Caring for a Down's Syndrome Baby

By appearing with his family this week, as his mom, Sarah, accepted the Republican Party's nomination for Vice President of the United States, Little Tryg Palin has focused attention on a condition which afflicts about one in every 800 babies. Tryg has Down's syndrome, a congenital disorder causing mental and physical disabilities.

The syndrome is caused by a problem with the chromosomes. Chromosomes are threadlike structures inside every cell of the body. They are made up of genes. Most people have 23 pairs of chromosomes, for a total of 46. A baby with Down's syndrome has an extra chromosome, to make a total of 47, or one chromosome has an extra part. It is nobody's fault. It is purely accidental.

Down's syndrome children will have learning problems. Intelligence levels range from low normal to very retarded (slow to learn) . It's impossible to tell at birth just how smart a baby will be. With therapy, many can grow up to have jobs and live independently
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Physical problems are also common in these babies. About half will be born with heart defects which can usually be repaired by surgery.

They may have trouble swallowing, or there may be blockages in their stomachs or intestines. Once these are surgically corrected, the children usually have no further trouble in these areas.

Some Down's children may have eye problems such as cataracts or crossed eyes, and their hearing may be adversely affected. They are more likely to get colds, infections which affect lungs and breathing, and the infections may last longer. Some develop leukaemia, a type of cancer. They sometimes have poor muscle tone and may be loose-jointed.

In many important ways, children with Down's syndrome are very much like other children. They have the same moods and emotions; they like to play with toys and learn new things. They will learn to walk, talk and be toilet trained but at a slower pace than other children. It is hard for them to remember new skills. Parents need to exercise patience and celebrate every new achievement, no matter how small.