You may just have been told your unborn child possibly has Down Syndrome or perhaps your newborn son or daughter has just been diagnosed with Down Syndrome. You have a million questions and are overwhelmed by the medical complications your child is currently facing or may be facing in the future. You want answers to your questions and you want to be reassured that you child will have a future. Just what that future will be like, you are not sure at this point.

You are concerned with the health issues especially those that may be serious. You also would like to know about the mental development possibilities and how well your son or daughter may be able to function.

Your pediatrician or obstetrician if you are pregnant will be able to answer some of your questions. They may also be able to direct you to some really good resources for more information. There are many support groups to join so that you can gain both information and support from those who have been there and done that. They will be able to tell you about their experiences and give you direction.

Babies born with Down Syndrome can have a variety of physical and mental symptoms. Some of the more common symptoms are heart problems, vision or hearing issues and also intestinal problems. The babies may be born with a normal weight but may soon fail to gain due to sucking problems or swallowing issues.

If you are pregnant and over age 35, your obstetrician will probably order a triple screen test, amniocentesis or a chorionic villus sampling. These tests can give you some clues but are not entirely conclusive. Once the baby is born, a physical examination and some blood tests will be conducted in order to make the diagnosis.

What to expect next?

What happens if your child does have Down Syndrome? Each child's case is different. There will be a varying degree of involvement genetically so the symptoms will vary in intensity. Some kids are pretty normal and other will have multiple problems ranging from gastrointestinal, cardiac, vision and hearing issues. Depending on what issues your child has medicines or even surgery will be recommended. Surgery is necessary for some cardiac issues, stomach or intestinal problems as well. Down Syndrome children are prone to leukemia and will need to receive treatments for that. Medicine and surgery will improve the quality of life. There are other things you can do to insure that you child can achieve his or her full potential. Early intervention is very important. It takes the form of education, physical and mental therapy, speech therapy and activities to improve socialization and cognitive skills.