The couple at 12 weeks' gestation has been told that their fetus has sickle-cell disease. Which statement by the couple indicates that they are adequately coping?

Question

1. "We knew we were both carriers of sickle cell. We shouldn't have tried to have a baby."
2. "If we had been healthier when we conceived, our baby wouldn't have this disease now."
3. "Taking vitamins before we got pregnant would have prevented this from happening."
4. "The doctor told us there was a 25% chance that our baby would have sickle disease."

Answer 1

4
Rationale 1: Self-blame and judgment do not indicate coping.
Rationale 2: Preconception health and nutrition do not affect transmission of an autosomal recessive trait. Self-blame and judgment do not indicate coping.
Rationale 3: Preconception health and nutrition do not affect transmission of an autosomal recessive trait.
Rationale 4: A true statement indicates coping. When both the mother and father are carriers of an autosomal recessive disease like sickle cell, there is a 25% chance of a normal child, a 25% chance of a child with sickle-cell disease, and a 50% chance of a child with sickle-cell trait.