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The birth of a baby with congenital deformities adds a new challenge for devoted parents. The possibility of intellectual handicap is probably the most difficult to accept. Medical problems that can be managed or cured with appropriate surgery are not so hard to cope with. The possibility of having a disturbed child showing unusual behavior or a learning handicap tests the faith of a new mother or father to the utmost. Fortunately, there are many agencies prepared to assist with this adjustment.

Many physicians are versed in the medical needs of these children, and can give direction to agencies that provide learning skills, orthopedic evaluations, and special classes for the handicapped, deaf, or blind child. Although public health services, voluntary health agencies, and other governmental programs are usually available to give aid, the influence and assistance that a church may render should never be overlooked. Parents will need guidance and support, but should determine to accept the child as an individual, despite his or her limitations. This will not only set an excellent example for others in the community, but can also serve to bring out lasting desirable qualities in the siblings, if they are assured of their share of the parent’s time and attention and interest.

Although institutional care is sponsored by most states to provide for the seriously involved child, home care wherever possible is without question the most beneficial. Especially during infancy and early childhood, a devoted mother or father can enable the handicapped child to develop maximally at every stage. Even severely disabled children can profit from tender loving care at home. Mongoloid (Down’ s syndrome) children, in particular, have a much greater potential if given good care in the average home than when placed in an institution from birth. With guidance, most families can handle their children’s needs. The rewards to such parents are lasting, with character imprints that make it well worth every sacrifice.

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With so many possible congenital deformities, many parents approach pregnancy with much worry and fear. Particularly when a mother has been exposed to German measles (rubella) in the early part of pregnancy or has a background of previous deformities, the thought of possibly terminating her pregnancy looms in her mind. Many of the abortions being done today are performed solely for convenience, relieving the unwed, the busy, and the unprepared from the stress of childbearing. A modern trend in genetic counseling, associated with the testing now available of chromosomes prior to birth (amniocentesis), advocates abortion in an attempt to prevent these possible deformities. Against the backdrop of the time-honored standards of medical ethics and the moral law given on Sinai, I wish to discuss some of the issues.

The currently accepted definition of abortion is a termination of pregnancy. Sometimes this occurs suddenly and spontaneously and may either be complete or incomplete. Most of the latter cases are treated with an emergency surgery called a dilatation and curettage (D & C) to prevent the risk of hemorrhage in a pregnancy that is already inevitably lost. Therapeutic abortions, however, are being performed in both the first and second trimesters of pregnancy only for the purpose of terminating the life of the unborn child. The major ethical consideration, in actuality, is just when does life begin? There is no reason to conclude other than this: LIFE BEGINS WITH CONCEPTION. Therefore, I believe that abortion at any stage involves the taking of life. The question then is, how can you sustain a life that will be obviously deformed?

It is well known that nearly two-thirds of pregnancies occurring in women who were infected with Rubella during their pregnancy will turn out normal. The other smaller group may have deformities ranging from cardiac defects to deafness. Most of these can be helped with remedial educational efforts or surgery. Certainly the handicapped person is difficult to raise. However, does the mere chance of having a deaf or blind child justify the sacrifice of his life before birth?

Because of documented experiences from other countries (Germany before World War II, China today) we need not await another generation to learn the long-term effects of this most unfortunate assault on the finer sensitivities and moral fiber of our people. Modern abortion practice notwithstanding, a truly dedicated physician or midwife must be true to his or her medical pledge and ethical traditions, kindly but firmly refusing abortion, while counseling toward alternatives,

An exceedingly rare case may exist where some mother’s life could be so jeopardized by the continuation of pregnancy that therapeutic abortion might be considered necessary. Nevertheless, under such unlikely circumstances the multitude of counselors—including clergymen, physicians, and especially the Great Physician—should be able to provide wisdom. Most likely this instance would be so infrequent that many physicians could practice a lifetime without encountering it. Lives are so precious. Even the possibility of handicaps should not cause a mother, father, or medical advisor to compromise, thereby adding guilt to grief, regret to reality.

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Suspicion that alcohol could damage the unborn child has been in medical literature for many decades. Recently, however, convincing evidence has finally linked a mother’ s drinking of alcoholic beverages during pregnancy with a special set of problems visible in the newborn. A characteristic facial appearance with unusual-appearing eyes and nose is associated with the retardation of mental development and altered growth patterns. This has now been called the fetal alcohol syndrome. Some mothers have even been prosecuted for giving such a sad “birthright” to their babies.

The X and Y chromosomes
determine our gender.

The severity of this syndrome seems to be proportional to the consumption of alcohol by the mother. Reminiscent of the warning to Manoah’s wife prior to the birth of Samson (read it in Judges 13:13, 14), this caution against alcohol drinking should strongly motivate modern mothers to take a nondrinking stand. When a baby has been born with the characteristic syndrome, it is destined to be handicapped, often for life. Although the mechanism of alcohol’ s toxic action on a developing fetus is not completely clear, the effects are nonetheless sure. Thus in considering the offspring from all angles—looks, intelligence (I.Q.), and general health, nondrinkers clearly have the advantage.

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Seizures can likewise stem from the lack of oxygen during birth. Infections in the newborn period or congenital toxoplasmosis can also produce convulsions. Usually in the newborn period, the seizures are of the grand mal type. The epileptic attack consists of characteristic violent jerking (tonic and clonic) convulsions, loss of sphincter control, and an aftermath of somnolence. During the seizure there is a tendency to bite the tongue or quit breathing for a brief period Fever may aggravate the tendency toward seizures. These should be distinguished from a true convulsive disorder. The electroencephalogram (EEG) can be very helpful in diagnosing the type of seizure and instituting a proper treatment. The next chapter will describe some of these problems, with a few suggestions for home management.

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Also called spastic diplegia, cerebral palsy is a condition that usually results from oxygen deficiency during birth. The affected individual often has associated seizures and moderate to mild retardation. There may be a profound impairment in coordination, with inability to walk without “scissoring” in the lower extremities. Lack of hand coordination also may be evident, In the most severe cases normal development is completely impossible. “Patterning,” the alternate repetitive movement of extremities in “crossed extensor” pattern (straightening out of one arm and the opposite leg) has been tried by devoted friends and family members to enable an affected individual to learn what otherwise would have come naturally. Some cases of cardiac arrest during childhood have resulted in cerebral palsy. With adjustment for the milder handicaps, many children can be educated to enjoy life with some useful skill.

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