Home / Health Insurance / Wellness Corner / Coping with Birth Defects as Parents

A Parent’s Guide to Coping with Birth Defects

Birth defects can be caused by genetics or by environmental factors or a combination of both. Taking care of child with special health conditions is a difficult, traumatic process with many ups and downs. Parents can effectively deal with this by learning more about it, utilising support services and seeking professional help. Take a look at this article to know about some tips that will help you deal with this situation.

How to cope with your child’s birth defect?

Caring for a child born with birth anomalies is not only emotionally draining, but a financial strain too. Following are some of the simple tips for parents to help cope with a child born with a birth defect:

1) Acknowledge & Express Yourself

It is quite natural to feel devastated and sad, but you have to move forward. Expressing your emotions of shock, fear, guilt, and anger will give vent to your feelings and will help you in accepting the truth. If you like, you can seek the help of friends or even a counsellor.

2) Talk to Yourself & your partner

Speaking to oneself often helps in accepting the situation and it gives the strength and courage to cope with difficult circumstances. Talking to your partner about the difficulties you will have to face, will help you deal better with the situation.

3) Know about your Baby’s condition

Knowing your baby’s condition is very important as every birth defect is not permanent and they are curable with surgeries. However, some defects are forever and a child has to learn to live with them but there are therapies available which can make it easier.

4) Do Some Research

By learning more about the various available treatment methods and techniques, it will help you deal with the situation better.

5) Prepare yourself financially

Having a child with birth defects is quite challenging both psychologically as well as financially. Start saving for larger expenses as your child might need helping aids in order to be safe and healthy.

6) Seeking Help & Support

Do not feel embarrassed in seeking help from professional counsellors or psychological advisers as they will help pacify your emotional turmoil. Health care counsellors are helpful in rendering you more effective advice on how to look after children with birth defects.

7) Try to get Local Support

Coping with congenital defects can be very annoying and stressful. Working with volunteering groups concerned with birth defect awareness can help you learn with and from other parents facing similar or like circumstances.

Conclusion

Every child is special and it is best to accept what you have got instead of crying and feeling stressed about it. There are various ways by which you can prepare yourself for having a hassle-free life both, for your baby and yourself.

One of the important components of our overall wellness is also being financially secured. Healthcare emergencies can happen any time, but a good health insurance can protect you from such uncertain situations. To know more about it, click here

Source: IndiaParenting, KidsHealth, Cdc.Gov

Disclaimer: This blog provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog, website or in any linked materials are not intended and should not be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Kindly contact your Doctor before starting a new medicine or health regime.

Caring for a premature baby - what parent's need to know

Timing your egg-freezing process

Common breastfeeding problems and how to fix them

How to take care of a new born baby

Weight and fertility when planning to get pregnant

Published on April 24, 2023