Down Syndrome Kendal
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Down Syndrome
By The Down's Syndrome Association Supernanny Expert 28/09/2007
Down's syndrome is a life-long condition that causes delays in learning and development. It occurs because your baby's cells contain an extra chromosome 21.
Is it my fault?
Down’s syndrome is not anyone’s fault, it just happens. It has never been linked with particular foods or actions or pollution, it occurs in all races and religions.
Whatever else you may feel at this time, don't feel guilty. Some mothers especially feel this way having been the ones who carried the baby, but they shouldn’t!
How can doctors tell my baby has Down's syndrome?
Doctors can usually tell that children have Down's syndrome when they examine them and notice certain physical characteristics.
Babies are usually floppy and have very flexible joints. This will improve as they get older. They usuallly have a face that looks flattened, excess skin on the back of their necks and the back of their heads may be flatter than average. They often have eyes that slant upward and outward.
Their eyelids often have an extra fold of skin (called an epicanthic fold) which appears to exaggerate the slant.
This does not mean there is anything wrong with the eyes. They just look different.
Many babies with Down's syndrome have a single crease which runs right across the palm of the hand. Doctors often look for this characteristic crease as a sign that the baby may have Down's syndrome. However, some babies who do not have Down's syndrome also have a crease like this.
They may also have a larger than usual gap between the big toe and the second toe (sometimes called a 'sandal gap').
All babies are different from each other and the same is true of babies with Down's syndrome. This means that in some babies the characteristic signs of Down's syndrome are fairly easy to recognise soon after birth, whilst others may look and behave no differently from other babies.
Your baby will look like the rest of your family, the Down's syndrome accounts for only a few of your baby's looks.
How can doctors be sure my baby has Down's syndrome?
A blood test will show for certain if your baby has Down's syndrome. This is called a chromosome analysis test and will show the extra chromosome 21 material which causes Down's syndrome.
Are the doctors ever wrong?
It is extremely rare for the blood test to show normal chromosomes when a doctor thinks your baby has Down's syndrome. There is no need to wait for the results before telling people about your baby's Down's
syndrome. Until the results come, you may find it easier to spend time getting to know your baby rather than worrying about Down's syndrome.
Can Down's syndrome be cured?
Down's syndrome is a life-long condition that cannot be cured. Like any other child, our babies vary in their abilities and achievements. It is not possible to predict your baby's abilities and achievements at birth. They are not linked to appearance. The problems can be eased if y...