[heretoday]

I had a termination 7 years ago for similar reasons and it was a VERY difficult decision to make. I found out at 17 weeks that my baby had severe spina bifida and fluid on the brain. I got a 2nd opinion and spoke to staff at Alder Hey who work with children affected by neural tube defects to try and help me with my decision. I was told my baby would have no quality of life, it would be paralysed and have bowel and bladder incontinence as well as problems with the brain.

At 18 weeks 6 days I was induced and gave birth to a sleeping daughter, my first child with my husband of just 4 months, and a very much wanted baby. It was very very sad and traumatic and it took me a long time to come to terms with.

All I can say is, what happened to me has changed me as a person into a much more compassionate and non-judgemental soul, and I am thankful for this. My husband and I never survived the year following this (and a move overseas) but I now have two healthy boys thanks to a prescription of high strength folic acid in both pregnancies.

I don't know what I would have done if it had been Down's Syndrome, but I don't envy anyone parent who finds themself in a position of trying to do what they believe is best for the child, the parents and other siblings.