About the fact that next to us lives a huge numberchildren with Down syndrome, is known to everyone. However, all try to pretend that the problems do not exist and prefer not to notice such children. Of course, you can live your entire life, hiding your head from this problem in the sand, like an ostrich. However, sometimes, unfortunately, the problem itself overtakes parents and they have a baby with Down's syndrome. Panic, despair, depression. But no matter how painful and bad it was for parents, life goes on. And their baby, albeit slightly different from other children, desperately needs parental affection, care and love. In order to ensure that your child has the most full-fledged existence in society, parents should have full information about a disease such as Down syndrome.
What is Down syndrome?
The very word "syndrome" implies a set ofsome number of features of the body or health. The name "Down" syndrome was due to the name of the doctor who first described this syndrome in medical literature. It happened in 1966. And only in 1959 the French professor Lezhen established that Down syndrome occurs in the event that a certain genetic malfunction occurs. As is known, the human body consists of cells, each of which contains a certain number of chromosomes. Chromosomes carry in themselves a certain way coded information about all those signs that a person has inherited from his parents. A child with Down's syndrome has a third, superfluous chromosome in 21 pairs of chromosomes. And as a result, the child does not appear with 46 chromosomes, like everyone else, but with 47. A similar disorder occurs on average in one child of 700 newborns. And, despite the fact that this phenomenon occurs quite often, scientists have not yet established the exact cause causing genetic changes. There is an erroneous opinion among the population that children with Down's syndrome are born only in socially disadvantaged families. However, in fact, this is not so. Cases of birth of such children are found equally often in families with the most varied social level, financial possibilities, education of parents. And there are many such examples: for sure, everything is known by the singer and TV presenter Lolita Milyavskaya, Down's syndrome was touched also by her daughter. However, thanks to the efforts of the mother, the child is successfully developing. The only relationship that can be traced quite accurately is the age of the mother. The older the pregnant woman, the higher her risk of having a child with Down syndrome. Unfortunately, it is impossible to prevent the appearance of Down syndrome, as well as in the subsequent cure it. However, modern scientists, due to the huge amount of various studies, have quite extensive information on the principle of the functioning of all pairs of chromosomes, including 21 pairs. Thanks to all these studies, the doctors understood the characteristics of Down's syndrome quite well, and, accordingly, to provide all necessary medical assistance in full, as well as implement the latest methods of social pedagogy that facilitates the adaptation of such people in society.
Features of children with Down syndrome?
As a rule, the presence of a newborn childis detected immediately after birth. First of all, medical personnel face typical for children with Down's syndrome facial features and features of the body structure. These kids have slightly raised corners of their eyes, and the face itself seems flat. The oral cavity of a child with Down's syndrome is slightly smaller than that of healthy babies, but the tongue itself, on the contrary, is larger. Looking ahead, it can be said that it is because of these physiological characteristics that children with Down syndrome often have a habit of constantly sticking out their tongue. But with this habit if you want to cope is not so difficult. The palms of these children are very wide, the fingers are short, and the little fingers are considerably bent inside. Muscular lethargy (hypotension) occurs in newborn babies, expressed in mild. This hypotension should not serve as an excuse for parents' anxiety - it will disappear on its own as the child grows. The growth of a baby with Down's syndrome and its weight, as a rule, is slightly less than in healthy children. In the event that doctors notice these symptoms in a crumb, he will definitely have to undergo a series of special genetic tests that can accurately determine the presence or absence of a Down's syndrome in a child.
How does the superfluous chromosome manifest itself?
Of course, the presence of an extra chromosome can notDo not affect the health of the child and his development of thinking. However, these differences from healthy children can be very different. One child with Down's syndrome will be very severely expressed, another has so little that at first glance it will not even be possible to guess the child's disease. Children with Down's syndrome also have health conditions. For example, such children are more likely than others to suffer from such diseases as:
- Congenital heart diseases. And most of them are quite serious and require surgical intervention.
- Problems with the auditory or visual apparatus.
- Diseases of the thyroid gland.
- Frequent acute respiratory infections.
As already mentioned, this pathology alsoalways affects the intellectual development of the child. Infringements of an intellectual level of development of the child can be the most various. However, most often children with Down syndrome are capable of learning if they are given a similar opportunity. However, it goes without saying that such children need a strictly individual approach to training. The training program for a child with Down's syndrome should be constantly adjusted, depending on the child's academic performance and needs. 
How to reconcile with the birth of such a baby?
Of course, after learning that the child was born withsuch a pathology, all parents without exception, experience a shock and until the last refuse to believe that the diagnosis is not mistaken. Parents are frightened and confused, they do not know how to live further and how to behave with such an unusual baby. In no case should not be frightened and ashamed of their feelings - for the psyche of any person is characterized by such a defensive reaction: to escape from reality, to hide from problems. Parents of such kids are pursued by a wide variety of fears - some fear that the birth in their family of a child with Down's syndrome will lead to their rejection among friends and acquaintances. And someone is afraid that because of the child their social situation will change, someone experiences a desperate sense of guilt in front of their child, mistakenly believing that Down's syndrome has arisen because of any of their wrong actions. However, no matter how hard and difficult, but parents still have to return to the usual way of life - to engage in daily activities, to work, to renew ties with people. Of course, that in order to fully come to and take control of the situation, it takes time. Often considerable - several months, and maybe even years. However, as experience shows a huge number of families where children with Down's syndrome are brought up, sooner or later life goes into its rut.
Hello, baby!
Many parents of children with the syndromeDown, remembering the first days and weeks after the birth of the baby, they told that they had fear and reluctance to approach the newborn. However, this feeling passes very quickly and, stepping over their fears and doubts, parents take their crumbs on pens, examine it, begin to groom and very quickly realize that their unusual crumb also just needs caress, care and love, like any other child.
How do I report the characteristics of the child to others?
Before the parents of the baby with Down syndrome isAnother rather difficult task is to inform surrounding people about the birth of a sick child. Very often the family decides to keep this fact secret. However, according to family psychologists, this is not the most successful decision. Sooner or later, but the people around you will notice that the child looks a bit different than all the kids, because we recognize Down's syndrome, photos of sick children can be seen quite often. Therefore, in order to prevent unwanted inquiries and not to spoil relations, it is worthwhile to start talking about this first. Of course, this conversation will not be easy, but it will be a decisive step towards the return of the family to normal life. After all, they can not hide their child for the rest of their lives, no matter how hard they try. Remember that your friends and relatives are also uneasy: after all, they also do not know how to behave, are afraid to offer their help, so that you will not be offended and do not feel that they are not going into their business.
What can I do to help a baby with Down syndrome?
Of course, parents of children with Down syndromevery worried about what the fate of the little man awaits. Strictly speaking, it is from them that the success of children with Down syndrome, becoming adults, will be able to adapt to life. Parents can help their child:
No matter how hard it is for you now, and howabsurd did not seem to you any words of consolation, remember that this hard time for you will fly very quickly. And your life will regain meaning and new colors! We advise you to read:
