Tag: Down syndrome

  • Holding On in the Middle of Everything: Motherhood, Fear, and Quiet Strength

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    When love and exhaustion live side by side Some days feel like a contradiction. In motherhood with a child with Down syndrome, there is so much love it almost hurts—and at the same time, a weight that presses on every thought and movement. These feelings don’t cancel each other out. They exist together, constantly shifting,…

  • Socializing as a Parent: Do Children Really Need It – and What About Us?

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    From Extrovert to Overwhelmed Parent I have always been an extrovert. Talking to people came naturally to me, even strangers. Before having children, I spent time going out, traveling, and attending events. I had many acquaintances and a few close friends. Now, life looks completely different. With a strong-willed and active 4-year-old daughter, a 2-year-old…

  • A Day at Home With My Two-Year-Old Son

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    Settling Into Our New Home We have now been living in our new home for several weeks. Life has slowly started to find its rhythm again. My partner goes to work, our four-year-old daughter goes to kindergarten, and I stay home with our two-year-old son, who has Down syndrome. Daily life with a toddler with…

  • Where Is the Help? Reflections on Community, Kindness, and Raising a Family

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    The Idea of Community People often say that it takes a village to raise a child. In theory, there should be a sense of community between people. Neighbours supporting each other, families helping one another, and parents not having to face everything alone. But honestly, I often wonder where that village actually is. Sometimes it…

  • Being Pregnant While Parenting Two Toddlers

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    I am currently 8 months pregnant. At home I have a four-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son. Life is busy, noisy, and full of movement from morning until evening. Being pregnant after having a child with Down syndrome brings many emotions. Our two-year-old has Down syndrome, and now we are expecting another baby. This pregnancy…

  • Fear of Another C-Section — But for Very Different Reasons This Time

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    I have had two emergency C-sections.My daughter is four years old, my son is two. With my daughter, the pregnancy went past 42 weeks. The doctors were not willing to wait any longer. Labor was induced—twice, using different methods—over two full days. Nothing happened. At 42+1, I was taken for an emergency C-section. It was…

  • I Was Never Unsure — And Still Everyone Questioned My Choice

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    A Surprising Pregnancy After a Difficult Birth When my daughter was one year and four months old, I became pregnant again. I was surprised. After an emergency C-section and considering my age—I was 34 at the time—I had assumed getting pregnant might be difficult. But the news brought joy to both me and my partner.…

  • Why Physiotherapy and Swimming Matter So Much with a Down Syndrome Diagnosis

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    Physiotherapy and swimming for Down syndrome diagnosis deserve special attention, because the benefits are immense. From my experience, most children with Down syndrome are hypermobile, meaning their joints are very flexible. Their muscles are often softer and slightly weaker than average, which can make certain developmental milestones harder to reach—and usually means they reach them…

  • Living in the Countryside: Joys, Challenges, and Raising a Child with Down Syndrome

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    We live in the countryside.Our village has around 100 people. The nearest town, with about 10,000 residents, is a one-hour drive away. This is a huge luxury when you consider how many people around the world live in matchbox-sized apartments in concrete apartment blocks. No wonder birth rates are so low. Children are born where…

  • What to Expect After a Down Syndrome Diagnosis (Early Pregnancy)

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    I received my son’s diagnosis early in pregnancy — at 12 weeks. I know many people get the diagnosis in the hospital after birth. In some ways, it was easier for me because the first reaction — shock — happened early in the pregnancy. In the hospital, it may be easier in a different way…