I'm feeling a little angry and sad today.
My first contact with the outside world was a message from one of my closest pals at 7am, who told me the baby she was expecting was not gonna happen.
After a visit to the Fetal Medicine Specialist,
she learned her twelve-and-a-half-week fetus had something called Fetal Cystic-Hygroma. Water was encapsulating her baby's entire body and brain.
Her doctor basically said it's a black and white situation.
It's really bad.
It's not a mistake.
It isn't going to get better.
The fetus will not survive in utero.
Let's just say that this information, coupled with the research I've done on this birth defect today has sent me diving under the covers several times, despite the clear blue skies and warm weather in Los Angeles.
I'm so sad for my friend, who was looking forward to being a mom for a second time, and who thought she would soon enjoy the life of having a toddler and an infant at the same time.
If there is any good news here, it's that it was caught relatively early. She's still in her first trimester, albeit at the tail-end. This doesn't make her decision to terminate any easier, but at least she has the choice.
It comes down to this: does she want to risk her own health to wait for the baby's heart to stop beating and then have a riskier procedure later on? The baby could survive up to 7 months, the doctor said. She and her husband decided that was not in their best interest, so they've scheduled a procedure for next week.
But here's the crazy part: The procedure will cost close to $2K. Insurance will not cover it unless the fetus has already died.
Does this seem problematic to anyone else? It's clear the fetus will not survive and it is in the best interest of the mother to have the procedure, and yet, the insurance company doesn't see it as a necessary, and won't cover it. This is the kind of thing that makes me want to run to Canada for better health care.
How about you?
Oh man. One of my hysband's colleagues ran into a similar problem only she was much, much further along, the fetus was dead, and she couldn't get it removed. I think she wrote an article about it. I'll see if I can find it. I'm so sorry for your friend.
Posted by: Betsy | February 10, 2012 at 12:16 PM
I'm trying to look at this as not-a-mom, not-a-human. I could see that an insurance company does not want the responsibility of paying to have a fetus that is currently still developing be terminated.
Sure, so add on one layer of protection. Have the parents and doctor sign a standard form stating they have been counseled and made a decision on their own.
and then just cover the procedure.
Other than that, I'm infuriated.
I am sorry you had this news today and I know you will be a huge comfort to your friends. I am pained by the loss they will suffer and wish them every success in having a second baby.
Posted by: Jenny | February 10, 2012 at 12:18 PM
That is an outrage. I can't believe insurance won't cover it! I hate the American health care system and the fact that so many people want to make it hard for a woman to have an abortion (especially in a case like this, where it's hard enough in the first place.) I think it's hilarious that the religious and political right want to outlaw abortion... Yet, they believe in not helping all those (mostly poor) people with their unwanted children. Also that unwanted children grow up unloved and commit crimes, etc. ARRRRGH! Sorry I went slightly off topic.
Posted by: Cassandra | February 10, 2012 at 02:27 PM