and i mean this in reference to a down syndrome diagnosis specifically. for other conditions that have a much poorer prognosis or are not compatible with life is another convo completely
i think the nuance to this is whether you planned to be pregnant or not. terminating an unplanned/unwanted pregnancy with a diagnosis is different than going out of your way to have a kid and then terminating when it's not what you thought.
this will be controversial i'm sure
If I were pregnant and informed that my fetus had Down syndrome I would absolutely abort. No amount of social media romanticizing of profound disability would change my mind. Contrary to popular opinion, you need more than love to care for a disabled child.
@abigdank this!! and bringing new life into the world is an opportunity to make the world less terrible!! it's scary for sure, but that's how i try to look at it!! the world might always be terrible unless we try to change it.
BUT i do think that healthcare providers should be preparing new parents more for what birth and postpartum are actually like and actually supporting them through that time too
honestly i think people who have experienced postpartum do try to warn future parents of what to expect but you truly cannot grasp the gravity of the situation until you're in it which sucks