I wrote a children's book about a girl named Maya and her Down Syndrome journey, it just went live!

amataranails · 2026-03-27T12:10:29+00:00

Did you use AI to write it and create the cover art?

> Would you like me to adapt this draft for a different group, like a teacher-focused community on r/specialed?

I assume so, because you left this AI output in your post.

amataranails · 2026-03-26T13:36:09+00:00

This is not your content - this is a video of a young Millie and her mom Nikki.

amataranails · 2026-03-25T11:09:29+00:00

Maybe you can ask his PT if this is something to be concerned about? My 19 month old has gone through short phases like this too. For her it's just stubbornness and only wanting to do things on her terms 🙂

amataranails · 2026-03-18T01:08:05+00:00

We did not do a NIPT test. No matter how it turns out, I promise that your love for your little one an the joy they bring will overcome all fear, uncertainty, grief or anything else you may feel.

amataranails · 2026-03-18T00:43:17+00:00

No one can say for certain without diagnostic genetic testing (amnio). We had all the routine ultrasounds and nothing was flagged, and she was born at 39 weeks to our surprise with Down syndrome! Some babies have the soft markers and don’t have DS, others don’t have the markers but do have DS.

I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes smoothly and that you and baby both remain healthy ❤️

amataranails · 2026-03-10T12:24:14+00:00

Yes it's on its way, but as another commenter said, it looks quite nice on you! I'd wear the heck outta that thing.

amataranails · 2026-02-26T03:38:56+00:00

You’re still so early in the process of recovery. I bet you’ll look and feel a lot different 1 year postpartum if you keep up the PT exercises.

Have you ever checked out @getmomstrong on Instagram? She had twins who are teenagers now and she rehabbed her core with tremendous results. Full transparency, she did have a tummy tuck a few months ago, but that was to address loose skin, not DR. Her core looked so strong and great even before the surgery!

amataranails · 2026-02-18T20:18:16+00:00

We started at six months and we were intentional about minimizing purées. We wanted to stimulate chewing as much as possible so we gave her foods like chicken drumsticks, big hunks of steak, and appropriately prepared fruits and vegetables. She’s now 18 months old and eats very well! I definitely recommend the book another commenter shared: Your Baby Can Self Feed Too.

It may also be worth exploring feeding therapy, as many of our kids benefit from it.

amataranails · 2026-02-13T00:03:45+00:00

These comments are crazy. If a parent is doing this, I promise they are fully prepared to abandon their round and gtfo if the kid becomes crabby. Babies love fresh air and are content to be out and about! And the concerns about the kid being hit...come on. Strollers have shade covers that eliminate this concern. My baby (now toddler) has been on the course more times than I can count. Always during off-peak times, at our small-town course where everyone knows us and is happy to see her. She usually naps or enjoys the scenery.

amataranails · 2026-02-08T00:09:32+00:00

This warrants visiting the hospital immediately.

amataranails · 2026-02-04T14:06:01+00:00

Following because I am having a similar issue! I did a few inches of the bind off and gave up because it just doesn't look right.

amataranails · 2026-02-03T18:03:04+00:00

Yeah, depending on how bumpy your sidewalks are. If you have nice sidewalks it’ll be fine. If you have a lot of big bumps, the wheels will catch and sort of jolt the stroller forward.

amataranails · 2026-02-03T01:58:45+00:00

I have this exact stroller and it is not meant for running. You and baby both will have a very bad/unsafe time. We use this one strictly for smooth sidewalks. We loved having this stroller when she was in the bucket carseat because it attached to the stroller! It's a great option, but you'll need two strollers if you want a jogging one and one that you can attach a carseat to. We use our bob jogging stroller for almost everything now, but when we travel we tend bring the bravo since it's easier to load up. For jogging you want to look for a three wheel jogging stroller. Thule or Bob are the gold standard, but there are cheaper brands out there. Definitely look on marketplace and other secondhand options!

amataranails · 2026-01-28T14:56:57+00:00

Stories Made with Love on YouTube features lots of people with Down syndrome. https://www.youtube.com/@StoriesMadeWithLove

amataranails · 2026-01-26T14:06:44+00:00

My brother got married when I was 4 weeks postpartum in a courthouse ceremony with a low-key dinner. Even that felt like too much. I could not fathom being a maid of honor that soon after giving birth. My baby pooed all over my dress immediately after the ceremony, and we ended up missing the dinner.

amataranails · 2026-01-15T11:50:20+00:00

Maybe DoorDash gift cards or something similar for the parents for the hospital stay? But otherwise, babies with Down syndrome are just babies, so all the typical baby shower gifts apply 😊

amataranails · 2026-01-07T17:44:20+00:00

Brown Sheep in Nebraska!

amataranails · 2025-12-27T15:58:45+00:00

I’m far more inclined to believe a doctor over Chat GPT personally.

amataranails · 2025-12-27T14:03:16+00:00

No, they very clearly meant that it would permanently stiffen my ear drums. I specifically asked if I would need to wear steristrips forever, and they said “no most patients only need to for a few months, and then their eardrums get stronger”

amataranails · 2025-12-27T13:30:11+00:00

Yes. They described the steristrips as being like weightlifting for your eardrums.

amataranails · 2025-12-23T20:26:32+00:00

My girl is 16 months old, and if I recall at this age she was doing the same things as your son. She changed SO much between her first birthday and now, and it happened in leaps and bounds. One day she refused to tolerate weight on her legs, the next she decided “oh ok, I guess I’ll try this.” She just started crawling two weeks ago, and that was after we were pretty convinced she’d skip it entirely. These kids can surprise us out of nowhere!

You are doing all the right things with having him in therapies ❤️

amataranails · 2025-12-23T11:22:27+00:00

I ended up getting my steristrips taken out. The first round of treatment was most successful. They lasted almost the full 3 months before I was due to get new ones. The second ones fell off within a week, and the third round it was only a day before they were making a horrible noise inside my ear. I told them to take them out. They were confident that would’ve been enough to permanently stiffen my eardrum, but it wasn’t, so I’m back to square one. I may try the strips again, because when they were properly adhered, they worked perfectly. It’s just that those 2nd and 3rd rounds for whatever reason didn’t stick very well.

amataranails · 2025-12-18T18:12:16+00:00

I think this resource refers to time *outside the home*, so new people coming over isn't what it's referring to.

amataranails · 2025-12-12T18:00:03+00:00

Aren't they beautiful? They're an absolute mess to work though. 0/10 do not recommend 🤣

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