I am one of the first to say YAY to medical advancement and new technology. I really can’t imagine living back years ago when we didn’t have the treatments or testing capabilities that we do now. I was one of those that HAD to find out what the sex of my baby was when I was pregnant. I even went as far as doing the Draino test. Ever heard of it?
I have talked before on my blog about the new way to find out the sex of your baby at five weeks. Yup, FIVE weeks. I seriously cannot imagine. Anyway, the latest little tidbit I have found has to do with genetic testing.
According to the article I read in the Los Angeles Times, there is now a DNA test out there that can tell you the genetic risks your child has. These are AT-HOME tests. Yes, like a pregnancy stick!
In a poll by CS Mott Children’s Hospital asking parents if they would want to know this information, more than half of the parents were interested in the test.
Would you want to know your child’s risks? I think if I knew my child was predisposed to something like diabetes it may be a good thing. You know, an incentive for better eating and lifestyle. Although, it does make me think about all the false positives out there with any test (not that a healthy lifestyle would hurt anyone). But, if someone is using this at home can they really take the results seriously? Will it cause paranoia? It then brings me to treatment. You know, some people are drug happy. Would we have parents calling the pediatrician saying, “I took a DNA test and my son is going to have diabetes, I need a prescription for him”.
Get this…these are not the only tests out there. There are also tests that are supposed to tell you what your child’s passion, personality, and likes are. Now, I don’t know…but that seems maybe a little too “Frankenstein” to me. You never know though, 25 years down the road this may be the norm.
What about you? Would you want to have this little glimpse into the future if you could?
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
i wish I could say that “no, I’d be able to turn away from the opportunity to take those tests, who needs ‘em?”
But I know myself better than that. I am an information sponge and I like to soak it all up, sometimes to my own detriment.
Hate that about me. Because in this situation, yes, you have to worry about false positives, or spending months of pregnancy maybe not being abl eto actually do anything about the results you’ve received…the list goes on.
.-= gigi´s last blog ..Unrequited Love =-.
I agree that medical advancements are a bit of a double-edged sword. Anything “at home” does more trouble than good, in my opinion. Cuz even if laboratory testing produces false positives, I can only imagine what people at home would end up with.
.-= liz´s last blog ..Just Me &38 My Girls =-.
i don’t think i would. ugh, i dunno. i’m a hypochondriac as is and i don’t think i need to add any fuel to the fire…
but i do see where it would come in handy in learning about a child’s genetically predisposed diseases. but then again how accurate are the tests?
this is a tough one…
I too wanted to know the sex of my children but at 5 weeks that’s the last thing on my mind. At that point, i’m trying to get through the critical phase. I was 35 when I was pregnant with my last child. That’s when they do the screenings. It came up positive and they wanted to do further testing. I wasn’t interested because no matter the health of my baby….She was still my baby.
I think this is going to far. Soon we will start hearing things like “my child is will eventually have diabetes and could lose limbs, I’d rather have an abortion and try again than have my son or daughter live with a leg.”
It’s to much. Let mother nature do her job. Birth and pregnancy should be a wonderful, natural experience not an experience full of fear and paranoia. Focus on all the good, the hopes and dreams and wonder of a new child instead of what could be 40 years from now.
.-= Angelia´s last blog ..Teaser Tuesday! =-.
On one hand, I would like to know what kind of challenges might come up. But on the other hand, I wouldn’t want that knowledge to completely rule my life.
Wow sex determination at 5 WEEKS?? That’s NUTS!
.-= Salt´s last blog ..Guess who is awesome =-.
I can see people abusing these tests to engineer the “perfect” family (you know, get the son they’ve always wanted, etc). However, as someone whose child had a 50 percent chance of being born with CF, I would want to know what (if anything) my child would need in order to survive. For many families, early testing would allow them the early interventions that could save lives.
.-= Kelly´s last blog ..The King =-.
You know what – humans won’t ever reproduce!! You know you are gonna have a little being demand 200% of your time, poop all over you, then be a bratty teen, then an ungrateful 20 year old…..seriously – do I need to know MORE?
Nope.
Swati
I wouldn’t use those tests. If they’re not reliable – like 100%, it seems like pointless worry to me.
.-= Momma Drama´s last blog ..My Mom =-.
I think genetic testing is good for knowing things about certain inherited diseases that people may be born with.
I never heard of the peeing on the stick thing, but my husband and I did do genetic testing via blood work to determine if we were carriers for certain genetically inherited diseases like Tay Sachs, etc.,
If we both would have been carriers then we would choose to have an in vitro pregnancy where the doctor can extricate the specific gene for that disease.
In these cases, I think it’s a miracle to be able to have technology as a preventative means of children inheriting terrible diseases such as Tay sachs, sickle cell anemia, muscular dystrophy, hemophilia, etc.,
As far as being able to predict if your child will have diabetes, I don’t know if it’s that simple since the more common diabetes type two, is related to a sedentary lifestyle and diet habits. Many times it is a genetic factor, but can easily be prevented through lifestyle modification unless you’re type one and you have a defect in insulin production.
On the other hand, I think using technology to determine a child’s superficial characteristics, such as looks, personality, talents is going a bit too far. The idea in mind is that people will soon be able to pick which genes they want for their kids. blond or brunette, brown eyes or blue eyes…. It takes away from the authentic uniqueness of each person. It’s like creating robots.
Oh and I would definitely be curious to know that sex of my child at five weeks too, but I would never want to pick out the sex in the first place via technology.
.-= JoJo´s last blog ..Hands Are For Slapping =-.
I think all that genetic testing is going a little too far. It’s one thing to find out the sex of your baby but quite another to know EVERY single detail including theoretical risks and personality traits. I say let your children declare who they are by living their life w/o parents living in fear of what diseases they “might” end up getting or what possible “negative” personality traits they may possess. I do believe to a certain extent in the self fulfilling prophecy…so who needs that hanging over their heads? Great topic Dalia!
.-= Melissa (Confessions of a Dr.Mom)´s last blog ..10 Signs My Son Is Entering the Crazy World of BOYS =-.
I truly wish there had been something to let us know about Julia’s hearing before our late diagnosis at age 3. She passed a newborn hearing screen and we were left to find out on our own anyway.
My own experience gives me mixed feelings about tests for other stuff. The results could give you a false sense of security and you might not notice the signs that would lead you to a proper diagnosis. Alternately, it could make you anxious for no reason.
Unless it works well it’s bound to be nothing but aggravation.
.-= Joey @ Big Teeth & Clouds´s last blog ..AG Bell Session- Humor =-.
I am so flip-flopping on this issue.
I do think it’s going too far in most cases. Parents can undergo genetic testing to determine what their future or present children are at risk for… there’s no need to get so technical with the unborn unless you have a REAL reason for concern that would require further testing.
Finding out your baby’s sex at 5 weeks? I wouldn’t want to know that early… what if it ends in miscarriage? Having had one.. I think that the bond i’d have had with that baby would have been even stronger if I’d have been able to call ‘him’ a him or her… emotionally that would’ve been so much harder on me. And, seriously, can we not wait for ANYTHING anymore? I found out the sexes of all my kids at 20 weeks.. and it was tough for me to wait that long! lol But, that’s part of the excitement of pregnancy! Live it up and stop rushing everything folks!
.-= Mandy´s last blog ..Will My Hair Hold me Back =-.
I am not sure it is a great idea to do a test like this at home. If I were to have another child I’d be in the “advanced maternal age” category where you have to have some genetic testing. I think it is best to do this kind of stuff with a professional who can help you understand the results and your options.
I wouldn’t – I just wouldn’t want to be put in the position to have to make a decision that would be too difficult. I refused all optional tests with mine; once the baby was born, I believed we’d all manage. However, I COMPLETELY understand the arguments of those who would. We all cope in the way we need to, and know what’s best for our family.
.-= parentingadabsurdum´s last blog ..Life with boys =-.
I wouldn’t want any type of DNA testing. I’d rather just deal with whatever situation I’m faced with.
.-= Mocha Dad´s last blog ..Mocha Dad and Moms- Overcoming the Fear of Failure =-.
Did you ever see that movie with Ethan Hawk, called “Gattica?”
It was similar to this as far as genetics go. The movie fascinated me by the what if and back then it wasn’t as advanced as today’s testing.
I say I wouldn’t want to know, but I would probably be to curious not to. I wouldn’t let it affect how I felt.
.-= Angelia Sims´s last blog ..Kids of Summer =-.
You bring up a good debate…one that Science and Humanity will have to take a good look at! As much as I am a hypocondriac and need to know as much as possible, I have learned this can hurt me as well…see Zippy’s blog called Fretting Moms. As a culture, we’ve become overwhelmed and anxious which I attribute to TMI…too much information. We all need to pop anxiety pills because we can’t deal with all the probabilities and potentials. Most of the time, life twists and turns and never ends up the way you think…usually for the better! I fear humans will take it too far and not let nature do its thing….which will cause more harm than good! With that said, there has also been great advances in science which I will always be grateful for! Thanks for your post, I had not heard about these over the counter tests before!
I was one who did not really want to know the sex of my children prior to birth. I succeeded with the first, but my better half was anxious to know with the second so I relented at 36 weeks. I was also unsure of the mandatory tests for downs syndrome, it made me angry that the incidence of false positives were so high, yet I was told that I still needed to take it. So unless these tests are 100% positive, I am not really interested.
.-= ZippyChix4´s last blog ..The Pantyhose Controversy =-.
Just think how differently you’d treat that child if you knew what he was going to like, be like, want to do… it wouldn’t be write. the nature vs nurture arguement…which comes first?