Importance of Breastfeeding | Breastfeeding Information | Attaching your baby to your breast  | In Conclusion | Support Groups | Further reading | Down Syndrome Web Ring

Congratulations on the birth of your baby! Although everything may not be as you expected, or wished for, you are not alone and will find lots of support as you and your family care for your little one and help him or her grow and learn.

Down syndrome is the most common genetic abnormality in human babies. It is something that happens within every race and society in the world. Normally, the nucleus of each cell of a baby's body contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, half of which are inherited from each parent. Down syndrome occurs when some or all of a person's cells have an extra full or partial copy of chromosome 21. The exact reason why this occurs is not yet known. While there is an increased risk in older mothers, most babies with Down syndrome are born to mothers under 35 years old. It is important to know that nothing you or your partner did, or did not do, caused your child to have Down syndrome.

Breastfeeding can be an important step in the early months and years of your baby's life.

"Breastfeeding helped with my bonding to James initially when my world was turned upside down by his arrival."

The extent to which children are affected by Down syndrome varies widely. These children achieve the milestones of child development, but generally a little more slowly. If you have just discovered that your baby has Down syndrome, you may be experiencing mixed emotions - this is very natural as you wonder what lies ahead for you and your baby. A branch of the Down Syndrome Association or your doctor will be able to provide you with information about access to Early Intervention Programmes in your state and will also be able to put you in touch with other parents of children with Down syndrome. Many people find this contact very helpful and supportive.

"The best solution is to talk to other mums who have actually experienced your situation."

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IMPORTANCE OF BREASTFEEDING

Breastmilk is nature's food for all babies. Breastfeeding your baby is much more than nutrition - it provides food, comfort and stimulation of all of baby's senses. Your breastmilk boosts baby's immune system and has a protective effect against many auto-immune disorders such as coeliac disease, asthma and allergies. The muscles of baby's lips, tongue and face are all toned and strengthened by breastfeeding. This prepares baby for eating other foods and for speech development. Breastmilk does not irritate airways if baby accidentally inhales any and breastfed babies have fewer problems with ear infections. Babies who have artificial milks often have a higher incidence of respiratory and other infections as they are not protected by the antibodies present in breastmilk.

If your baby has difficulties at first while breastfeeding, persistence and time will help him (and you) to learn. Many babies need extra help to breastfeed. Mums of babies who are having difficulty learning to breastfeed are encouraged to express and feed baby breastmilk, while teaching baby with the help of a skilled lactation consultant.

"I was encouraged by the Early Intervention Centre to breastfeed because it helps with lip closure and can discourage tongue thrusting as the child gets older."

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BREASTFEEDING INFORMATION

A good knowledge of how breastfeeding works will help you establish breastfeeding more easily. The Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) has a booklet, Breastfeeding Your Baby with Down Syndrome, which contains up-to-date research and information, plus mothers' comments and stories, photos and suggestions. Included in the booklet is information about common concerns such as prematurity, positioning, attachment, use of lactation aids, sleepiness, slow weight gain and failure to thrive, hospitalisation, expressing and twins. There are also sections on adjusting to the diagnosis, dealing with advice from other people and introducing family foods, plus a selection of messages from parents who have children with Down syndrome. We recommend that you also read our Association's basic breastfeeding booklet An Introduction to Breastfeeding, or the book Breastfeeding...naturally. These booklets and book can be purchased online from the Mothers Direct web site. There are also further reading suggestions at the end of this page.

You may find that it is very helpful to contact your local Australian Breastfeeding Association counsellor, a lactation consultant or your child health nurse. Many maternity units in large hospitals employ lactation consultants, while others work in private practice. As well as supporting you as you and your baby learn to breastfeed, they may be able to put you in contact with another mother who has breastfed a baby like yours. For details on how to contact ABA please see the contact section of this web site or check your local telephone directory. Lists of lactation consultants can be found on the Australian Lactation Consultants' Association (ALCA) and Network of Australian Lactation Colleges websites.

The following hints are extra to the basic breastfeeding information available in An Introduction to Breastfeeding and aim to give you some extra help with your special baby.

BREASTFEEDING HINTS
Babies with Down syndrome tend to have low muscle tone and so may have trouble getting their mouth around the nipple and attaching correctly to the breast. Some babies may also have trouble coordinating their sucking, swallowing and breathing and may gulp and choke as they feed. They may get less milk for their efforts and they often get tired quickly. This can and will improve with time and patience ... the exercise of breastfeeding itself will improve your baby's muscle strength, which will help compensate for the low tone, and as baby gets stronger and learns to breastfeed more effectively, he will be able to drink more milk. It is important that you make sure baby is getting enough milk. Signs of this include lots of very wet nappies each day, soft unformed bowel motions, good skin tone and some growth in weight, head circumference and length. If you are worried about any of these, see your medical adviser immediately. Note that there are special growth charts for babies with Down syndrome. www.growthcharts.com/charts/DS/charts.htm

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ATTACHING YOUR BABY TO YOUR BREAST

In the early weeks Tamsyn would make gaspy, choky noises during feeds. After some trial and error, a more upright feeding position seemed to minimise this.

You can hold your baby lying on her side across your lap, her chest facing yours, her lower arm around your waist, so that she does not have to turn her head to grasp the nipple. Some mothers use a Meh Tai or Simplicity Sling to hold their baby's body in a C shape keeping her head and bottom tucked in.

Alternatively, you may like to use the 'underarm hold': put a pillow at your side and another pillow across it and your lap. Rest your baby's bottom on the first pillow and support her back on your forearm while you cradle her head in your hand. You can try different feeding positions, until you find one that suits your baby.

Your baby may also be helped if you support your breast and her chin while she feeds. Cup your hand under your breast, then slide it forward so that three fingers support your breast. Make a U shape with your thumb and first finger and support your baby's jaw in that U. This is called the Dancer Hand position.

Human babies, including those with Down syndrome, are born with the instinctive knowledge and ability to get themselves to their mother's breast and to attach themselves correctly, with their mother's support. Spending one-on-one, skin-to-skin time with your baby when you are learning to put her to the breast will help to allow these 'baby-led attachment' instincts to work. If you get the chance, you may like to try this technique (as described in the article called Baby-led attachment with your baby as you and she are learning to breastfeed.

If your baby is having trouble sucking correctly, contact a lactation consultant, child health nurse, ABA breastfeeding counsellor or your medical adviser. There are techniques such as cup-feeding and aids such as nipple shields, which may be helpful.

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IN CONCLUSION:

Breastfeeding your baby may not be easy at first, but as she grows she will become stronger and more able to feed effectively. Make use of all the support services available including your local Australian Breastfeeding Association counsellor.

I fed Jack for about 2 years. He weaned himself with a little encouragement from me, but it was a tranquil weaning and I remember well the last feed. I cried because, as I looked down at his little face, I knew I would never breastfeed another baby. I never felt any rejection for him and love him as much as my normal children. Whether this is because of the bonding breastfeeding is responsible for, I don't know, but I am willing to believe it could be so.

The fact that I was able to breastfeed my exceptional baby in many ways helped me to come to terms with the whole situation to a certain degree, it helped bring everything back into equilibrium again.

I would like to say that, in a mother's eyes, the imperfection fades and the child shines through and you see that, after all, he is a real little human being. Jack is loved by all the family.

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SUPPORT GROUPS IN AUSTRALIA

Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) supports and encourages all women interested in breastfeeding, by means of discussion groups, literature, counselling and a regular magazine, Essence. Details on how to contact ABA can be found on our ABA contact , counselling and groups web pages.

DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATIONS
State	Contact Details
VIC	Down Syndrome Association of Victoria 219 Napier Street, FITZROY VIC 3063 Tel: (03) 9486 9600 Fax: (03) 9486 9601 email: dsavic@ netspace.net.au
NSW	Down Syndrome Association of NSW PO Box 2356, North Parramatta 1750 Tel: (02) 9683 4333 Fax: (02) 9683 4020 Email: admin@dsansw.org.au Web: http://www.dsansw.org.au
QLD	The Down Syndrome Association of Queensland PO Box 3223 STAFFORD QLD 4053 Tel: (07) 3356 6655 Fax (07) 3856 2687 Email: dsa.qld@uq.net.au Web: http://dsaq.org.au/
SA	Down Syndrome Society of SA PO Box 436, GREENACRES SA 5086 Tel: (08) 8369 1122 Fax: (08) 8261 7660 email: downssa@chariot.net.au Web: http://downssa.asn.au
NT	Down Syndrome Association of NT PO Box 41545, CASUARINA NT 0811 Tel: (08) 8985 6222 Fax: (08) 8985 6266 Email: dsant@octa4.net.au
TAS	Down syndrome Association of Tasmania Inc. P O Box 1157, DEVONPORT TAS 7310 Phone: 1300 592 050 Email: info@downsyndrometasmania.org.au Web: http://www.downsyndrometasmania.org.au/
ACT	ACT Down Syndrome Association PO Box 717, Mawson 2607 Phone/Fax (02) 6290 0656 email: : admindsa@actdsa.asn.au website: www.actdsa.asn.au
WA	Down Syndrome Association of WA Unit 4/1136 Albany Hwy BENTLEY WA 6102 Tel: (08) 9358 3544 Fax: (08) 9358 3533 Toll free: 1800 623 544 Email: dsawa@upnaway.com Web: http://www.dsawa.asn.au

Lactation Consultants in Australia:
Many are listed on the Australian Lactation Consultants' Association (ALCA) and Network of Australian Lactation Colleges websites.

Growth Charts
Growth Charts for Children with Down Syndrome. 1 Month to 18 Years of Age Cronk C, Crocker K, Pueschel S, Shea A, Zackai E, Pickens G, Reed R. Pediatrics. Volume 81. No. 1 January 1988. Available at www.growthcharts.com/charts/DS/charts.htm

European study: Growth charts for Down's syndrome from birth to 18 years of age Myrelid A, Gustafsson J, Ollars B, Anneren G. Archives of Disease in Childhood. Volume 87. pp 97-103 2002. Available at adc.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/87/2/97

An interactive growth chart: medcalc.com/growth/

Video Hand Expressing and Cup Feeding Australian Breastfeeding Association, Waverley Group http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/products/groupprojs.html

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FURTHER READING

ABA PUBLICATIONS:
Please visit Mothers Direct for further details about our books and booklets.

Breastfeeding...naturally,(2nd Ed) , Australian Breastfeeding Association

ABA booklets:

Breastfeeding A Baby with Down Syndrome

An Introduction to Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding Your Premature Baby

Breast and Nipple Care

Increasing Your Supply

Expressing and Storing Breastmilk

Breastfeeding and Hospitalisation

Breastfeeding Twins/em>

Coping with Breast Refusal (for hints to encourage baby to suck)

Introducing Solids

Looking After Yourself

Survival Plan