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Continuing with an affected pregnancy

Interview AN30

Interview AN30

Age at Interview: 28
Background: Children: 1 (age 14 months), Occupation: Mother - full-time mother, Father (age 33 at interview) - painter and decorator, Marital status: Married.

Brief outline:Down's syndrome suspected at nuchal scan. Couple declined amniocentesis and continued with the pregnancy. Further scans suggested heart problems (operated on successfully since baby's birth).

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They are optimistic about their son's future because social attitudes towards Down's syndrome are continuing to improve.
Print Mother: I feel a lot more happier about the future now I can see how him and his friends are fitting into society, how children are becoming much more mainstreamed and that attitudes are changing. That a lot of his friends really seem to sort of want to play with [son] because he's [son]. I guess the sooner he starts going to a normal pre-school as well as his special needs pre-school he'll have friends that he'll grow up through life and through school with. How about you? Father: Pretty much the same really. I just hope that when he does get a bit older that sort of he's not treated any different than any other kid. Because I know when I was younger, sort of anyone with disabilities was sort of like [gesture sideways] - but attitudes have changed a lot now, so hopefully they'll keep changing for the better. Mother: But of course already we're thinking when we have to move house we might have to find somewhere that has maybe a granny annexe or somewhere that we can extend, that he has his own front door, kitchen, bathroom, living room, and he can live independently, but still near us if he needs us, but I mean he... Father: Time will tell, won't it? Mother: He might be able to live on his own, down the road, or wherever he chooses, but for the moment we still have to consider that he will be with us forever. I quite like the idea of that. I can check out who his latest girlfriend is then, and check that I approve.

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