Expectant Parents

We know that following the prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome can be a scary time full of many unknowns. The volunteers, board members and staff of the USOD understand your fears. We will provide you with accurate and timely information about what Down syndrome is so you can make educated choices in the days to come. At your request we can connect you with other parents who have had a pre-diagnosis. (Please see our Parent to Parent Network.)

One of our missions at the usod is to provide one on one support to new families that have just received a diagnosis of DS.  We can provide this in many different ways, whatever you are comfortable with. We can also provide you with a free packet of materials and information that will give you a better understanding of what you might expect and will always answer any question you have honestly and without judgment. We want to support you and your choices. Send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call us at 216-464-USOD (8763).

If you have a tentative pre-diagnosis of DS and have chosen not to have an amniocentesis, we will support you all the way through your pregnancy and beyond if you need us. In this situation we have welcomed new babies with DS and we have welcomed new babies without DS.

We have contacts to organizations that place babies with DS in adoptive homes. Most of these organizations have a waiting list of parents wanting to adopt a child with DS. Parents waiting to adopt usually have a good understanding of what it is like to raise a child with DS. Many already have a child with DS; others have had family members or friends who have children with DS.

We also welcome calls from Grandparents and other concerned family and friends.

The Cincinnati Down Syndrome Association has a wonderful short video called The Journey Ahead.

The National DS Congress has a booklet The Light at the End of the Tunnel written for parents that receive a pre-natal diagnosis of Down syndrome.

Motherhood and genetic screening: a personal perspective - by Fiona Place

An on-line support forum (un-moderated) called Down Syndrome Pregnancy Posts.

Please contact us at the Up Side of Downs for information, our free new parent packet and to connect with our parent to parent network.