Stories of Prenatal Diagnosis: Katie Somers

A prenatal diagnosis is often accompanied by the pressure to abort, leaving most parents feeling unsupported by the medical community and society at large. In our series “Stories of Prenatal Diagnosis,” we share testimonies of parents who received a diagnosis while pregnant and their personal experience in handling it. Today’s story is from Katie Somers.

If you are interested in sharing your experience with prenatal screening, please complete this survey.

Katie, please tell the story of your experience in your own words. 

My son was shown to have several medium and one soft marker for Down Syndrome at the 20-week ultrasound scan. I was offered counseling to discuss my options — at a Catholic hospital.

What conditions did your screening results indicate?

Down Syndrome.

Did it turn out to be the case that your child had these conditions?

No.

What aspects, if any, did you like about the way your medical team handled the situation?

None.

What aspects, if any, did you dislike about the way your medical team handled the situation?

I did not appreciate that moments after discovering these markers, I was offered counseling to discuss options — meaning, termination. I would have preferred being offered more tests to confirm or being ASKED if I would like support for raising a child with Down Syndrome, if it had been definitive.

What recommendations do you have for medical providers who are giving parents prenatal screening results?

Step one: continue to humanize that child. They are a human being, and never assume abortion is something people are even considering.

Step two: be compassionate, optimistic and empowering.

What recommendations do you have for parents who are receiving prenatal screening results?

Take time to process the results, then research families whose children have the same. Get support and encouragement.