Breastfeeding a baby with Down syndrome

[Squiglettsmummy2bx]

Just after some advice really. My ds was born last Thursday by elcs. We did skin to skin in recovery & he took straight to my breast. My milk was in straightaway as I am also feeding my 2 year old ds. Baby was diagnosed with Down syndrome by myself on the Friday & this has since been confirmed with blood tests. I've read loads about not being able to bf a baby with ds however his suck is great & he feeds very well. He was weighed day 5 & had lost 10% of his birthweight & will be weighed again on day 10. I'm feeling stressed as my 2 year old lost at first & we ended up being sent back to hospital & I was forced to top up (threatened with ss!!!!!) This time I am far better informed but the Down syndrome has thrown my confidence a bit. My ds sleeps loads & is so laid back so I am waking him to feed every 2-3 hours. Often he wakes himself but if not I am making sure he does. He has one breast then sleeps. There is always milk left when he finishes. Lots of wet nappies. Loads of meconium poos & 1 very full mustard yellow nappy which had me stressing but I know there is less waste with bf & if he is just taking what he needs there won't be loads of poos every day.

• So any tips for waking him? Sometimes I can just waft a boob around his face sometimes I need to start stripping him off....
• any advice for feeding a baby with ds?
• I know he will gain weight slower & have ordered a new height/weight chart for red book from DSA so what should I be hoping for on day 10? Just a gain? Midwife was completely clueless so I really feel I need to do my research & as this was all a complete shock I do feel a bit overwhelmed by all the info I'm trying to sift through. Thanks in advance.

sorry am not here to help as have no experience with ds but just read and wanted to say congratulations and sounds like you're already doing really well and sounds to me like you'll just need to keep doing what you're doing as you know what's best! Good luck and hope you get lots of support

Congratulations!! It sounds like you are doing OK. No experience with DS but newborns SHOULD have lots of pooey nappies. And wet ones too obvs.

Some older breastfed babies only poo once a week or so, but this happens later (after a few weeks).

Hope someone with more experience as help, maybe later. Will try and remember to bump the thread :-)

Some babies with Ds may have low tone and so weaker latch/suck/ swallow, however it does not sound as though this is the case here.

If you do end up having problems further down the line (ie slow feeding/ uncontrollable drooling/ weaning issues) then you should ask to be referred to a speech and language therapist with feeding training. Dd2 had a SLT within days of birth and was discharged from hospital with full speech and language support (which as a newborn was faintly bizarre!)

There are also a ton of sites with specialist feeding advice for babies and children with additional needs (I like www.new-vis.com/p-fym.htm this one! but there are a ton of others, and it does NOT sound like you need any help at the moment.

As he is doing so well, I would stick with standard bf advice unless any issues pop up. He sounds very lovely, and jolly clever! Good luck for the weigh-in on day 10!

And Congratulations on the birth of Ds! - don't forget to come and see us on the mn special needs board! (Look on the talk menu - threads don't appear on active convos)