Congratulations on your pregnancy, and welcome to our community. If you have just received a confirmed or suspected diagnosis, you may be feeling very afraid, alone, and overwhelmed. We offer information that can help.
1. A free downloadable Down syndrome pregnancy book. (Suggested $10 donation.) Buy the printed version HERE (Woodbine House).
2. A blog on our home page. The current post is always on the front page, and you can also search by categories.
3. Open dialogue on Baby Center’s Down syndrome pregnancy board. This is a public board not owned by us, but our own Nancy, Missy, and Amy are there on a daily basis to answer questions, provide comfort, and facilitate peer support.
4. Valuable supplemental information in our Resources section.
We’re here to help you on this journey, prepare you for the immediate future, and give you hope. Feel free to contact Nancy privately if you wish at nancy@downsyndromepregnancy.org .
Positive support from friends, family, and health care professionals
April 20, 2012 in Comments, Friends and Family, Medical Provider, Support
We would like to hear from both experienced and expecting parents about the wonderful support they have received from friends, family, and health care professionals. We spend a great deal of time helping parents cope with negative or stinging comments, mainly because we do not have built-in coping mechanisms for those unexpected events. Sometimes when in the stress of pregnancy post-diagnosis, a negative comment can send us reeling, and may actually drown out the many positive comments we hear.
However, there are extraordinary people out there. People who rise to the occasion and give a piece of themselves to us during our darkest hour. Focusing on their words, their actions, their support can help us build our confidence, and reinforce the knowledge that the world is a welcoming place for our children.
Please share in our comments the words, actions, or attitudes of those around you who gave the best of themselves and in turn helped you cope with sadness or look forward to a bright future. If you wish: if you are on Facebook, also post your comment to your Facebook status and link to this blog post. Or post a thank you (sample linked below) in your Facebook status.
Booklet for Friends and Relatives: HERE
Sample thank you letter to the person you appreciate: HERE
(Note: We recognize that some things that bring comfort to some people may not help others because of the diversity of the personalities and beliefs of our expectant parents. For general guidelines, see our Relatives booklet linked above. Supporters should tailor their comments and support to match what they know about the personalities of the expectant parents.)
5 Comments »