| If your child is born with a serious medical | | | | professionals. |
| problem or develops a condition during his or | | | | |
| her first years, you will most certainly face | | | | Join a support group for those who have |
| some important decisions and responsibilities | | | | children with a similar condition. |
| such as: | | | | |
| | | | Remember that your child still needs to be |
| The need to select and work with the | | | | loved and cared for. Dont let the medical |
| appropriate team of medical professionals who | | | | problems overtake your feelings for him or |
| will best help your child | | | | her as your child. |
| | | | |
| Choosing surgery or treatment options | | | | Dont neglect to take care of yourself. Your |
| | | | child is counting on you to be strong, and |
| Learning how to give your child certain | | | | this is simply impossible if you let yourself |
| medications and treatments, or how to use | | | | become overwhelmed and exhausted. |
| necessary medical equipment | | | | |
| | | | About half of babies born at 25 weeks will |
| Dedicating your energy, time, money, and | | | | have learning difficulties, and/or problems |
| emotional commitment to the care and | | | | with their eyesight and hearing. |
| treatment of your child | | | | |
| | | | The eyes of premature infants are especially |
| Adapting your life to meet your childs needs | | | | vulnerable to injury after birth. They are at |
| while not neglecting the needs of other | | | | heightened risk of a complication called |
| family members | | | | retinopathy of prematurity , which is caused |
| | | | by abnormal growth of blood vessels in the |
| You may find that caring for a child with | | | | eye. |
| special needs can take all of your attention, | | | | |
| leaving little time for anything else. While | | | | Extremely premature babies may also have |
| this is a perfectly normal response, it is | | | | problems growing. They also seem to be more |
| vital for the overall wellness of the family | | | | likely to develop asthma. |
| for there to be a sense of balance and | | | | |
| routine to activities. No one will benefit if | | | | Children born at a later stage of pregnancy |
| the health condition becomes the overwhelming | | | | are much less likely to develop long-term |
| issue in your familys life. Establishing | | | | problems. |
| normalcy can be challenging, but both you and | | | | |
| your child will be better off if this | | | | Tommy's Professor of Obstetrics, Lucilla |
| approach is taken. | | | | Poston, Head of the King's group explains her |
| | | | team's role as one of the 40 European Centres |
| Here are a few ways to help deal with a | | | | of Excellence that will investigate these |
| childs long-term health problem: | | | | issues: |
| | | | |
| Discuss your childs condition honestly and | | | | We are investigating the potential that |
| clearly with other family members so that | | | | high-fat diets in pregnant women can cause |
| they understand the situation. Provide them | | | | Metabolic Syndrome in their offspring. This |
| with medical literature, if necessary. | | | | condition is a major health issue worldwide, |
| | | | characterised by obesity, high blood pressure |
| Ask for help from friends and family members. | | | | and raised cholesterol levels. Our research |
| Dont think that you can handle this all by | | | | will look at both the impact of fat-rich |
| yourself. | | | | diets on the health of offspring and the |
| | | | mechanisms by which this diet can programme |
| Whenever possible, include your partner in | | | | the future health of the individual. |
| discussions and decisions with medical | | | | |