DSDN has been a lifeline to our family. Please consider donating to this amazing cause.

When you become a mom for the first time, your life is never the same. No matter how prepared you are, the questions come. Is this how much the baby should be sleeping? Is the baby eating enough? How much weight should the baby be gaining? How many wet diapers should she have a day? Am I doing this right? I remember calling and texting my best friends who were already mothers. Of course, I utilized the internet, but talking to other moms is a rite of passage. It's what we do as women. We support each other.

Before Sienna was born, I was excited to experience the infant stage again. I was going to enjoy the ride, because I wouldn't be as worried. I wasn't a first time mom anymore. But like everything with Sienna, what I expected to happen and what actually happened were two very different scenarios.

I'll never forget how helpless I felt when I got home from the hospital with her. My husband and I were processing Sienna's diagnosis in different ways and at different speeds. He has always been more introspective. He chooses to digest trauma internally while I seek connection and understanding from others.

I had announced Sienna's birth and her diagnosis on Facebook days after she was born. I didn't want to dance around it. I wanted everyone to know. While on the outside it appeared that I was handling everything with smiles and blessed hashtags, the truth is I was terrified. The congratulatory posts littered the thread.

"Congratulations. She's beautiful."

"God chooses special parents for special babies."

Did people really think I could do this? No one knew what I was facing. There was no friend to text with the questions I had. My friends didn't know how to advise me or what to say. My Mom tried to support me as much as she could, but this was my journey. I felt alone.

What I soon discovered was that I wasn't alone. The Facebook post announcing Sienna's birth and diagnosis put the wheels in motion that would connect me to my lifeline....the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network or DSDN for short. Before I knew it, I was handed the tools I needed to break free of my isolation.

As I was welcomed into my birth group, I was immediately connected to hundreds of mothers from around the country. As I scrolled down the group's private page, I realized that the connection I was seeking was right in front of me. This was my new tribe.

"I can't wake Sienna up to eat. I have tried everything. We've done cold wash cloths, a bath, feeding her in only a diaper. Nothing seems to be working. I'm worried. She needs to gain weight. Does anyone have any tips?"

The advice and support followed.

"It will be okay. It gets better. Try expressing breast milk and putting some in her mouth."

"They're so sleepy in the beginning. It's normal. Did you buy a baby scale yet? You can get one on Amazon and it will give you peace of mind. This is the one I recommend. Hang in there, Mom."

"Does she have a heart condition? There's another group for heart mammas that is really helpful."

"Do you know our kids have a separate growth chart? Here's a link to it. Show your pediatrician."

Every day, I had a new concern, and every time I posted something I was rewarded with support, love, and knowledge. What issues did we face.....when should we start early intervention, what therapies were the most helpful, breastfeeding struggles, constipation, thyroid concerns, chronic respiratory infections, etc. The questions didn't stop as Sienna progressed out of her newborn stage. I still find myself having concerns and questions, and there are moms in my group who are a few months ahead of me on this journey and they are armed with information.

The relationships I have formed with other moms through DSDN are everything to me. It's hard for some people to understand. Even my husband says...how can you have a deep connection with someone online? The answer to that is easy....our kids. These moms get it. They get me. They get my kid in a way no one else can.

Once a year, these moms come together for a retreat that recharges our souls for the year. 2019 will be my third year going. I wouldn't miss it for the world. I come out of this retreat armed with information that helps me support Sienna and her needs. If you want to learn more about the retreat, I have multiple posts on my blog.

I want to make the world a better place, not just for my family, but for other families that are walking this path with us and pay it forward to those that will walk it after us. When I realized the lack of accurate, up to date information, resources and support given to new parents of children with Down syndrome, I knew I had to help. Partnering with DSDN is the way to make this better for families across the country.

The retreat is not DSDN's only contribution

DSDN offers families:

• Private, moderated, online birth club groups for moms and dads from pregnancy through adulthood.
• Topical subgroups to more deeply connect around content that matters most to them. Examples of these groups include: a cancer diagnosis, IEPs, single parenting, infant/child loss, and Spanish speaking.
• Materials (free of charge!) to provide to medical professionals, local organizations and new families
• Rockin' Family Fund programming to support families with: Pregnancy gifts, welcome gifts, care gift cards, memorial gifts, and scholarships for Down syndrome related events.
• Annual DSDN Rockin' Mom and Dad Retreats to connect, inspire and recharge parents.

Just a small donation will go a long way to helping me meet my goal for Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network (DSDN)! Your support will make a real difference. Thank you for making a difference in a cause near to our hearts! to our community.

Join me in supporting real change. Let's support good in the world and make a difference by helping Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network (DSDN) provide accurate, up-to-date information, resources and support given to new families of children with Down syndrome.

DSDN is the largest 501c3 non-profit organization in the that focuses on the diagnosis period. This organization is an online-based network and has made it their mission to inform, connect and support new and expectant rockin' parents (a parent of a child with Down syndrome) around the world!