Can you breast feed a baby with Downs Syndrome?
Breastfeeding a baby with Down’s syndrome is not only possible, but it also provides important benefits to both mum and baby. Breastmilk boosts your baby’s immune system and contains anti-infective factors including antibodies against germs that you and your baby are exposed to.
How do you feed a baby with Down syndrome?
Feed your baby in as upright a position as possible. The more your baby is up against gravity, the more active the muscles become. In addition, babies with Down syndrome seem to be more prone to ear infections. Upright feedings decrease the chance of liquid backing up in the ear canals, reducing the risk of infection.
Do special needs babies breastfeed?
Because a baby’s special needs may affect his ability to suck, he may need a little extra help when it comes to breastfeeding. Some babies with Down syndrome do well at breastfeeding. But some may have muscles that are either poorly developed (“hypotonic”) or too stiff (“hypertonic”).
Do breastfed babies have a lower risk of autism?
The statistical data reveal that children who were breastfed longer than 12 months are 6.67 times less likely to have autism diagnosis than children who were breastfed less than 12 months as shown in Table 3. Breastfeeding of less than 6 months duration was significantly associated with autism diagnosis.
Do Down syndrome babies sleep more?
Babies with Down syndrome may find it harder to develop sleep patterns, get to sleep and stay asleep because their physical features (narrow upper airways, larger tongues and low muscle tone) can make them wake more frequently and make deeper sleep harder to come by.
Do breastfed babies struggle with cerebral palsy?
There are a number of conditions that may affect a baby’s ability to breastfeed. Many conditions may relate to neurological impairment, including central nervous system immaturity, pre and postnatal brain injury, Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy and hydrocephalus, which are all associated with various feeding problems.
What are symptoms of mild Down syndrome?
Physical Symptoms. Common physical signs of Down syndrome include: Decreased or poor muscle tone. Short neck, with excess skin at the back of the neck. Flattened facial profile and nose. Small head, ears, and mouth.
What is moderate Down syndrome?
Down syndrome is a chromosomal condition that is associated with intellectual disability, a characteristic facial appearance, and weak muscle tone (hypotonia) in infancy. All affected individuals experience cognitive delays, but the intellectual disability is usually mild to moderate. People with Down syndrome may have a variety of birth defects.