stories of prenatal diagnosis - Through the Unexpected

We know that prenatal diagnosis is more common than many think. Yet, we rarely hear the stories of the people that have received unexpected news about the health, development or genetics of their unborn baby. We wish to change that so parents no longer feel hidden or isolated.

We have collated parents stories to share with the variety of reactions, experiences and outcomes.

Note:

These stories appear in random order.
Stories which help one person, may be unhelpful for another.

Please use the dropdown category box to select a particular topic or to avoid other topics.

The decision-making category includes stories that reflect the vast array of potential experiences.

Click on the logo/image to go directly to the story, or select the View Profile link if you wish to read more about it first.

Please contact us to let us know about any other stories we should include here.

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Australian Birth Stories (podcast)

A weekly podcast hosted by Sophie Walker, which showcases women’s first-hand accounts of their pregnancy and childbirth experiences in Australia. Some episodes feature stories of prenatal diagnosis.

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One Screened Every Minute: Sallie (podcast)

In this episode Sallie talks about decision making following a prenatal screening result showing a high chance for Trisomy 21 or Down syndrome when she was pregnant with her eldest child Oskar. She and her husband Josh decided to decline invasive screening and continued the pregnancy.

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One Screened Every Minute: Chantelle (podcast)

When pregnant with her youngest son Chantelle received a high chance screening result for Trisomy 21 or Down syndrome. Chantelle talks us through how she and her husband, who initially had different ideas about continuing the pregnancy, navigated the decision-making that followed.

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Stories and images from the CleftPALS family (PDFs)

Some stories from the CleftPALS family (two include prenatal diagnosis)

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Australian Birth Stories: Nadia (podcast)

Nadia’s first son, a boy named Pio, was diagnosed with a rare chromosomal abnormality and was born via cesarean at 20weeks. She discusses her disbelief at the diagnosis and the subsequent grief of her loss followed by the healing arrival of her rainbow baby, Riviera.

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Chayce’s Story (blog)

This is Tayla and Mark’s story of prenatal diagnosis, TFMR at 26 weeks and birth, and this is Chayce’s story of the love and meaning her brought. “Chayce was here. Chayce was rare. Chayce will make some kind of a difference.”

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Pieta’s story (article and journal article)

Pieta read her ultrasound report at 31 weeks to find her baby’s brain had developed in an unexpected way. Pieta has shared her story as a Gidget Angel and written a journal publication.

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Special: antidotes to the obsessions that come with a child’s disability (book)

“Most of us expect to meander through the motions of love, marriage and (textbook) baby in the carriage, but once in a while life has something a little more special in store…”

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Australian Birth Stories: Bianca (podcast)

An interview with Bianca who unexpectedly navigated the complex reality of a Downs Syndrome diagnosis. Despite multiple health professionals advising her to terminate, she chose to keep her baby, journeyed through a tumultuous pregnancy and delivered him at 34weeks via cesarean.

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A story of grief and healing: Efrem and Blandina (PDF book)

After Efrem and Blandina made the difficult decision to terminate their pregnancy, they turned to writing their story to heal themselves and help others.

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Defiant Birth: Women who resist medical eugenics (book)

Courageous stories of women who continued their pregnancies despite intense pressure from doctors, family members and social expectations.

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