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