wondering if my baby has down syndrome epicanthic eye fold

[Tristansmom]

FWIW, she doesn't look at all like she could have Down Syndrome to me. My mother, sister, niece and I all have very pronounced epicanthic folds (despite having zero Asian heritage). It just happens to be a thing that runs in our family! There are a number of genetic contributors to eye shape and size.

Regarding your concern about her tongue-thrusting, I wouldn't be too concerned about it until and unless it begins to interfere with either feeding or teething. Tongue agility is required for facility with language development, so a certain amount of it is normal.

Also, shame on your doctor for saying anything so completely unwarranted and getting you worried!

PS Your baby is absolutely gorgeous. I hope mine is as sweet!

 

[_Meep_]

Nobody is going to look at your baby and think she has anything wrong with her at all, and neither should you have to. Don't let this doctor keep you always wondering and worrying at the back of your mind until your LO's nose bridge develops! Doctors can be wrong, especially when they are not specialists in a certain area.

For example, when my daughter was 4 months old, the paediatrician we saw for her feeding issues told me she wasn't tongue tied and that the posterior tongue tie I suspected she had wasn't even a condition that existed. By 4.5 months, we had seen a tongue tie specialist and had her posterior tie confirmed and snipped. Lol.

 

[Zeri]

She looks perfectly fine to me! Very beautiful girl, by the way!

 

[fulloflove2]

FWIW, she doesn't look at all like she could have Down Syndrome to me. My mother, sister, niece and I all have very pronounced epicanthic folds (despite having zero Asian heritage). It just happens to be a thing that runs in our family! There are a number of genetic contributors to eye shape and size.

Regarding your concern about her tongue-thrusting, I wouldn't be too concerned about it until and unless it begins to interfere with either feeding or teething. Tongue agility is required for facility with language development, so a certain amount of it is normal.

Also, shame on your doctor for saying anything so completely unwarranted and getting you worried!

PS Your baby is absolutely gorgeous. I hope mine is as sweet!

Thank you so much You know the nurse told me that normal babies don't have epicanthic folds. I hate how they scare you. She is feeding fine and she is saying dada and gaga.

 

[fulloflove2]

She looks perfectly fine to me! Very beautiful girl, by the way!

Thank u

 

[fulloflove2]

Nobody is going to look at your baby and think she has anything wrong with her at all, and neither should you have to. Don't let this doctor keep you always wondering and worrying at the back of your mind until your LO's nose bridge develops! Doctors can be wrong, especially when they are not specialists in a certain area.

For example, when my daughter was 4 months old, the paediatrician we saw for her feeding issues told me she wasn't tongue tied and that the posterior tongue tie I suspected she had wasn't even a condition that existed. By 4.5 months, we had seen a tongue tie specialist and had her posterior tie confirmed and snipped. Lol.

oh wow you would think a doctor could look and tell if she was tongue tied. I told my doctor that I did that major testing that was 99% correct that she tested negative for downs and the trisomies. She said she couldn't comment on that because she had never heard of it and since it only came out in 2012 that it was too new. Can you believe that?

 

[_Meep_]

Omg, ridiculous! I think your doctor has a seriously bizarre attitude ...

 

[Tristansmom]

Not the best picture, sorry! Also, it was way more pronounced when I was a child.

 

[StranjeGirl]

Nobody is going to look at your baby and think she has anything wrong with her at all, and neither should you have to. Don't let this doctor keep you always wondering and worrying at the back of your mind until your LO's nose bridge develops! Doctors can be wrong, especially when they are not specialists in a certain area.

For example, when my daughter was 4 months old, the paediatrician we saw for her feeding issues told me she wasn't tongue tied and that the posterior tongue tie I suspected she had wasn't even a condition that existed. By 4.5 months, we had seen a tongue tie specialist and had her posterior tie confirmed and snipped. Lol.

oh wow you would think a doctor could look and tell if she was tongue tied. I told my doctor that I did that major testing that was 99% correct that she tested negative for downs and the trisomies. She said she couldn't comment on that because she had never heard of it and since it only came out in 2012 that it was too new. Can you believe that?

That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Can you find a new dr? Maybe a second opinion would put your mind at ease. It's ridiculous because there is no reason to keep a watch on the eye fold. You can have no facial features and still have down syndrome. The eye fold doesn't mean anything...if it goes away, or if you child never had it, it doesn't mean your child doens't have down syndrome, and I feel like her telling you that you need to watch it implies that if it goes away it means one thing, and if it stays it means another thing. She should be looking at if your child is developing normally mentally, not physically. There is absolutely nothing other than this eye fold (which is common in babies) that says your baby has down syndrome. She has worried you for no good reason! The scary thing is that if something major does happen to your child, you have to trust that she would do a good job taking care of it and she really seems like a cruddy dr! I hope whatever insurance you have lets you look for someone else!

 

[fulloflove2]

Not the best picture, sorry! Also, it was way more pronounced when I was a child.

Yes I see it. So you, your mom and sister have it? No one in my family has it that I know of. Im looking for it now. Thank you for posting it.

 

[fulloflove2]

Nobody is going to look at your baby and think she has anything wrong with her at all, and neither should you have to. Don't let this doctor keep you always wondering and worrying at the back of your mind until your LO's nose bridge develops! Doctors can be wrong, especially when they are not specialists in a certain area.

For example, when my daughter was 4 months old, the paediatrician we saw for her feeding issues told me she wasn't tongue tied and that the posterior tongue tie I suspected she had wasn't even a condition that existed. By 4.5 months, we had seen a tongue tie specialist and had her posterior tie confirmed and snipped. Lol.

oh wow you would think a doctor could look and tell if she was tongue tied. I told my doctor that I did that major testing that was 99% correct that she tested negative for downs and the trisomies. She said she couldn't comment on that because she had never heard of it and since it only came out in 2012 that it was too new. Can you believe that?

That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Can you find a new dr? Maybe a second opinion would put your mind at ease. It's ridiculous because there is no reason to keep a watch on the eye fold. You can have no facial features and still have down syndrome. The eye fold doesn't mean anything...if it goes away, or if you child never had it, it doesn't mean your child doens't have down syndrome, and I feel like her telling you that you need to watch it implies that if it goes away it means one thing, and if it stays it means another thing. She should be looking at if your child is developing normally mentally, not physically. There is absolutely nothing other than this eye fold (which is common in babies) that says your baby has down syndrome. She has worried you for no good reason! The scary thing is that if something major does happen to your child, you have to trust that she would do a good job taking care of it and she really seems like a cruddy dr! I hope whatever insurance you have lets you look for someone else!

What she meant was keep an eye on her development. I was just assuming myself that if her development was good and it goes away it might take my worry away ya know I hate worrying. I do have early intervention coming over the first week of July because I called them and requested it again. My insurance company is difficult.

 

[Tristansmom]

Not the best picture, sorry! Also, it was way more pronounced when I was a child.

Yes I see it. So you, your mom and sister have it? No one in my family has it that I know of. Im looking for it now. Thank you for posting it.

My mom, sister, and niece all have it It's just how our eyes are shaped!

 

[fulloflove2]

Not the best picture, sorry! Also, it was way more pronounced when I was a child.

Yes I see it. So you, your mom and sister have it? No one in my family has it that I know of. Im looking for it now. Thank you for posting it.

My mom, sister, and niece all have it It's just how our eyes are shaped![/QUOTE

Thank u so much. The internet makes you think if u r not Asian than its DS.

 

[justplay91]

My son's eyes are also like this (actually a bit more pronounced) and no one has ever shown any concern about down syndrome. We have no Asian heritage. He didn't have those folds when he was tiny, either. Like your daughter, he also eats well and has met milestones. I honestly think your doctor is ridiculous for saying anything about your baby having down syndrome! She looks very healthy and I truly wouldn't be worried if I were you.

 

[Cattia]

My DD's eyes looked just like that. She is a perfectly normal and healthy five year old now and the bridge of her nose is more developed.

I don't Think she had them as a small baby either. I'd say by the time she was about three they were less pronounced. I'm sure when I was reading up about the NIPT I read somewhere that there has never been a baby born with DS after a negative result. It's pretty unlikely that you would be the first one!

 

[_Meep_]

Hope you are feeling a bit better about all of this now, fulloflove.

 

[fulloflove2]

My son's eyes are also like this (actually a bit more pronounced) and no one has ever shown any concern about down syndrome. We have no Asian heritage. He didn't have those folds when he was tiny, either. Like your daughter, he also eats well and has met milestones. I honestly think your doctor is ridiculous for saying anything about your baby having down syndrome! She looks very healthy and I truly wouldn't be worried if I were you.

Thank you so much for replying. Yall have all made me feel so much better. It must be common for babies to have this. Im starting to think I need to switch doctors since she scared me so bad.

 

[fulloflove2]

My DD's eyes looked just like that. She is a perfectly normal and healthy five year old now and the bridge of her nose is more developed.

I don't Think she had them as a small baby either. I'd say by the time she was about three they were less pronounced. I'm sure when I was reading up about the NIPT I read somewhere that there has never been a baby born with DS after a negative result. It's pretty unlikely that you would be the first one!

Oh wow I didn't know that. I did know they said it was 99% correct.

 

[fulloflove2]

Hope you are feeling a bit better about all of this now, fulloflove.

Meep I sure am. I don't know what I would have done without all of you. Thank yall so much

 

[_Meep_]

So welcome - being a mum is so hard whether it's your first or your fifth: we all love and worry the same! I've worried about everything from day 1 and it sucks, and I hate seeing other people go through that. This place is definitely reassuring when you find other people who are feeling the same way.