What to say to someone who found out their baby has Down syndrome?
THINGS TO SAY – These are the things parents have found comforting or made them feel good:
- “Congratulations.” They just had a baby!
- “He/She looks just like you.” The baby probably does look like someone in the family.
- Tell them what you have learned from the RMDSA website and share the resources you’ve identified.
How do you take care of someone with Down syndrome?
7 Tips for Caring for a Child with Down Syndrome
- Never Stop Learning. One of the best things you can do is to research the chromosomal condition as much as you can.
- Have a Plan.
- Help Their Growth and Development.
- Join a Support Group.
- Let Your Child Be in Control (Sometimes)
- Have a Set Routine.
- Make Time for Self-Care.
What happens if a baby is tested positive for Down syndrome?
If the test is screen positive, you will be offered a diagnostic test, usually chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or possibly an amniocentesis. The diagnostic test will determine whether or not the pregnancy is actually affected. CVS is offered early in pregnancy (usually between 10 and 13 weeks).
Is it normal to worry about having a baby with Down syndrome?
A 25-year-old woman has a one in 1,200 chance of having a baby with Down syndrome. By 35 years of age, the risk increases to one in 350—and it becomes one in 100 by age 40.
How does Down syndrome affect family members?
Like any child, those children with Down syndrome in cohesive and harmonious families were also less likely to have behavior problems and more likely to have higher levels of functioning. Mothers expressing poor relationships with the child and family were more likely to have high stress scores.
Can people with Down syndrome be good parents?
Misconception: People who have Down syndrome cannot have children. Reality: It’s true that a person with Down syndrome may have significant challenges in rearing a child. But women who have Down syndrome are fertile and can give birth to children.
How does having a child with Down syndrome affect the family?
Can a positive blood test for Down syndrome be wrong?
First trimester screening correctly identifies about 85 percent of women who are carrying a baby with Down syndrome. About 5 percent of women have a false-positive result, meaning that the test result is positive but the baby doesn’t actually have Down syndrome.
How accurate is Down syndrome ultrasound?
As an isolated finding, an increased nuchal skin fold confers the highest risk of aneuploidy and is the most powerful second trimester ultrasound marker, with a likelihood ratio of 11-18 and > 99% specificity for Down Syndrome.
What to do if your pregnancy test positive for Down syndrome?
It depends on your particular result. If the test is screen positive for Down syndrome or at increased likelihood for trisomy 18 or Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome, an amniocentesis procedure will be offered, sometimes accompanied by a detailed ultrasound examination.
How is a blood test used to diagnose Down syndrome?
A blood test enables a health care provider to check for “markers,” such as certain proteins, in the mother’s blood that suggest an increased likelihood of Down syndrome. 2 Then the health care provider does an ultrasound test, which uses high-frequency sound waves to create images.
How can you tell if your baby has Down syndrome?
Chromosomal Testing of Maternal Blood. A pregnant woman who is at risk for having an infant with Down syndrome also can have a chromosomal test using her blood. A mother’s blood carries DNA from the fetus, which may show extra chromosome 21 material. A more invasive test then would usually confirm the blood test.
Can a screen negative result for Down syndrome?
Although a screen negative result means that your likelihood of having a baby with Down syndrome is not high, a screen negative result cannot rule out the possibility of a pregnancy with Down syndrome. Does the First Trimester Test or the Integrated Test detect all pregnancies with Down syndrome?