Congenital Heart Disease: How I Learned to Cope

Allow yourself to react to the situation

Be aware that feeling guilty, resentful and even a little ashamed is not an uncommon reaction for people facing this kind of problem. Allow yourself the freedom to experience these emotions, do not further aggravate your state of mind by feeling guilty over having such thoughts. Admit them to yourself, accept them, and move on. Once the air is clear, you will be more able to focus on your child, as opposed to his or her disease.

Talk it through

This is something that I cannot stress enough. Talk to family members and trusted friends, cry if you feel the urge to. Join a support group, seek out individuals who have endured a plight similar to your own. Knowing that you are not alone in a situation is one of the best ways to keep it in proper perspective.

Do not be afraid to bond with your baby

When I first found out about my daughter's condition, a part of me was reluctant to bond with her, because I was afraid that I might lose her at any given second. Of course, this half-hearted resolution did not last long, because the moment I looked into my baby's eyes I felt a tremendous surge of love and affection. When I finally allowed myself the liberty to fully experience these emotions, a huge burden was lifted from my shoulders. Do not rob yourself of the tremendous pleasure of being a new parent on account of uncertainty or fear: your child really needs you.

Do not be afraid to touch your baby, play with your baby, or hold your baby This is a very important part of the bonding process. Unless there are true medical reasons as to why you are unable to physically interact with your child, do not feel that your baby is too fragile to be frequently handled and cuddled. All babies need love and stimulation to thrive, and a child afflicted with a medical condition is no different from any other little person in this regard.

Remain positive

Do not wallow in pessimism or allow yourself to be plagued by a sense of defeat. Even if your child's condition is very serious, find ways to stress the positive aspects of your situation. This will allow the quality of the time you spend with your child to be infinitely enhanced. Find articles in which children affected

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