Coming Home After 12 Days in the Hospital
After spending twelve days in the hospital, we finally began life after hospital with baby with Down syndrome — a new chapter full of hope and learning. I had never been away from my two-year-old daughter for so long.
From the start, we decided that I would stay in the hospital alone with the baby, since we knew I’d have to stay for an extended time due to the many tests and observations. It was the right decision. My husband stayed at home with our daughter — it would have been too shocking for a two-year-old to be without both parents for weeks, even though she has a great relationship with her grandparents.
The hospital offered all the medical and psychological support I needed, both for myself and for the baby.
Settling Into Home Life
Once home, I focused on establishing breastfeeding. It took about a month to find a rhythm, but eventually it became natural. Our daughter was incredibly understanding — she knew her baby brother needed my time and care.
We slowly settled into daily life. For the first six months, we didn’t even notice anything different about him. At three months, we went for a check-up at the children’s hospital, and at four months he started physical therapy.
Everyone who came to visit — even those who had expressed doubts during pregnancy — said the same thing: “He looks perfectly fine!” And truly, at that point, there were no visible differences.
Discovering Hearing Loss and Developmental Delays
When he was six months old, we learned from an ENT specialist that he could hear perfectly in one ear, but very little or nothing in the other. Around the same time, we noticed his development was slower.
He has very flexible joints and is extremely bendy, so physical strength has taken time to build. But his therapists have reassured us that all developmental stages are appearing in the right order — they just take longer.
At ten months, he started crawling on his belly. At one year and four months, he began proper crawling, and now, at one year and ten months, he’s moving fast and active, pulling himself up and walking along furniture. He hasn’t let go completely yet, but he’s getting there.
Challenges with Digestion and Physical Therapy Support
At six months, he also developed severe constipation that lasted for nearly a year. No medication or diet changes helped — likely his internal muscles were just too weak at the time.
He continues to go to physical therapy, and once a month we visit a special school where he works with a special education teacher, music and art therapist, and speech therapist. He started these sessions when he was nine months old, and I’m deeply grateful that everything is fully covered — my only cost is gasoline to drive there.
Our Son’s Development and Personality
Mentally, he’s very alert. He currently says about ten simple words and loves books, instruments, songs, and dancing. Specialists have said his cognitive development is close to that of a typically developing child. He’s curious, observant, and enjoys every new experience.
How His Sister Sees Him
Our daughter recently turned four. We haven’t talked with her directly about Down syndrome — for her, he’s simply her little brother, loved and cherished. We treat both children equally: both must sit nicely at the table, tidy up their toys, and go to bed on time.
To us, they are both just our children — unique and wonderful in their own ways.
Looking Back and Moving Forward
When I think back, I feel immense gratitude — for the support we’ve received, for our son’s progress, and for our daughter’s understanding heart. The early fears have been replaced by love and trust in our journey together.
Every milestone, no matter how small, feels like a victory.
What About You?
Have you experienced a similar journey — spending long weeks in the hospital, or raising a child with Down syndrome? I’d love to hear your story. Please share your experience in the comments below.
For more information about Down syndrome and early development, visit the National Down Syndrome Society.
You are not alone in this.
If you would like to go deeper, you can buy the e-book Our Journey – A Different Path for honest reflections and lived experience beyond this post: https://payhip.com/b/c9s3b
You can also purchase supportive routine templates designed to help parents and children navigate daily life with more clarity, structure, and understanding: https://payhip.com/b/RYA65
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