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Family Matters:  resources for parents of kids w/Down's syndrome  |
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shmeg
True Blue Farmgirl
222 Posts
Megan
Granville
Ohio
USA
222 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 15 2007 : 06:38:27 AM
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I was wondering if any of you could recommend any resources like books or national organizations that could be a resource of support and info for parents who have children with Down's syndrome. I am a doula (a woman who gives physical and emotional support to parents during labor and birth) and my last client gave birth to a baby who has been diagnosed with Down's. I'd love to be able to offer some resources for them. So, if any of you know of any I would appreciate it.
Thanks,
Megan
www.birthingthemother.com |
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lamamama
True Blue Farmgirl
255 Posts
Melanie
CA
USA
255 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2007 : 10:39:49 AM
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Hi, Megan
While I don't have any specific websites, I do know that there is tons of info out there. The one source I do know about is Dr. William Sears' website and books. (As a doula, I'm guessing you are familiar with him.) One of his last kids was a Down's baby, & he has done some very great writing on that experience. Also, be sure to check out the book "Expecting Adam," by Martha Beck. It is about a Harvard grad student who discovers that the baby she is carrying has Down's syndrome, & what happens to her through that difficult pregnancy. It's quite interesting. Really unusual, but well worth reading.
BTW, how do you like Granville? Is the community there supportive to mother-baby centered birthing? I used to live in Cincinnati, & practiced in L&D there. There was a pretty large midwifery service there. One in hospital, & one for home births. Although I am currently looking to relocate to Ky; I have also been looking @ the Gambier/Mt. Vernon area. It seems more affordable than Bloomington - another alternative area.
Best of luck in your practice!
Melanie |
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Amie C.
True Blue Farmgirl
2099 Posts
Finger Lakes Region
NY
2099 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2007 : 12:22:14 PM
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I found this site which seems to have lots of info and links to other sites.
www.dsansw.org.au/info/index.html
A few years ago, I stumbled across a message board much like this one that was all parents of children with Down's Syndrome. I can't find it again and it's driving me crazy! I'll keep trying.
Another book to recommend would be "Count Us In" by Jason Kingsley. It's written by two young men with Down's Syndrome. I haven't read it, but it got very good reviews.
I wish I could come up with more info for you. I have two siblings with Down's Syndrome, but of course we didn't have the internet when they were growing up. I'm hoping that the family has been contacted by local organizations and support groups. Getting connected to service providers and other families in their area wil be the biggest help.
My brother and sister are adults now and doing well. Our area has at least four nonprofit agencies providing services to the mentally retarded and developmentally disabled. And they do a really good job too. I don't know if your hometown has so much to offer, but if you look around there should be something.
For future reference, if these parents would like to compare the kind of services that are out there, here are some links to the places where my siblings went to school, live, and work.
www.holychildhood.org
www.lifetimeassistance.org
www.heritagechristianservices.org
If I can find anything good that will be of more immediate help to you, I'll post it. |
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shmeg
True Blue Farmgirl
222 Posts
Megan
Granville
Ohio
USA
222 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2007 : 7:32:32 PM
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Thanks to both of you for the input. I'll be sure to pass that along to the new mommy and daddy.
Melanie- All of the births that I attend are in Columbus area hospitals. I haven't heard that Newark area is very supportive. YOu find a lot of people in Columbus seeking out alternatives to the typical hospital birth but when you get on the outskirts, not so much. My business has definitely sufferes since moving out here. I'm also a childbirth educator and the people here just aren't as aware of aren't as interested. It doesn't make me want to move back into the city, but it is disappointing. Columbus itself isn't even that balanced. There are no freestanding birthcenters and now only one ob group has midwives practicing with them which wasn't he case a few years ago, there were many more. And my feeling form that on epractice is that their midwives are more to appeal to a wider range of clients not because they truly believe in midwifery. There is a group a lay midwives who helped me ahve my children at home and they are wonderful but there isn't anything in between hospital or home. I'm hoping the pendulum will swing back a little more the other way soon. If you decide to move to this area look me up!
-Megan |
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Family Matters: resources for parents of kids w/Down's syndrome |
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resources for parents of kids w/Down's syndrome
