First of all, congratulations! For expecting a child and the experience of having a child amongst the family. You maybe are worried, have questions or even fear. However, that is completely normal.

Having a child with DS in the family will require a period of adaption. You might feel pressured to do all that you can so that you may help your child's development more than you would do for another baby, however each child has specific needs.Your child with DS will have its own characteristics, temperament and personality like every child.

The most important thing to remember is that having a child with DS will not change your life "tremendously", not more than having a new baby. In most ways, your infant will be e same as every other baby. Like all children, yours will need to be fed, helped and overall to be loved.

Of course you will face a lot of challenges while raising your child, but there will also be a lot of joy. It's normal to be concerned about what will be following in the future. One of the principal questions that comes up in the mind of young parents and pregnant mothers who are expecting a baby with DS is : will my child be healthy? It is important to emphasize that a lot of babies with DS are born without any serious health issues. However it is true that newborns with DS are more prone to have certain health complications. Even though your child might not have these complications, it is important that he stays informed about the possibility in the future.

What health conditions are related to DS?
Newborns with DS are at a high risk of being born with born heart conditions, hearing and sight loss, respiratory problems, digestion tracts and other health conditions. Doctors should do routine check-ups because some problems such as heart conditions might be present even though no visible symptoms are shown. While the list of possible health problems might be scary, it is important to remember your child might not necessarily suffer from any of these conditions. In case they suffer from one of these conditions, do not worry because science is progressing every day and is providing all the conditions to treat these conditions. You might assure optimal development of your newborn through good healthcare.
There is so much available information so it’s important to take advantage of all the quantity of information related to your child's health. A good tool that might help you is "HEALTH GUIDELINE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME", provided by EDSA and brought to you in albanian by Down Syndrome Albania foundation.

 

10 WAYS HOW A CHILD WITH DS WILL IMPROVE YOUR LIFE!
Author: Dolores Monet

So, you’ve got the news that your child has Down Syndrome. Maybe you’re not even sure what Down Syndrome is. Maybe you think ‘this is the worst day of my life.’
If so, logic dictates that, after 24 hours, the worse day of your life will be over! Done with. That’s a good thing, right? What you’re left with is an adorable little baby who will change your life for the better!
Many people have a preconceived notion that life will be perfect. After all, you are perfect! You’ve lived a good life, so far, effused with high moral values, hard work, education, ambition, good looks and good health. Life should unfold, for you, in a neat, predictable manner. It’s so unfair! Life should be a constant momentum of improvement.
I am here to tell you that Down Syndrome can make your life better. So, what will you gain by having a child with Down Syndrome? How can this imperfect baby improve you?

1) You will learn patience. You may have to wait a bit longer for your child to talk, take those first steps. Your friends’ have made a contest of those accomplishments and swell with pride when their kid is the first one to yell ‘NO,’ because we all know that verbal prodigy is a sure indication of the content of the parents’ character. It is not a contest. Isn’t a bit absurd to pit babies against one another? Would you resent your normal child if he waited a few extra weeks to lift his head? If your ‘normal’ child is a bit smaller than your friends’ children – does that make you a loser?
2) You will learn the true meaning of love. Who is deserving of your love? Is there a system of protocols that must be followed in order to be worthy of your affection? Is someone less deserving of your love due to the size of the bridge over their nose or that fact that they are incapable of performing higher math? You will learn that love has no bounds, no rules or expectations, that love exists for all of us, that no matter what you look like or who you are or how many chromosomes you have – everyone deserves love.
3) You will become that open-minded person you’ve always secretly envied.
4) You will become fearless and worry-free. The one thing that will ruin your life, if you have a child with Down Syndrome, is to waste time and mental resources worrying about something that may or may not even come up. Worry makes you miserable, your family miserable; it makes you unhealthy and unattractive (that scowl is just not you). What is the sense of worrying about something when you’re not even sure what it is you are worrying about?
5) You will be a nice person and you’ll meet nice people.
6) You’ll save money on clothes. Children with Down Syndrome grow slower than average so you’ll get your money’s worth out of all of those cute outfits.
7) You will become more acceptable toward other’s people “peculiarities” and less concerned with the superficial stuff.
8) You will grow spiritually. The first step on the road to enlightenment is compassion. Dalia Lama says that you can’t walk that path without feelings of cheerfulness.
9) You will benefit psychologically from giving of yourself and taking the love and admiration of your child with Down Syndrome and from the others as well.
10) You may just learn the true meaning of life. I am not going to spill any beans, but the other nine points will lead you here.