How to Feed a Baby with Down Syndrome Kendal
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How to Feed a Baby with Down Syndrome
By The Down's Syndrome Association Supernanny Expert 28/09/2007
Down’s syndrome babies have low muscle tone and so may have trouble latching correctly to the breast or the teat of a bottle and in coordinating sucking, swallowing and breathing. They may also have difficulty maintaining a seal. Gentle upward pressure on the chin may help this.
Our babies may be too sleepy to feed. They may tire quickly before they have had enough milk and may find it hard to gain weight. Like all babies our babies lose up to 10% of their birth weight in the first three or four days, but it may take them longer to regain this weight. Plot their weight gain on the special Down's syndrome growth chart, part of the insert for your personal child health record.
When should I feed my baby?
Your newborn needs at least one night feed and frequent feeds during the day. Your health visitor can give you advice. Some Down’s syndrome babies wake up by themselves and show obvious signs of hunger. Others will need to be woken up. Some don't cry or show you they are hungry even when they are awake. So you will need to set a routine feeding pattern.
Babies who are sleeping lightly and getting ready to feed may
• Have rapid eye movement
• Move their arms and legs about more
• Make sucking movements with their lips
• Start pulling faces
You can often wake babies by
• Removing their covers
• Talking to them
• Changing their nappy
• Gently rubbing hands and feet
• Gently moving arms and legs
• Wiping their face with a cool damp cloth
• Holding them in an upright or standing position
You may need to burp your baby and use continued gentle stimulation to keep your baby awake during the feed. If breastfeeding, try swapping to the other breast several times.
For some babies who won't wake up to feed, or don't get enough milk from the breast or bottle, milk can then be given directly into their stomach through a naso-gastric tube.
Will I be able to breastfeed?
Almost all mothers who want to can breastfeed or provide breast milk for their baby with Down's syndrome.
Sometimes breastfeeding is established easily with no more problems than with any other baby. Sometimes breastfeeding a baby with Down's syndrome can be harder and needs more time, patience and perseverance. Sometimes mothers choose not to breastfeed or find that because of their circumstances breastfeeding is not right for them.
Will my baby be able to breastfeed?
Many babies with Down's syndrome are able to breastfeed successfully from birth. Other babies are not able to breastfeed fully at first, but as they grow older they usually become better at feeding and are able to be fully breast fed.
A few babies have major medical problems which affect feeding. Babies with gastro-intestinal tract (GI tract) disorders who need an operation will not be allowed to feed at first. Instead they get nutrients through a drip into their veins. Babies with severe heart conditions may be unable to ...