Parenting A Child With Birth Defects
Parenting a child with birth defects is an experience unlike any other you will have ever encountered. While for a healthy baby the well baby checks are legion and the shots seem to never end, the parent of a baby with birth defects may spend more time in between hospital visits, doctor consultation, specialist visits, and therapy appointments than at her or his place of employment. Caring for a child with birth defects – especially a younger child – is a full time job in itself and many a parent is quickly overwhelmed with the sheet amount of care that must be given, responsibility that is placed on their shoulders, and lack of qualified help that is available.
Fortunately, there are a number of steps you can take to take off some of the pressure while at the same time ensuring that your child will receive all the care, love, and help she or he needs.
1. No matter what the birth defect may be, the odds are good that there is an organization or foundation that is devoted to the cause. These groups are usually founded by a parent who went through the same hardship that you are currently experiencing and other parents joined in. Before long, some of these organizations have become nationwide powerhouses that counsel, support, educate, and provide referrals to hands-on support for those who need a little more than the home health nurse can provide. Find the group that is devoted to the birth defect your child is experiencing and join up. Get involved and avail yourself of the help, experience and resources these groups have to offer.
2. Do not cheat yourself and your child of celebrating achievements. Sure, many infants will walk at age one, some perhaps a bit later, but if your three year old is finally taking her first steps, celebrate the moment! Do not just exhale loudly and think to yourself “finally.” Instead, take some time out to party, dance, sing, and laugh with your child. Remember that the doctors’ visits and therapy appointments are hard on your child as well as on you, and the little one could use a break and just laugh.
3. Become as organized as never before. Birth defects may manifest in a variety of ways and showcase a plethora of symptoms. Set up an organized folder that separates your child’s eating habits, toileting habits, movements, and anything else that is relevant to her or his development as well as the birth defect from which the child suffers. Whenever you see a change, make sure you note the time and day. When you go to your next doctors’ appointment, make sure you take the folder along and ask questions!
4. Do not send the social worker packing! In the past the help of a social worker was viewed as a stigma of being a family that cannot get its life an act together. This has given social workers a bad rep and it has robbed countless families of the resources these individuals can offer! Whether you need spiritual, emotional or financial support, the odds are good that a social worker will have access to individuals or organizations that have what you need!
Recommended Reading
- Helping Your Child Cope With Birth Defects
- Help For Parents Of Children With Birth Defects
- Types Of Birth Defects Explained
- Disciplining A Child With Birth Defects
- Birth Defects Make Er Visits Problematic
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