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Now that the election is finally over, one of the topics that emerged from the contest was the fact that Sarah Palin's youngest child was born with Down Syndrome.

the topic became political fodder for abortion debates, it heightened public awareness of Downs Syndrome and a child who has it. We thought this was a good time to provide more  information about the disorder.

Downs Syndrome Is Not Preventable

Couples who are thinking of starting a family are curious about Downs Syndrome. Everyone wants a healthy baby and there is quite a lot of information available to couples on the subject of prenatal health and the prevention of birth defects. Though many types of defects and abnormalities can be prevented, some can not, such as Down Syndrome. Something about Downs Syndrome that couples may not know is that it is not preventable and it is not inherited through family genetics. Children born with Down Syndrome do not have to have a lesser quality of life than children without the disorder, but they do require a higher degree of educational intervention, as well as guidance for behavior modification.

What Exactly Is Down Syndrome?

Down Syndrome occurs when extra genetic material is present on the 21st chromosome, and is represented through specific characteristics. According to various internet resources about Downs Syndrome, the chances of having a child born with the disorder increases with maternal age, especially age 35 and older. Screening for Down Syndrome is recommended for all women who have had a previous child born with the disorder, or a variation thereof, and for all women over the age of 35 years. Amniocentesis is the preferred method to sample fetal cells, and is the most definitive way to see if the fetus is affected with any disorder or abnormality. There are other aspects about Downs Syndrome that can also be detected if the disorder is present. If the fetus is found to have a more severe form, called Trisomy 21, the pregnancy usually will prove to not be viable and will miscarry. If carried to term, the fetus usually does not live, and if it does, it will have an array of debilitating physical and medical issues that will limit the life span of the infant.

Children With Down Syndrome Have Certain Physical Features

We have all seen children with the characteristic features of this disorder. Most children that have Down Syndrome have certain physical features such as, decreased muscle tone, a singular crease on each palm of the hand, flattened bridge of the nose, and epicanthal folds over each eye. Developmental delays and varying degrees of mental retardation are also present, requiring these children to have some type of special education if feasible, and physical therapy, in addition to prescribed medical treatments and intervention. There is much to learn about Downs Syndrome, and couples that are thinking about having children should be aware of all the risk factors, incidence rates, characteristics, and what is involved in caring for a child with Down Syndrome.  If you are thinking about becoming pregnant, learn all you can about Downs Syndrome.

In summary, if a woman is over 35 or has already has a child with Down Syndrome, she should have Amniocentesis testing. A child born with Downs Syndrome will have a normal quality of life but will require special care.

Technorati Tags: birth defects, down syndrome, downs syndrome, Family, family planning, Parenting, parents

Suggested Reading

• Watching For Mental Health Problems in Your Adolescent
• Treating ADD and ADHD With Natural Methods
• Developing Healthy Eating Patterns For Kids
• Start Your Family On A Healthy Eating Plan

Tags: birth defects, down syndrome, downs syndrome, Family, family planning, Parenting, parents

This entry was posted on Monday, November 10th, 2008 at 3:52 pm and is filed under Appearance, Family, Medical, Parenting, Pediatrics, children. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.