More babies are being born with Down's syndrome than before pre-natal screening for the disorder was introduced at the end of the 1980s.
Parents appear more willing to bring a Down's child into the world than they used to be, research shows.
Many are taking the decision because those affected by the syndrome are now more accepted by society and their quality of life has improved, according to a new survey.
After the widespread introduction of screening for Down's syndrome in 1989, the number of babies born with the condition in the UK each year fell from 717 to 594 at the start of this decade.
Since 2000, the birth rate has increased, reaching 749 in 2006, the latest year for which figures are available.
Figures from the National Down's Syndrome Cytogenetic Register show that the proportion of newborn children with Down's syndrome rose by around 15 per cent between 2000 and 2006.
Around one in every 1,000 babies born has Down's syndrome, an incurable genetic disorder caused by the presence of an extra chromosome.
Its physical effects include a characteristic "flat" face and slanting eyes, short stature, heart defects, and poor sight and hearing. People with Down's syndrome also have moderate to severe degrees of learning disability.
ITN