What Is It Like Having a Down Syndrome Baby

Down syndrome is a genetic status. A person who has Down syndrome is born with an extra copy of the 21st chromosome. It'south detected at birth. Information technology likewise can exist detected during pregnancy with genetic testing. Down's syndrome causes some physical and intellectual disabilities. Most of the time, information technology's at a moderate level. If yous have a babe with Down's syndrome, yous'll need to care for, talk to, play with, and dear him or her similar any other infant.

Path to improved development

In many important ways, children who have Down syndrome are very much like other children. They take the same moods and emotions, they like to acquire new things, play, and enjoy life. You can assistance your kid develop by providing as many chances as possible for him or her to practise these things. Read to your kid and play with him or her, only as you would any other child. Help your child to have positive experiences with new people and places.

Every baby born with Downwards syndrome is different. As your new baby grows, you'll need to pay special attending to his or her physical and intellectual development. Your baby also may accept some health bug that require extra care. Not all babies born with Down syndrome take health problems. Not all babies will have the same health bug.

Physical health: Babies who are born with Downwards syndrome are more probable to have:

• Feeding issues.Learning to breastfeed or suck a canteen may take your baby longer to learn. Breastfeeding is adept for all babies, including babies who have Downwards syndrome. Your physician, a nurse, a feeding therapist, or some other mom who has a infant with Down syndrome tin provide tips and special preparation.
• Center defects.Some middle problems will require surgery within the showtime year. Other problems volition right themselves over time. If your babe has a heart trouble, your medico will refer you to a cardiologist. He or she will monitor your infant'due south heart health until the problem is corrected.
• Hearing bug.Some babies volition have partial hearing loss. Babies who have Downwards syndrome have smaller Eustachian tubes (office of your inner ear). This causes fluid buildup. That tin be relieved with tubes. Your md volition surgically insert the tubes to relieve the fluid. Some babies take permanent nerve damage. This can cause permanent hearing loss. Hearing aids frequently help your child hear. Without treatment, the hearing loss can touch on your babe's speech development.
• Vision problems.This might include cataracts or other eye issues requiring glasses.

Less likely wellness bug include:

• Intestinal blockage at birth requiring surgery.
• Hip dislocation.
• Thyroid disease.
• This is when ruddy blood cells can't carry enough oxygen to the trunk.
• Iron deficiency. This is anemia where the carmine blood cells don't have enough fe.
• Leukemia in infancy or early childhood.

Developmental milestones

Your baby volition reach yet infant and toddler milestones. Notwithstanding, it will take him or her a lilliputian longer. Early intervention academic support as well as physical and occupational therapy can help children who accept Downwardly syndrome develop. This covers the following topics:

• Motor skills (itch, walking, feeding, dressing, handwriting).
• Linguistic communication skills (talking and vocabulary development).
• Social skills (turn-taking, sharing, heart contact, manners).
• Academic skills (early on reading, counting).

The before your baby starts receiving therapy, the improve he or she will develop and succeed in life.

Many cities accept support groups and community resources to help parents who have children with Down syndrome. These resources also are helpful for siblings and other family members. Your physician can tell you where to find these resource in your community.

Things to consider

In most cases, for every 100 couples who have some other infant, ane will accept another baby with Downwards syndrome. If you're planning on having more children, talk with your doctor. He or she tin can assistance you decide whether to seek genetic counseling before you become pregnant once again.

When yous beginning learn that your baby has Down's syndrome, you may feel disappointment, grief, anger, frustration, fear, and feet about the future. These feelings are all normal. Talking to other parents of children who have Down's syndrome can be helpful. They know how you're feeling. You lot also can talk to your family unit doctor or visit a back up group. These resources let yous share your feelings and get additional information.

Questions to ask your doctor

• Do babies who have Downwards syndrome have low musculus tone?
• Volition my baby larn to read?
• Will my babe grow up to be independent?
• How can I tell if I am sad about my baby's diagnosis or if I'thousand suffering from post-partum depression?

Resource

Centers for Disease Command and Prevention: Down syndrome

National Institutes of Health, MedlinePlus: Down's syndrome

Copyright © American Academy of Family Physicians

This information provides a general overview and may not use to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this data applies to you and to get more data on this subject.

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Source: https://familydoctor.org/caring-for-a-baby-who-has-down-syndrome/

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