I was call to back-up one of my doula partners a couple weeks ago for a very special birth. This sweet birth was for a surprise gender baby that also happens to have Down Syndrome. The room was filled with family and friends and everyone was so excited to meet this little one. This little guy is so beautiful and his parents were by his side every moment talking to him and showing their love through touch when they weren’t able to hold him.

Since I was the back-up for this birth, I asked Dad to give me a run through of their birth plan and what their thoughts were so I could hear it directly from him.  The part that stuck out to me was when he said, “We are Down Syndrome positive so any one that is negative about it can leave.” That sentence really moved me and showed me that this baby is being welcomed into the most amazing family that will be his champions for sure!

Without further ado… meet Benjamin!

These images show Mom and Dad working to give Benjamin breastmilk even when he was under a hood to get more oxygen. Mom hand expressed into a cup and Dad used his finger to feed baby. 

To learn more about Down Syndrome please visit:

• National Association for Down Syndrome – http://www.nads.org
• Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association – http://www.rmdsa.org
• National Down Syndrome Society – http://www.ndss.org