Concern

Cameron was my first child and I had always planned on nursing. However, with him having Down syndrome and a heart defect that didn't work out so well so I pumped. I HATED every minute of it but knew that I was providing my baby with the best milk possible.

Mitchell was my second child and was born healthy and "typical". I nursed him, only pumping while away at work. I still HATED pumping.

Having the third baby and no longer working I was SOOO looking forward to exclusively nursing her. BUT she, like Cameron, has Down syndrome and a heart defect.

Has anyone successfully nursed a newborn with Down syndrome AND a severe heart defect. I say severe because she WILL require surgery, it's not something that is going to fix itself.

I just remember with Cameron, it was a HUGE challenge to get him to even wake up to take a bottle. Then keeping him awake long enough to finish was challenging also. We had to set our alarm clock every two hours throughout the night to wake him up (taking off all his clothes and sometimes even having to put a little cool water on him to wake him up enough to eat). Repeating the process when he fell asleep before finishing.

Any success stories and/or tips would be GREATLY appreciated.

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Another Update

I had the amnio and she has T21. I know that some parents would embrace this howevever I am devastated. I will grieve and move on and she will be loved and wonderful but right now I'm broken. I keep wondering why can so many people have so many healthy "typical" children and not even appreciate it and here I have two children with Down syndrome. (BTW, we are not carriers).

Brief Update

It has been confirmed that the baby does have an AV Canal (AVSD) which is the same heart defect that Cameron had; and she will need surgery likely at 3 months (same as Cameron).

I don't know whether she has T21 or any other genetic abnormalities as I haven't done an amnio (and don't know that I will).

I'm trying to enjoy my pregnancy and not think about the "what ifs".

On a brighter note, she moves around alot and the nursery is painted! Well, sort of. The bottom is brown and the top is pink BUT I hate the pink (reminds me of Pepto Bismol) so hubby will likely be redoing the pink part to make it a little lighter.

The boys are enjoying talking to and kissing my belly. Mitchell has a cabbage patch doll (that was Dave's) that he takes with him everywhere and says is his baby sister. It's too cute.