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syndrome babies, for whom 1 in 4 (25%)
will miscarry between 10 and 14 weeks,
and another 1 in 4 (23%) before the end
of pregnancy. 24
CVS may also cause damage to the
baby, probably because removal of a
part of the baby’s placenta can interfere
with blood supply to the baby’s
body. Several studies have suggested
that babies exposed to CVS before 10
weeks may have a small but increased
risk of limb deformities, and other studies
have noted increased numbers of
CVS babies with clubfoot and malformations
of the jaw and gut, as well as
increased haemangiomas, or strawberry
birth marks. 25 One small study has
reported an increased risk of high blood
pressure and pre-eclampsia (toxemia)
later in the pregnancy when the baby’s
placenta has been penetrated with CVS
(which is the intent of the procedure) or
amniocentesis. 26 Mothers who have an
Rh-negative blood group should receive
anti-D after amniocentesis or CVS to
prevent blood incompatibility problems
in future pregnancies.
Another irony of both amniocentesis
and CVS is that both procedures
involve ultrasound, giving the mother
What is the fundamental question one must
ask of the world? I would think and posit many
things, but the answer was always the same:
Why is the child crying? Alice Walker
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the opportunity to see her baby, yet at
the same time she is expected to consider
abortion. As one mother shared, ‘I
was simply able to see her, reinforcing
the love that they told me was for the
wrong baby.’ 27
Brave new world
Against these very quantitative analyses,
Elkins and Brown (1995) argue ‘…
individuals with Down syndrome have
come to be recognised, over the last
three decades, as bringing a valuable
quality of life into our society. They are
well known for the joy and love they
bring to their families. 28 They remind us
that the definitions of normalcy are artificial
and fragile… In short, individuals
with Down syndrome teach the rest of
us how to cope, to grow, to overcome
and to understand humility, gratitude
and joy.’
In the research and published material
about prenatal diagnosis, the perspectives
of those affected by conditions
such as Down syndrome have rarely
been considered. Most of the prenatal
diagnosis information leaflets, designed
to help prospective parents decide about
testing, paint a very negative and out-
The Origins of
Love & Violence
James W. Prescott Ph.D
This rare academic compilation CDrom introduces and documents
over 30 years of brain/behaviour research on the impact of
affectionate bonding, or its absence, on the developing brain. The
program contains 45 minutes of rare research video footage, over
30 years of selected research publications and National Institute
of Humanistic Science/National Institute of Health government
documents.The film documentary is not available elsewhere and can
be utilised in compelling presentations.
Crucial material for
• childbirth educators and early childhood and parent educators
• medical and health professionals
• midwives, birth attendants and doulas
• social change activists
• childcare providers and teachers
• child and teen developmental professionals
• childhood trauma therapists
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dated view of Down syndrome. 28,29
Alderson (2001) examines our presumptions
about the value and quality of
life with Down syndrome through her
interviews with 5 affected adults. Her
interviewees show insight and enjoyment
of life; sensitivity to social prejudice;
and painful awareness of the issues
around testing and selective abortion for
Down syndrome babies. There is more
excellent and realistic literature written
by parents, carers and individuals with
Down syndrome on the internet, such
as Cohen (1998); Kingsley and Levitz
(1994); and Slater (2002).
Diagnosis and counselling
After so many decisions and tests, you
might hope that the results from amniocentesis
or CVS would be clear and
the decision, whatever it is, would be
straightforward. Unfortunately, this is
often not the case. For all the babies with
a straight diagnosis of Down syndrome,
there are as many again with other chromosomal
abnormalities, many of which
carry an uncertain outcome. For example,
around one third of abnormalities
reported involve the sex chromosomes,
which can give subtle or unknown levels
www.violence.de
www.ttfuture.org/prescott
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