Congratulations!!! .............  Welcome to you and your new baby. All babies are unique individuals. They have their own characteristics and a distinctive personality. They all eat, sleep, cry and grow. We look forward to helping you and your baby with information and support as you look towards the future. After you have been told your baby has Down SyndromeFor most of us it comes as a shock to be told that your baby has Down syndrome. Parents live through the pregnancy thinking about the child that will soon come into their lives and they have certain hopes and expectations of this child. To be told, soon after the birth that the baby has a disability is hard - and parents have used words like "devastated" and "shattered" to express how they felt - some have said it was like a bad dream. Those hopes and expectations can seem suddenly far away. Everyone reacts differently to the news. Some parents feel shocked by the intensity of their emotions - fear, guilt, grief, anger, inadequacy, rejection. It is vital these feelings be recognised. Do not let others tell you that you should not be feeling the way you are. It is quite normal to go through a time of confusion and turmoil when anger and grief are perhaps your dominant feelings. Be open about how you feel, because by talking to those closest to you and to other parents who have "been there", you will start to move away from uncertainty and confusion and you will begin to feel more positive. While you are feeling fragile, take each day as it comes and allow friends to help and share in what you are feeling. Above all, remember that there are many of us who have been in your situation and who have felt something like what you are feeling now, and who have come through smiling and positive. We are there for you too and would love to share in your experiences. You might like to try the following links: About Down syndrome New Parent Support Folder Hospital or Home visits
Helping your Baby Develop
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