“My birth control failed and i got pregnant at 18. I got a positive test at 13 weeks and my ultrasound at 17. I had absolutely no idea I was that far. I assumed I was around 6–8 weeks. I got my ultrasound and I just felt it, something was wrong.
The ultrasound report stated that everything was right. The test results stated everything was normal, but the feeling stayed.
I gave birth and the baby had an apgar score of 8 at 1 minute and 9 at 5 minutes. No one suspected he had Down syndrome. It wasn’t until the pediatrician came in and said he may have it, that there was a 50/50 chance but nothing other than his slanted eyes and low set ears gave the impression that he had it. They drew blood and it was sent off to the lab to get it confirmed. At 8 days I was told that he did in fact have Down syndrome. I kept it together while the pediatrician explained everything to me but completely lost it when I got to the car. My heart was broken. The doctor told me my young maternal age could have been a factor but only genetic testing could tell. I didn’t smoke, drink, or go out. I ate healthy and was strictly a work and school kind of girl.
Even then all I could think about it what I did to my baby and how irresponsible I was to get pregnant at such a young age. I cried. My first baby had Down syndrome and I mourned the loss of the baby I thought I would have. I cried because I worried about how he would make friends, I worried about his health, about how his family would accept him, all I did and do is worry. He’s 3 months now and I fall in love every time I look at him. His father looks at him like he put the stars in the sky. His and my parents adore the baby. He has great aunts and uncles. Nothing could change my love for him. Nothing could convince me that I was not meant to have this baby. Around what would have been 7 or 8 weeks I bled heavily for 2 weeks. I thought it was my period and thought nothing of it. The doctor that confirmed my pregnancy later told me that I should have miscarried but here he is. Coming in 6 pounds 14 ounces, 21 inches on 10/23/16 was my biggest blessing.” J. Scodela
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