special feature
receiving a birth defect diagnosis: help with understanding your options by foong-yen lim, md
special editorial submitted by friends steward partner cincinnati children's fetal care center 44
connexions
M
Many parents are overwhelmed with excitement when they discover they’re expecting a baby. Additional emotions may arise, however, when they learn that their baby has a birth defect. Understandably, confusion, blame, sadness, and worry are among the most prominent feelings. As a fetal-pediatric surgeon in the Cincinnati Children’s Fetal Care Center, I encounter families around this stage in their pregnancy. They’ve either just learned that they’re expecting a baby with a birth defect and we’re their next stop; or they’ve been to another institution and are looking for a second opinion. In either case, it’s our goal to provide families with the most clear and accurate information we can to help them understand their baby’s situation and options. We’ve found that covering the following topics has helped families move from the initial diagnosis phase into the decisionmaking phase. If you’ve just learned that your baby has a birth defect, consider finding an institution that will walk you through the following steps, so that you can better understand your options moving forward. Provide One Clear Message In many instances, families have learned a lot about their baby’s condition before they walk through our doors. Some of it is accurate, some not. Birth defects are often highly complex and may require treatment and expertise from
