Our FAQs present information from La Leche League International on topics of interest to parents of breastfed children.  Not all of the information may be pertinent to your family’s lifestyle.  This information is general in nature and not intended to be advice, medical or otherwise.  If you have a serious breastfeeding problem or concern, you are strongly encouraged to talk directly to a La Leche League Leader.  Please consult health care professionals on any medical issue, as La Leche League Leaders are not medical practitioners.
 

Is it possible to breastfeed my baby who was born with Down syndrome?
How wonderful that you want to give your baby the precious gift of breast milk!  Babies with Down syndrome experience special benefits from breastfeeding beyond the myriad of advantages to healthy newborns:

Breastfeeding When Your Baby Has Hypotonia,
Congenital Heart Disease or Down Syndrome

Babies with special needs are often bombarded with a variety of health problems early on.  Those babies who have Down syndrome often face respiratory tract infections and bowel problems.  They can benefit from the gentle protection human milk provides.  Breastfeeding also helps establish a bond in the midst of the strong emotions and high stress surrounding the birth of a child who has special needs.

Nursing Techniques
Hypotonia (low muscle tone) is common among babies born with Down syndrome, as well as other babies who are born with special needs.  Hypotonia may make breastfeeding difficult, but with practice these babies gradually improve mouth and tongue coordination as well as muscle tone.  This improves speech and language development later in life.

Based on 1999 Down Syndrome Health Care Guidelines*  

If you take extra care and consideration, your baby has a very good chance of having a healthy childhood.  You will find that there are risks for extra health concerns but that does not necessarily mean that your child will have any of these problems.  While there is a fairly long list of possible health concerns, most of these are unlikely to occur and actually are fairly uncommon.  Monitoring for these health issues will help to find these problems early if they exist--and early care can go a long way toward minimizing the problem.  Good child health care is important for your child and needs to start with the basics.  The regular well-child visits to your provider offers lots of opportunities to investigate problems, to consider upcoming issues, and to practice prevention.  Here are some of the issues that you will want to emphasize.

Congenital Heart Disease
Congenital heart disease (heart disease which is present at birth) is very common in children with Down syndrome.  Around 40-50% of newborns with Down syndrome will have some type of congenital heart defect.  This will often require medications and some type of intervention such as open-heart surgery or a cardiac catheterization.  Sometimes the defects are relatively minor and do not need any treatment.  Fortunately, nowadays the overwhelming majority of congenital heart defects in infants and children with Down syndrome can be fully corrected.  You are most likely overwhelmed with all the new diagnoses:  the diagnosis of Down syndrome, the diagnosis of congenital heart disease.  It is important to realize that you are not alone.  Other parents with similar experiences and the Down Syndrome Aim High Resource Center are available for support.  Your pediatric cardiologist will monitor and see your child as much as needed and make sure that the best possible medical care is provided.