Library Thursdays: Pregnant Mother's Guide to Down Syndrome and What Parents Wish They'd Known

A new publication for expectant parents whose baby has been prenatally diagnosed with Down syndrome is available to download at Down Syndrome Pregnancy.

Diagnosis Down Syndrome: A Pregnant Mother's Guide to Down Syndrome by Nancy McCrea Iannone and Stephanie Meredith looks at the feelings you may have, how to break the news to family and friends, how to deal with others' comments, birth plans, preparing for breastfeeding, possible health issues, early intervention and other services and finding resources.

There is quite a lot of information in this 75 page booklet. Some may find it too much, but it is nice to have it all gathered in one place for those who are seeking this information. Some parts, mainly the services and resource section are not relevant to those outside the US but on the whole, it is all good, well researched information. There is also a blog to go with the book so that parents to be can leave comments related to the various sections of the book.

Down Syndrome Pregnancy are planning future booklets which include a book for family and friends, one about adoption, one for fathers and one for parents whose screening tests indicate a higher chance of Down syndrome but decline further testing.

Also of interest is a booklet available for free download from Woodbine House's website. What Parents Wish They'd Known compiled by Kathryn Lynard Soper, the editor of Gifts and Gifts 2 and the author of The Year My Son & I were Born.

The comments included in the booklet were taken from online forums, Downsyn (http://www.downsyn.com/), Uno Mas! (http://www.unomas21.com/) and T21 Online Community (http://www.t21online.com/).

If you'd like to borrow Gifts, Gifts 2 or The Year My Son and I were Born or anything else, just email or call.