https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/mum-twins-downs-syndrome-offered-21134729Mum of twins with Down's syndrome is 'offered an abortion six times by doctors'
Mum-of-four Rachael Prescott, from Oregon, US, said that she was bombarded condolences for her twins Charlotte and Annette's condition during her pregnancy - they are now healthy one-year-olds
By Hannah Phillips & Kelly-Ann Mills
13:49, 20 DEC 2019 Updated 13:59, 20 DEC 2019
A mum of 'one in a million' identical twins sisters with Down's syndrome claims she was offered an abortion six times by doctors. Rachael Prescott says she was also bombarded with condolences for her children's condition before they were even born. The new mum said during her pregnancy with Charlotte and Annette, now aged one, she was overwhelmed with advice to prepare for their health problems. Rachel and husband Cody were told their twins would probably need open heart surgery straight after birth due to congenital heart disease. But say they were confused as to why doctors seemed more concerned the tots potentially had Down's syndrome. The stay-at-home mum and trainee pilot Cody were ecstatic to meet their newborns, who were diagnosed with Down's syndrome at birth in 2018, and were just relieved they survived birth because of the possibility of them having a heart condition. Rachael, 39, describes her twins as her miracles, as the odds of having identical twins with Down's syndrome are one in a million. Rachael, from Oregon, US, said: "At my first prenatal appointment at around eight weeks, six specialists took turns reviewing the scans and presenting the same results. We sat through similar spiels from each, mystified at their concerns over whether our girls may have Down's syndrome, when they without a doubt, did have serious heart defects. Information on navigating their cardiac situation was dwarfed by the push for genetic testing and possible means of abortion. I wanted to explain how far I was from desiring to end my pregnancy, but at that moment I could only sit in silence."
Mum-of-four Rachael said right up until the birth of her twins, even after emphasising her excitement at the thought of adding two extra members to their family, medics continued to express their concerns they may be born with Down's syndrome. Rachael and Cody, 32, were offered further testing to find out if the girls had Down's syndrome before they were born but refused, claiming they didn't care what the results were. Charlotte underwent open-heart surgery six months after she was born, but fortunately, Annette was born with no heart defect at all. Rachael said: "We came to grips with congenital heart disease and when they were born, we celebrated the news of a confirmed diagnosis of Down's syndrome. Doctors usually suggest that twins are born by c-section because it can be risky but our prayers had been answered for a natural birth and two babies not needing to be rushed away to an operating table. We were so grateful and relieved. Those surrounding us, however, approached the topic of Down's syndrome with timidly. It was assumed that we were grieving but we quickly assured them the lack of sadness or grief in our hearts concerning our beautiful, breathing, moving, hearts beating, baby girls, and their extra chromosomes. After the girls were born, we excitedly dove into all things Down's syndrome."
Rachael, also mum to Easton, six, and Hudson, four, is now speaking out to encourage parents and medics to look past their children's condition and embrace them for who they are. Rachael says although Annette and Charlotte are smaller than they should be and developing slightly slower, they are no different from any other one-year-old in many other ways. She said: "Our girls teeter around, taking their own steps, giggling and exploring every inch of our living room. They love to play with their big brothers and love their fluffy dog, Max. The crazy love we have for our girls surpasses any emotional strain resulting from their medical needs. I would still undoubtedly, choose my children just as they are."
