That same week we had met with a specialist at the hospital, where we underwent another sonogram and the diagnosis was confirmed. We were once again advised to terminate the pregnancy.
I had never imagined that I would ever have to face making such a decision as this. My father an Assemblies of God minister raised us in a Christian home where we believe life begins at conception. But I would not be honest with you if I didn't disclose that I had considered terminating the pregnancy. We were warned that if I continued to carry the baby I could develop polyhydramnios, which is a medical condition describing an excess of amniotic fluid in the amniotic sac, this was due to our baby not being able to swallow the amniotic fluid. In a normal pregnancy the fetus will swallow the amniotic fluid then urinate and this process is repeated which allows a normal amount of amniotic fluid to be retained. If I decided to carry the baby and developed polyhydramnios they could go remove the excess fluid in a process similar to an amniocentesis.
I look back now and think I knew from the moment of the diagnosis what the right decision for me would be. I recall sitting in my parents home that Valentine's Day and saying to my father as I cried, "I will have to bury my son", I remember my father taking me into his arms as if I was still just a little girl and he started to pray.
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