Every pregnant woman, who has already done blood analysis, which shows that her baby has down syndrome can make genetic investigation-Amniocentesis free of charge at Ghudushauri National Medical Center to assure the fact in maximum 15weeks pregnancy .After the first shocking reaction comes the question; if the mother and Georgian society is ready for having children like this.
The geneticist Lali Margvelashvili says that Amniocentesis in Georgia is performed for one year. Ultrasound investigation can show in earliest 11weeks pregnancy if there is the chance the fetus can have Down syndrome. Blood analyze could be only 80% true and that’s why they do Amniocentesis, which is 100%correct.It is a medical procedure in which a small amount of fluid, which contains fetal tissues is examined for genetic abnormalities. In 15weeks pregnancy, when abortion is possible it’s up to mother what will she decides. As Margvelashvili says there is no exact statistics In Georgia about the number of pregnant women with Down syndrome.”AS I know 23cases were found out with Down syndrome during prenatal diagnosis in our clinic last year, “says Margvelashvili.She can’t say exact numbers but some of them decided to make an abortion.
Psychotherapeutic Lika Tushishvili also agrees that there is no exact statistic about the people with Down syndrome in Georgia. As she says the reason could be that families are ashamed of having the children like this.”There is some kind of assistance for the children with Down syndrome in our country, but the families refuse to take this because they don’t want to talk loud about the issue, “says Tushishvili.When a few families turn to the psychologist expensive procedure-about GEL25 for an hour to help their child, they should realize that first they need help. “The parent must adjust the idea, that their child is a little bit different, with law mental abilities, but as normal member of the society as any of us in the world. Psychologist also helps the child to feel the same and makes him feel that he has the right to be happy with his life, “says Tushishvili.
The mother of 3year-year-old Sergi Stepanishvili still hopes that her son visually looks like as to be born with Down syndrome and the proper treatment can cure him. During prenatal care she knew nothing. When she found out after the childbirth that her baby had Down syndrome she thought to live him in the puerperal, but her elder daughter didn’t let her do this. Now everything has changed, the whole family cares with a lot of love about him, but as almost all the parents of this kind of children in Georgia they are reluctant to talk about this problem sociably. Although they live very needy they try to do their best and do investigations for improving his condition. As the pediatrician of Stepanishvili says he doesn’t have any extra complications with his health:”Mostly he has cough problem. In all his health condition is satisfactory this time”.
Worldwide is estimated the incidence of Down syndrome 1 per 800 to 1,000 births. Stephanie Dietrich was seven month pregnant when she found out that her baby could be born with Down syndrome. Since that time the whole family including elder daughter Sophie 10, started getting used to the Idea that Marie is as ordinary person as they are and have the same rights as every human in the world. “It would be extremely difficult to decide abortion or not in the very moment, if I had ability to make genetic investigation of Down syndrome in early pregnancy. But I think I would choose the life of my child, “said Mrs. Dietrich mother of 5-year-old Marie:”Sure a lot of things changed after her birth. She needs a lot of and especial care, it’s hard, but Marie is my life.” Now Mrs. Dietrich is an active member of the Family Association which has children with Down syndrome In Germany to encourage young mothers who find out with early testing that they could have the children with the same symptoms not to make abortion and get used to it.
Down syndrome is a combination of birth defects, including some degree of mental retardation and characteristic facial features; an unusually round face, an abnormally small chin, protruding or oversized tongue, an almond shape to the eyes. Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 21st chromosome.
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