How should one tell older children their unborn child has been diagnosed with a birth defect?

Megan Smith: How should one tell older children their unborn child has been diagnosed with a birth defect?
I’m working on a story in which the main character’s unborn son has been diagnosed with spina bifida. She has two older daughters one is 6 and the other is 3. She quickly spirals into a state of clinical depression. Obviously, her children would notice this, so my question becomes how should the father go about explaining something like this to them?

Answers and Views:

Answer by lady green
i don’t think u should cuz when they see her they are going to think she is a very healthy baby. let them ask u the questions if they want don’t force it on them

Answer by S P
Sit them down and say “Your little brother is going to have a disability. He will be born with a hole in his back and it is going to cause him to have some problems.” Then of course when he is born the problems will start to appear and explain as they happen.