An experienced paediatrician will examine your baby, undertaking the normal baby checks, making sure that your baby does not have serious health issues or a heart condition:
Genetic tests:
As soon as the doctors consider that your baby may have Down syndrome they will request a blood test to confirm the diagnosis. A preliminary result is available within 2 working days (so may take longer if it is the weekend or a bank holiday) but the detailed results may take up to three weeks.
Heart scan:
Your baby may have a heart scan soon after birth if the doctors are concerned that your baby has a heart disorder. However even if this is normal, your baby should see a heart specialist and have a repeat heart scan by 6 weeks. This is because babies with Down syndrome have a 40-60% likelihood of a having a heart condition (Congenital heart disorder).
Blood tests:
All children with Down syndrome will have full blood tests and blood film within the first three days, to make sure that they are not at risk of a serious blood disorder. Additional tests may be advised depending on your child’s medical needs.
Newborn hearing screen (offered to all newborns):
Sometimes the results are not definitive in the new-born period, however, it is really important that your baby has any recommended follow up hearing tests. We know that babies with Down syndrome have a higher incidence of hearing loss which can result in language delay.
Feeding:
It is quite common for babies with Down syndrome to take some time to establish feeding. If you wish to breast feed your baby, you should do so, unless you are advised of a medical reason not to.
If your baby is having difficulty in establishing breast or bottle-feeding, the midwives and a speech therapist who specialises in feeding can support you. Some babies may go home with a naso-gastric tube (feeding tube) and may need medications to help with feeding. You can also seek support with breast feeding from your 0-19 Specialist Public Health Nurse.
If your baby has no immediate health issues they will be discharged home as soon as you are ready. The hospital paediatricians will request the community paediatricians and arrange to see you and your baby.
You should be provided with the specific Down syndrome inserts for your parent held child health record book (Red Book - 5th edition February 2020).
Details of the local Down syndrome parent support groups can be found on the ........ page.
