We support parents at every stage during their pregnancy. We can answer your questions and guide you to relevant information. It is a source of balanced, accurate information and advice for parents and maternity healthcare professionals.
We are available for calls to our Helpline 0333 1212 300 every weekday from 10 am – 4pm or you can contact us by sending an email to info@downs-syndrome.org.uk. Your call or enquiry will remain confidential. We talk to parents at any stage of pregnancy and answer their questions.
Prenatal screening for Down’s syndrome is offered to pregnant women in England and Wales and may be offered to women in Northern Ireland. It is good practice for up to date and accurate information about Down’s syndrome to be given at the same time that screening is offered so that parents can decide whether to choose screening tests or not. The DSA can provide information so the choice will be an informed one.
The key objective of our Tell It Right® Start it Right campaign is to ensure that health professionals involved in antenatal, neonatal and postnatal care have up to date, accurate and balanced information about living with Down’s syndrome today, in order to support expectant parents through screening choices and new parents after delivery. The DSA has produced an online webinar and offers Q&A sessions for people working in and studying maternity care. People who have Down’s syndrome and parents make a valuable contribution to the Tell It Right® Start it Right campaign by sharing their lived experiences first hand with professionals and students. You can find out more information here.
We work closely with NHS to regularly update their maternity literature and have helped the NHS to create new videos from three families who have had a baby who has Down’s syndrome.
We have supported the NHS to improve the language and terminology used in information for parents and by maternity healthcare professionals
All DSA information resources listed below are available as free downloads.
Pregnancy and Baby Information