Neal Samwise Richardson

Originally posted on my facebook page as a note on May 27, 2016

 

We had done a blood screen a while back that came back giving us an elevated risk for a chromosomal defect, Trisomy 18, also known as Edwards Syndrome. From online research, we’d discovered this is a defect that occurs in 1 in 2500 pregnancies, with only 1 in 6,000 in live pregnancies, and approximately 90% of Trisomy-18 babies not surviving the first year of life. We’d been seeing a “high risk” doctor, and ultrasounds were showing more and more conclusively that this defect was present. The only way to obtain a diagnosis was to have an amniocentesis performed. There is a slight risk of miscarriage from this test (we’ve been told between 0.3%-1% chance of a miscarriage). Given that the risk of miscarriage was actually higher than the chance of having the condition present, we’d been holding off on having the test completed.

 

On Tuesday (May 24th), we’d finally decided that there was enough evidence that we would have the test done. There’s numerous ramifications to having a baby with life support needs, so we felt it was better to know beforehand. The doctor did a routine ultrasound before administering the test, and at that time it was discovered that our baby’s heart had stopped beating, and that he had passed. We came in to the hospital on Wednesday late in the day to induce labor. Lynda first began feeling contractions around 1am or 2am that night. After two nights in the hospital, the doctor broke Lynda’s water Friday morning.

 

Neal was stillborn just before 10am ET on Friday, May 27th.