T&P for a newborn and his parents...

razzledobe · #1 August 7th, 2011, 06:55 PM

My ex-husband and his wife just had a little baby boy on 7/18 and turns out he has Downs Syndrome. I feel just awful for them... they're such nice people. He's active in the Army and going to be deployed in a mere 2 months. I don't know much about this and what it means for the little guy as far as care etc... but they could use some prayers sent this way.

She wanted a baby so bad... was this something that could be screened for? I'm just so ignorant with this sorta thing...

Thanks ladies...

molynn · #2 August 7th, 2011, 07:11 PM

Definitely sending thoughts and prayers their way.

I know there have been some new methods of screening discussed recently. DH and I did an "ultrascreen" that combined an u/s with a blood test. We did it because if we were going to have a down's baby we wanted to be able to prepare ourselves mentally for it.

BigGrin · #3 August 7th, 2011, 07:28 PM

There are screening methods, each come with a margin of error. There are "soft markers" they look for at the 10-12 week u/s and will suggest amnio or CVS if these markers are detected (or if the mother is AMA or has some other risks). Downs babies have a few things they are at higher risk for, heart defects (usually a VSD or ASD), Hirshsprung disease, leukemia, and other "lesser" issues.

But children with DS have an opportunity at a much higher quality of life than they used to. Physical therapy can help with low muscle tone and occupational therapy can help with their daily function. There are also quite a few support groups for families with a DS member. I know there is a JM member (Greenchild) who has a beautiful son who has Down Syndrome. (his gorgeous face can be seen in her signature) She also has a blog in her siggie that discusses the special diets she has done to give her baby a better lymph function. (I believe it's called the paleolithic diet) I am sure she would be a very helpful source of info.