We welcome your baby

Congratulations on the arrival of your baby!

We understand that your life is no longer following the expected route, but we want you to know you are not alone, and we hope we can help you celebrate your baby's life.

What will my baby be like?

• Your baby will be like a baby.  Your baby will eat, sleep, cry, and need nappy changes.  Your baby will grow up and go to school.
• Your baby will learn and develop more slowly than other babies, but by this time next year, your baby will probably be able to sit up, roll around, chuckle, charm your family and friends and enjoy playing with birthday presents.
• Your baby may have almond-shaped eyes, a small nose and ears, but mostly your baby will look like the rest of the family.
• Your baby may need to spend some time in hospital.  Babies stay in hospital until they are good at feeding.  Some babies with Down syndrome find feeding hard because they are sleepy or floppy.  Just over half of children with Down syndrome are born with a heart or bowel problem, which may need an operation immediately or when the baby is older.

Is it my fault?

NO WAY!  Down syndrome just happens!  It is never anyone's fault.  Down syndrome can occur in any family.  In New Zealand, one baby in about 1,000 is born with Down syndrome; that is one or more babies with Down syndrome born every week.

Does my baby really have Down syndrome?

A blood test will show for certain if your baby has Down syndrome.  It takes up to a week to get the results to this test.

The blood test will look at your baby's chromosomes.  Usually each cell has 23 pairs of chromosomes, the smallest being pair 21.  In Down syndrome cells have an extra chromosome number 21 - three instead of the usual pair.  The medical term for this is trisomy 21.

Why are people sad when a baby is born with Down syndrome?

People may be sad because they wanted their baby to be like most other babies.

They may be scared that they will find it too hard to look after their baby.

They may not know anything about Down syndrome.

It is OK to be sad and cry.

It is OK to be angry or worried.

It is OK to be happy too.

What now?

Wherever you are in the country, we can put you in touch with a support parent.  All support parents are parents of a child with Down syndrome.  They want to offer support and information in the way that is right for you.

When you're ready, call either the NZDSA on 0800 639 724 or the Auckland Down Syndrome Association on (09) 636 0351, or get someone from your healthcare team to call for you.  We will link you to a support parent in your region.

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