for heaven's sake. 

(See, I was in a trial for gum disease meds to get free dental care, and they need to know these things, so they ask.)

So the nurse says, "would you mind giving us a sample so we can be sure?" Sample!?! Like it's a little cup of Hamburger Helper at the Sam's Club or something. Sure, I'll pee in a cup for ya. LOL :D

20 minutes later, (where is that darn nurse anyway, did she go on break or something?), she drops three little sticks in  my lap and says, "you're pregnant, go home". Ruh-Roh.

I'm 40 and pregnant. Hubby's out of town, so there's phone call number one. "You driving? No? Sure? Ok, well guess what?"

Call the parents second, and all of a sudden I feel like a 16-year-old unwed mother talking to my Pastor Dad. Kind and compassionate, Pastor Dad says, "Well, honey, we know what causes that!" Thanks Pops.

Once the dust settles, the panic sets in. Crap. We just sold the high chair and saucer and all the baby stuff. Crap, we don't have room for a third car seat. Crap, crap, crap. The good news is I'm not this tired because I have diabetes. Small blessings.

But the big panic is just starting. The OB/GYN says WHAT?? Get IN here, according to our best estimates you could be three months pregnant! And this is a GERIATRIC pregnancy. (Yep, actually all three of mine were geriatric pregnancies. Go figure).

So for this baby, we decide to have an amnio. We never did for the other two, because it is what it is, and we'll love the baby no matter what. And even though abortion was never and still is not an option, this time I feel I need some information. We're living on one income in one of the most expensive states in the country, I have one child with special needs getting 3 times a week therapy, a husband that is newly diagnosed with MS, and I REALLY need to know what I'm getting into here.  Even just knowing girl or boy would be helpful, as we have to get all new stuff.

As most of you know, everything was fine, baby number three came out the genetic rebel - with Pastor Dad's blue eyes and Oma's blonde hair, and she's the light of our lives. But I can't help thinking that had it been different, and were we facing challenges, having time to prepare financially, mentally, and educationally would have meant everything. We could have prepared the families, marshaled our resources, and brought that baby into the best possible situation.

And then this.

I am stunned at the news out of Kansas about legislation that would immunize from prosecution a doctor who discovers that a baby will be born with a devastating condition and deliberately withholds that information from his patient. The thought is that if the doctor opposes abortion, he/she could deliberately withhold information if they think the mother might wish to abort.

Holy Shit. And it's not just Kansas. Oklahoma has a similar law, and Arizona is considering it.
 
Let me see if I understand this, I'm PAYING for a test to determine the health of my unborn baby, and you can LIE to me about the results? Excuse me? Seriously? And you think this helps things HOW?

I find this truly disturbing. If you can't trust your doctor to tell you the truth, what sort of society do we have here. Do I have to give my doctor a moral fibre test before I hire them to care for my health? Maybe swear an oath to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

And what about the baby I could have had? Would I have been broadsided in the delivery room trying to take in a complicated diagnosis and dealing with family, friends and siblings on the fly? Is that any way to bring a child into the world, to parents who have no clue how to properly provide care for her? Especially when that's avoidable?

And hey, talk about big government intrusion! Conservatives, where are you now? Let's get the 'Gummint' out of our lives and not let them tell us what to do. Where are all the people who oppose helmet and seatbelt laws? They should be up in arms about this one!

This is simply not acceptable, and reasonable people need to stand up and say so. If a doctor doesn't want to give a woman information that could lead to an abortion, I think it's time for a new specialty!

If you can't convince people to not abort difficult pregnancies on principle, tricking them into having a baby with such challenges is surely as unconscionable as aborting that baby.