Newborns often have hyotonia which is poor muscle tone. This often leads to longer breastfeeding sessions.

Newborns should be evaluated regularly by a doctor to ensure proper nutrition. Children will most likely have developmental delays. They should not be compared to other children their same age.

Most people with Down syndrome have IQ's that fall in the mild to moderate range of retardation. Federal law states that all handicapped children have available to them a free public education and related services designed to meet their unique needs.

Having a child with DS has changed my life... my life is brighter my life is more wonderful my life is filled with love
www.asha.org www.modimes.org www.ndsccenter.org

DOWN SYNDROME
DIAGNOSIS IN PREGNANCY

Adolescents with Down syndrome have hormonal changes much like other adolescents. Males have shown to have a decrease sperm production and it is rare for them to father children. Females develop eggs and often carry babies to full term. In 1929 the average life expectancy was 9 years old. Today, those with Down syndrome live beyond 50.

www.ndss.org www.nichcy.org www.nsgc.org www.thearc.org National Down Syndrome Society 1-800-221-4602 National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities 1-800-695-0285 National Down Syndrome Congress 1-800-232-6372

Understanding Prenatal Testing Down Syndrome Facts

Down syndrome occurs in 1 in 800 births. Women over 35 have a higher chance of giving birth to a child with Down syndrome. The doctor that diagnoses a pregnant women or a newborn with Down syndrome cannot determine his/her mental capabilities or physical abilities. Children with Down syndrome have a wide range of abilities. Hearing loss, congenital heart disease and visual disorders are more common in those with Down syndrome.

DIAGNOSING DOWN SYNDROME

Prenatal screening is the first step in diagnosis of Down syndrome. It is very noninvasive procedure that takes a drop of the mothers blood and tests the levels of serum alpha feto-protein, chorionic gonadotropin, and unconjugated estriol. This blood test will not diagnose Down syndrome alone, but a high or low level will determine whether or not the mother should have further testing done. After the initial screening is done and those tests show signs of Down syndrome, the mother has some options as far as what type of diagnostic test to proceed with. Amniocentesis is the removal of fetal cells from the amniotic fluid. It is the most common test performed, but it cannot be performed until the 14th week in pregnancy and must allow for the cells to show positive for the extra chromosome 21. Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) can be done as early as 9 weeks of pregnancy, but the risk of miscarriage increases because tissue has to be extracted from inside the placenta. Lastly, percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS) is the most accurate test to determine Down syndrome, and is usually done to confirm amniocentesis or CVS. It also carries the highest risk of miscarriage and cant be done until the 18th week in pregnancy.