It's completely natural to worry when you find out that you're having a child with a difficult condition.
But one mum's Facebook post is wonderfully reassuring.
Two years after learning that she was expecting a child with Down's syndrome, Cristy Proctor from Illinois wrote the touching post, in which she told readers to "stop worrying."
"I spent much of my pregnancy in worry, fear of the unknown and probably every other emotion you can think of and it was a very sad time for me," Cristy (40) wrote.
But Cristy's sadness really after her child was born. It made her realise how much time she'd wasted worrying, when she should have been celebrating her child's imminent arrival, and getting excited about it - just like any other parent.
"As hard as it may be to do, focus on your exciting news of simply having a baby," she wrote.
"What a joyful celebration. It is a time for you to fall in love with a child you've not even met yet. It's a time to prepare a nursery and pick out names."
"It's a time to be cherished with your family. Everything else will come in time. Enjoy your pregnancy and welcome to the family!"
Cristy posted the message on April 4th and it was liked by more than 700 people in just two days.
She said reading inspiring stories after finding out about Isabella’s diagnosis really helped her, which was why she decided to share her story.
“People with Down’s syndrome do live normal lives, just like anybody else,” she told ABC News.
“Do we have struggles? Absolutely. If one child is saved because of our story, it makes everything worth it.”
Cristy’s daughter has a dedicated Facebook page, Isabella ‘Amazing’ Grace - My Down syndrome Journey, with more than 21,000 followers.
