вЂњThe focus of the letter was that we needed people to congratulate us and that вЂIвЂ™m sorryвЂ™ wasnвЂ™t part of it.вЂќ The last thing new parents need to hear is вЂњIвЂ™m sorryвЂќ when theyвЂ™re introducing their baby to the world. вЂњIt was one of the most useful things we did,вЂќ she remembers. Jewitt and her husband chose to tell their immediate family in person and sent letters to the rest of their loved ones. How you spread the news is completely up to you. Once you can get past all those fears, you get to fall in love with your child.вЂќ Telling family and friends Before you have your own child in your arms, youвЂ™re focused on that label so distinctly. вЂњAre people going to accept him? The fear is very raw. вЂњI think my biggest fear was wondering how people are going to look at us as a family,вЂќ she says.

Melody Jewitt, mother of two-year-old Myles, recalls the first weeks after she received her sonвЂ™s diagnosis. Just remember, whatever you feel is completely normal. Other parents struggle a little bit more.вЂќ вЂњThere are some parents who are very welcoming,вЂќ says Nirit Bernhard, medical director of the Down Syndrome ClinicВ at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.вЂњThey know other individuals with Down syndrome and are thrilled with the joy of having a child. My daughter has Down syndrome and I wouldn't change a thingWhether your child receives a Down syndrome diagnosis prenatally or postnatally, itвЂ™s often surprising and sometimes difficult news. A single line across the palm of the hand (called a palmar crease).Tiny white spots on the iris of the eye (called BrushfieldвЂ™s spots).In terms of facial features and other physical characteristics, you can expect: Cognitive, motor, speech and language skills will develop at a delayed rate, but some children will experience only minor delays and others will be more significantly impacted. Truly, every baby is different and will have different abilities. What are the characteristics of a baby with Down syndrome? But prenatal screeningВ (via blood test, chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis) may detect the presence of extra genetic material. In most Down syndrome cases, there is a third copy of chromosome 21 in every cell-a genetic variation called trisomy 21. What is Down syndrome?Дown syndrome is a congenital condition that affects about one in 700В babies in Canada.

If thatвЂ™s the case, stop googling right now! But if youвЂ™re hungry for more-or looking for a quick guide that you can share with friends and family-start reading. You may feel inundated with all the information that experts are throwing your way. The first thing you need to remember? You have a brand new baby to love! Give your wee one all the snuggles and attention you can muster, and try not to stress about what can seem like an overwhelming diagnosis. Congratulations! If you are about to bring a baby with Down syndrome into your family or have already welcomed a little one into your life, you know what an exciting and overwhelming time it can be.

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