Conceiving again
When considering future pregnancies, many parents find it hard to imagine that their experience will not be repeated again. In fact, the fear of another pregnancy ending in the same way can make many couples reluctant to want to try again. It is very normal for parents to question their ability to conceive a normal, healthy baby when a previous baby has developed abnormalities. When caregivers talk about statistics and the likelihood of an abnormality reoccurring, this is often dismissed by parents, because are already one of the 'small percentage' who were affected with their previous pregnancy.
Most people need time to work through their grief before feeling emotionally ready to 'try again' and for others the question remains "Can I try again?' It can seem like an almost unmanageable task for the woman to get through those early weeks of pregnancy and genetic testing (if this is repeated), to reach the ultimate goal of having a baby. Going ahead with this is a very personal decision and parents need to take time to talk about how they really feel before taking this step as well as discussing these issues with a
genetic counsellor.
If a subsequent pregnancy does eventuate and that baby is also discovered to have a disorder or abnormality, then this is accompanied by further pain as the parent's worst fears are realised. Feelings of distress, bewilderment, failure and anxiety can grow as the couple start to consider that perhaps they will never have a child of their own together and the dreams and hopes associated with this begin to slip away. Some parents will consider other options such as
adoption.
Conceiving again
Physical aspects
Subsequent pregnancies are not full of joy, but often racked with fear and uncertainty. Many parents will emotionally hold back and not become as involved or attached to their next unborn baby, often choosing to keep the pregnancy a secret until tests show that the baby appears normal.