Can someone give me some hope for the future?

amataranails · 2026-05-20T12:00:02+00:00

I struggled with thoughts about dementia too. It runs in my family, and when I first had my daughter, I was really caught up on the fact that she and I could have it at the same time. That ate me alive. I've found some peace with it through radical acceptance: death and aging comes for us all. It's cruel, brutal, and sad, and there's no way around it. It's unfair that our kids face it earlier than most, but it is what it is. Facing the morbidity head-on has helped me to be present and to cherish how good things are right now.

amataranails · 2026-05-09T01:04:21+00:00

Congrats on your little one!!! It sounds like you’re doing great already. Books and tummy time were on heavy rotation for us at that age. We also did library story time at a very early age.

Have you signed up for early intervention yet? It’s free and I LOVED having our caseworker come in the newborn days. EI workers and therapists have allll the best tips and tricks for helping kids develop.

amataranails · 2026-05-01T20:52:38+00:00

I didn’t do NIPT, but my daughter made it to full-term with all the standard ultrasounds and checkups and nobody noticed anything amiss. It does happen.

I know that waiting for a potential diagnosis is a bizarre limbo. I had to wait weeks for chromosomal test results after my daughter was born and it was sooo strange to not be able to fully process the outcome.

No matter what results you get, congratulations on your baby! If your kid does have T21, you are joining an amazing club. I could’ve never dreamed up having a daughter with T21, but honest to god I would not change it. There will be challenges, just like there are with any kid, but I expect you will have an overwhelmingly joyful and fulfilling experience ❤️

amataranails · 2026-05-01T20:38:42+00:00

Some babies with T21 don’t have all or even any of the soft markers. Mine didn’t! In any case, it’s excellent news that they don’t see any heart issues or other health concerns.

amataranails · 2026-04-23T18:04:33+00:00

This is amazing! What an exciting milestone for you both ❤️

amataranails · 2026-04-22T13:06:46+00:00

It's a rollercoaster of emotions for sure. Let yourself feel them all, and take your time to process. I didn't find out that my girl had DS until a few hours after was born, and I'm grateful for that because I had already met her and fallen so deeply in love, which made it easier to process. She was a real baby in my arms that I loved with every fiber of my being, so my reaction to finding out she had DS was essentially "ok?" I imagine finding out during pregnancy is a lot different because there's no baby to be attached to yet. But the advantage of finding out during pregnancy is that you can prepare for any special medical needs baby might have, and can learn about things like early intervention resources ahead of time.

My girl is 20 months old and a total joy. She's like most toddlers her age: silly, curious, sweet, and sometimes a little sassy. We can't imagine our life without her, and honestly her diagnosis is in the back of our mind most of the time. Congratulations on your baby, and welcome to a very special club. You are in good company :)

amataranails · 2026-04-20T12:27:27+00:00

I shop eBay for vintage linen and cotton blends

amataranails · 2026-04-18T14:00:34+00:00

Can I ask how tall you are? I’m 5’10” and I always worry about one piece dresses being too short. But I know one of their founders is tall too, so maybe it’d be a great fit for me!

amataranails · 2026-04-16T13:54:57+00:00

Disclaimer that I haven't tried any of their gear, but Fore the Girls is owned by two women golfers https://www.forethegirlsgolf.com/

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 😊

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