Dear Expectant Parent, 

If you are here on this page, you or a loved one is most likely expecting a baby who has Down syndrome. First of all, congratulations on your pregnancy!

Finding out that your baby is going to have Down syndrome can be a very emotional and confusing time.  No one expects their child to have Down syndrome.

The CDSC has formed The Holland Committee, which is the new and expectant parent to parent support group. We are a group of parents who also received a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome with one of our children. We have committee members located all over the state and they are willing to talk with you over the phone or meet with you in person at any time during your pregnancy.

We have found that connecting such families, like yourself, with a parent of a child who has Down syndrome that also received a prenatal diagnosis can greatly aid you during this time.

The goal of the Holland Committee is that all families receiving a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome are given the opportunity to meet or speak with someone who has also received a prenatal diagnosis. Through our program, we can provide you with support, information, and ongoing connections.

It is not our place to offer advice to expectant parents in regards to their pregnancy and choices, but rather to offer support and sharing of personal experiences. Any specific medical questions or advice is something that should be discussed with your doctor. 
 
Just know, you are not alone! There are approximately 2,000 families who have children with Down syndrome in the state of Connecticut and many are members of the Connecticut Down Syndrome Congress.

You can contact The Holland Committee at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or by calling us toll free at 888-486-8537. Leave a message with our answering service, telling them you’ve received a prenatal diagnosis and a committee member will return your call within 24 hours (usually less).

You can read other CDSC members’ prenatal stories. Each of our stories are unique but so similar.

Additionally, for those looking for information about adoption, the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati has a waiting list of over 100 families waiting to adopt a child with Down syndrome. So if this is something you are possibly interested in, you can visit their website at www.dsagc.com.

Return to the Holland Committee page for parents.