Why did this happen to us?

There is no known cause in 90% of cases as neither parent has DiGeorge syndrome. It is a problem of the human race, or a natural phenomenon, or just plain bad luck!

It is vital to understand that there is nothing that could have been done to prevent or cause this to happen:

IT IS NO-ONE'S FAULT!

Your baby was destined to have DiGeorge syndrome from the instant of conception. Either the egg or sperm from which the baby was made had those genes missing and no-one yet knows why that happens.

What problems does my baby have?

Babies with DiGeorge syndrome can have many problems or just a few. It is very broad spectrum. Each baby will be different.

Please be re-assured

with your love and support your baby has an excellent chance of growing up to enjoy a completely 'normal' life

The most frequent problems include

• a heart defect - your baby will be seen by a paediatrician who will help you with this.
• difficulties with metabolising calcium (which can cause seizures), - this is treated with medication.
• a poor immune system (due to the lack of a thymus gland), - your baby may be more susceptible to colds, chest and ear infections.
• feeding difficulties/reflux (nasal vomiting of milk), this is usually due to a problem with the soft palate and can be treated when the child is older. This is the more prominent feature associated with VCFS.
• mild developmental delay - your baby will reach the usual milestones but may take a little longer to get there