Final answer:
During discharge teaching for parents of a newborn with Down syndrome, the nurse should inform them about the weak musculature that is common in children with this condition. Babies with Down syndrome typically have hypotonia and may require support for physical activities.
Step-by-step explanation:
When discharging a couple from the hospital with their 2-day-old Down syndrome baby, it is important for the nurse to provide teaching about the physiological characteristics of the syndrome. The correct feature to include in the teaching would be weak musculature. This is because babies with Down syndrome often have hypotonia, which is low muscle tone leading to weakness. This may affect their ability to feed, hold up their head, and perform other physical activities as they grow.
The nurse should not include small cerebral ventricles, inability to feel pain, or low glomerular filtration rate as these are not typical characteristics of Down syndrome. While there are many challenges that may come with raising a child with Down syndrome, these children may lead fulfilling lives with proper care and support.
Down syndrome is characterized by an extra chromosome 21 and can cause intellectual disability, vision problems, congenital heart disease, and higher susceptibility to certain types of cancer. Despite these challenges, it's important to recognize and support the individual capabilities and developmental potential of each child.