The Importance of Breastfeeding a baby with Down syndrome

Congratulations! Nursing your newborn baby is a precious time you will enjoy. Breastfeeding is even more important for babies with Down syndrome because they have greater susceptibility to infection than typical infants, so the immune factors present in colostrum and breast milk are especially valuable.

Recent research shows that breast milk contains lactoferrin and transferrin, which prevent the growth of harmful bacteria in the intestinal tract. The bifidus factor (contained in breast milk) also promotes the growth of friendly bacteria in the intestinal tract. Further protective action is gained from lysozymes found in breast milk that attack and break down bacteria. Antiviral factors, such as interferon, are also present in human milk.

Babies with Down syndrome are often more prone to respiratory infections and digestive upsets. Breastfeeding lessens the incidence of both of these problems and probably reduces the severity of them if they should occur. There can be varying degrees of problems associated with our special babies. Some may be a little more sleepy and have a poor sucking reflex, while others may have respiratory problems or more serious difficulties.

If your baby is weak at birth, he may experience some difficulty in learning to suck and swallow. It is best if mom can be calm and patient while the baby learns. The rewards of nursing you baby are well worth the extra effort, so don't be discouraged if you encounter problems. With your help, the baby will catch on.

Babies with Down syndrome are often placid and sometimes have poor muscle tone at birth. Therefore, the mother will have to learn to be a clockwatcher, picking the baby up frequently and offering the breast, rather than waiting for the baby to cry to be fed. The baby should be encouraged to nurse about every two hours during the day and several times during the night.

Many mothers have found that a lot of skin contact helps stimulate the sleepy baby. It is important to stroke their bare skin at every opportunity. It is also helpful to carry the baby in a small baby carrier on the mother's front. You can remove all of the baby's clothing, except diaper, and put him/her against mother's bare chest, and slip a maternity/nursing top over it all. Bonding can continue indefinitely. Even when baby isn't in the carrier, he/she should be carried a lot, stroked, and touched!

If your baby is sleepy, make sure they are not too warmly dressed or too snugly wrapped. Put him/her to the breast to nurse before diapering, because that sometimes tires them. Mothers may try keeping their baby awake by playing music or walking and talking with the baby often.

Many babies are slow, leisurely nursers, so long feedings are to be anticipated and enjoyed! You will both thrive on these quiet times; this can be a cozy, relaxing time. Nurse in a comfortable position, it helps to put your feet on some type of footstool while sitting. Allow a generous amount of time for each nursing. The experience might take a little more effort at first but it will be well worth your time.

If you need support in nursing your new baby, please call the Le Leche League at 1-800-LALECHE or (847) 519-7730
and they should be able to put you in touch with a coach who is a mother of a child with Down syndrome in your area.

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