8 Major Misconceptions About Down’s Syndrome - From A Parent Who Had Them
7. Alone Again, Naturally
Statistics on Down's Syndrome can be cold and intimidating, but they bear out something of an inconvenient truth that makes you as a parent feel anything but 'special', despite all odds seemingly being against it happening in the first place.
According to the most recent statistics provided by America's governmental research, only 1 in every 700 babies in the United States is born with Down's, amounting to a mere 6,000 born each year. The chances are slimmer still in the United Kingdom, with the Down's Syndrome Association confirming a rate of 1 in every 1000, contributing to a total population of around 40,000 people with the condition.
Against gross population figures, the numbers are low, and have the ability to imbue a great sense of loneliness potentially not shared by fellow mothers and fathers experiencing new parenthood. And with good reason.
A somewhat harsh reality to accept early on is that it is a different parenting journey than the one a friend, colleague or fellow guardian at a baby group will go through. But as well as still being able to form firm friendships with those enduring a wildly different time with their own child, more focussed support exists from people that know exactly what range of emotions you are currently traversing.
Down's Syndrome suddenly becomes the impetus for building new relationships with some wonderfully supportive and understanding people on a local and national level, and can often foster terrific friendships that quickly don't remotely centre around the condition at all. Tighter and more cohesive partnerships with fellow parents will only inspire more of the same, and crucially create a robust mental safety net for both the adults and children during the potentially challenging times ahead.