Trisomy Oz Prenatal Support

Wednesday August 27

The National Maternity Services Review is now underway. This is an excellent opportunity to address the issue of inadequate information and support following a difficult prenatal diagnosis. Visit the Maternity Coalition website to find out how to make your voice heard.

Monday July 7

Today is Daniel's first birthday. View this montage to help us remember his brief but extraordinary life.

Tuesday June 10

Live webcast: 'Making Tough Decisions Together: A Family's Perspective of the Vital Importance of Ethics and Patient-Centred Care' by Barb Farlow, mother of Annie (25.5.05 - 12.8.05), speaking from the University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics.

Time: 4.00 pm, Wednesday, June 11 (In Australia: Thursday, June 12 - 6.00 am EST or 5.30 in SA and NT)

URL: http://epresence.ehealthinnovation.org/epresence

I know Barb through my involvement with LivingWithTrisomy13.org and encourage any parent dealing with a difficult prenatal diagnosis, or seeking treatment for a child with a serious condition to take this opportunity to learn from her experience. If you miss the live webcast, the lecture can be accessed later via the same URL.

Friday May 16

Those of you who have experience with trisomy 13, 18 or 21 will know that the rate of incidence is most often given in terms of 'live births' eg. 'Trisomy 13 occurs once in every 10,000 live births'. The true prevalence of these conditions can only be determined by considering not only live births, but also those affected pregnancies that end in termination and miscarriage. This is highlighted in the following Press Release from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Boys more likely to have congenital abnormality

Thursday May 15

The Age reports that according to the latest research from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, there has been a rise in congenital abnormalities, specifically trisomies 21 (Down syndrome), 13 and 18. Yet this has not resulted in more babies actually being born with these conditions, due to the high rate of terminations and (according to the report) natural deaths in-utero. View the story or the actual report via these links.

More babies developing Down syndrome

Congenital Anomalies in Australia 2002-2003

Sunday April 13

If you missed today's Sunday program, you can catch Jane Hansen's report on first trimester nuchal translucency scanning, and the possible risks of CVS and amniocentesis at:

http://sunday.ninemsn.com.au/sunday/cover_stories/article_2424.asp