Good Day

[raisinghannah]

Hello to all,

I am not a new mother, but new to this forum.

I have a total of six children to which my newest has been diagnosed with Down Syndrome.

Hannah was born by emergency C-section 6 weeks premature. Her weight was 3lbs 7oz. She is now 6 months old and weighs 8lbs 4oz.

Hannah has been breast fed from the beginning and has caught on very well.

Hannah's pediatrician has told me that I should be giving her formula twice a day to increase her weight. My issue is that all my children were breast fed and did very well. I am feeling that this is not the right thing for her. She will have many challenges and I want to start her off on the right foot.

Is there anyone out there that has had a similar experience?

Raising my beautiful Hannah.

[jennabean]

I don't have any experience with Down's but my son has/had 22q11 deletion syndrome and was always a tiny, skinny little thing :)  We didn't know what was going on when he was just a nursling but I felt the same as you... it had worked just fine  (or rather THEY :)  ) for my daughter so I just kept up with the breastfeeding despite my more mainstream peds. concern.

My son was considered 'failure to thrive' and didn't care for solids (strong gag reflex) but when he was @ 1 year or so I did add pediasure to his diet b/c my supply was starting to nosedive.  He LOVED pediasure, loved it so that worked for us... he never did take a bottle btw, he was able to use a sippy cup and breastfeed just fine oddly enough.

All the best with your daughter and I would certainly think that a mommy with your experience and intuition would be right on the money :)

[anj_rn]

My DD does not have downs, but has multiple medical issues.  I had the opposite experience I was told to start formula since my baby was too big.  I just ignored them.  Your child is underweight, but has doubled her weight in 6 months.  Since she is a preemie, with downs, I would look more at the length to wieght comparison than I would at the weight to age comparison.

My personal policy is to find  new doc if they tell me to stop Bfing.

[askew]

I think it is important to judge Hannah's weight by other kids the same age with Down syndrome. They must have their own charts. I know they have different charts for kids with CP. What I am saying, is that people with Down syndrome are of small stature. Across the board. It's unfair to consider her FTT based on the charts for typical kids. I have a DD with a chromosome deletion, and she fell off the charts. She started out big, but did not gain much from 9-18 months. My ped is not concerned. She looks healthy, she is just small. Have you joined any of the Down syndrome support groups? I am sure they have info on healthy size for kids with her unique chromosomes. Welcome to MDC and congratulations on your daughter! 

[raisinghannah]

They do have a chart for Down Syndrome babies, but not premature Down syndrome babies. Hannah was born 17 1/2 inches and now is 23 inches. She has grown quite considerably in my opinion and is a very alert and happy baby. Her siblings joke that Hannah will need wheelbarrows to carry her cheeks.

I have thought about this long and hard and I know myself that breastfeeding is the BEST for my Hannah. I will make an appointment with the genetic specialist in Denver today. Perhaps they have a list of doctors who are more familiar with her disability.

I'll keep you posted.

[fallenangel811]

8lb 4oz at 23" doesn't sound bad. My son was 7lb 15oz when he was 22.5". He was full term and did not have Downs.

Hope that helps!