[punchkin]

I hope someone can answer this question for me. I have a FC, whom I am told has Downs Syndrome. My question is this. Can an infant have DS without the obvious signs. Up until I was told a couple days ago I would have not known it. They said that some test came back positive. Now they have me confused. It really doesn't matter to me I still love her just the same, if not more. I just want to be fully prepared to I can get her the help she needs.
Thanks in advance.

[mypov]

With down syndrome there is actually an extra chromosome. I don't know if they tested for that or if other tests were done (my knowledge is limited). That said, my cousins son has down syndrome but the "typical" facial features were at first masked by his "typical" baby look and some of the genetic facial structures that his family have. He has sort of grown into looking more obvious as having DS now and is small and a bit delayed for his age of 3 but he's sweet and adorable! His case is mild according to what I've heard though. Good luck!!!

[waited2long]

I'm assuming they did the test for the extra chromosome as mentioned above. You won't truly know how affected your foster child is until she begins to show signs of being behind in some way... In the meantime, keep lovin her!

[lazshay]

Down syndrome can also be mosaic, which means it doesn't effect every cell in the body.

[punchkin]

Thanks for answering. I have another is it true that they can have a postive, without really having DS, which is what i am being told. I've done a lot of research and everything that i've read says nothing about this. I don't think this is true. But being that I have no Experience with DS, I don't know if this is true or not. FC case is complicated to say the least, but if she has DS, then family says they will not accept her.

[OakShannon]

Originally Posted by punchkin

Thanks for answering. I have another is it true that they can have a postive, without really having DS, which is what i am being told. I've done a lot of research and everything that i've read says nothing about this. I don't think this is true. But being that I have no Experience with DS, I don't know if this is true or not. FC case is complicated to say the least, but if she has DS, then family says they will not accept her.

If she has trisomy 21, (which is what the test would check for) then she has DS. Maybe the person you spoke with was referring to mosaic DS - which can result in much more minor effects. But that is also the most rare form of DS - only 2% of cases.

The thing with DS is that there are literally dozens of physical, medical and developmental issues and effects that are associated with it and no one has them all. Some are as minor as a pinky finger that curves inward. Or as serious as a major heart defect. Everyone with DS has developmental delay, but there is a significant range, from quite mild to severe - although most are in the milder range. So unless you are very familiar with the syndrome, it can be hard to recognize in a young infant.

How old is your FC? And what things are you thinking of as typical that you don't see? These are common feature in an infant with DS -

Flattened back of head.

Almond-shaped eyes

Slightly flattened bridge across nose.

Smallish ears, positioned slightly lower on the head, with a small fold at the top of the ear.

Smallish mouth.

Slightly protruding tongue.

Horizontal crease in palm of hand .

Slightly shortened fingers.

The little finger curves inward .

Slightly enlarged gap between the big and second toes.

Slightly shortened toes.

In addition, many infants with DS are a little harder to feed because of the protruding tongue and because they often don't have a strong suckling reflex.

[BethanyB]

Kids with DS also vary in ability due to proactive help when they are babies. My sister has DS and my mom had her in all kinds of programs as a very young baby. My sister graduated high school (although she was in special ed courses). She can read and write like any other adult. She has a job and a boyfriend. She participates in special olympics and kinds of activities. She does really well. She is very high functioning and leads a very happy, healthy life. Our family has grown up with other families who have kids with DS and they too are quite high functioning. All of the kids went to the same programs and such growing up. So I think early intervention has a lot to do with it.

Years ago when my sister was born (she's 34), doctors told women to just place the children in residential treatment centers and let them just "live" there. Things have changed now and there are so many resources for families with children who have DS.

I hope you are able to find out the answers you are looking for. Good luck. Kids with DS are the SWEETEST kids!

[punchkin]

Thanks for answering. Wow that is a lot to take in and understand all at once. FC is 4 wks old. She does have the almond shaped eyes. the small ears and mouth. It takes her 20 minutes to eat a 3oz bottle [slow eater] Other than this I see nothing that would even make me suspect DS. In fact never thought it until CM told me. I know it may seem like i'm absessing over this and maybe I am, but I want to be well informed as to best help her.

[athikers]

My friends had a daughter with trisomy 18 and though trisomy 18 has "typical" physical features, she had none of them. My understanding is this is also possible, but more rare in trisomy 21.

Good luck.

[Nevada Jen]

If you want to be sure if she has down syndrom as the case manager if they did a genetic test to confirm down syndrome. If they did, then she has it. There is no room for doubt. Its one of the easiest geneti tests to perform and read. However, you never know where this tidbit of info came from so it would be best to know if they did the test. If they have not, they didn't know any better than you do! As others have said, how DS manifest varies widely. If she has it she automatically qualifies for EI and a higher fostercare payment.