Taking my own advice: When the professional becomes a parent

As a disability expert, my whole career has been spent giving parents advice. I’ve given advice on parenting, doctors, child development, school and resources to support them. I was confident working with families and helping them navigate the often crazy and overwhelming world of special needs. But when I was 34 weeks pregnant with my own child, I found myself on the other side of the situation. My husband and I learned that our son, Jack, would be born with a cleft palate and micrognathia, or an undeveloped lower jaw. The extent of these facial differences wouldn’t be known until he was born. We met with doctors from our hospital’s maxillofacial clinic, otolaryngology department and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), to name just a few. Each appointment was more overwhelming that the previous one. Even though I knew what to expect from a clinical perspective, nothing prepares you for what comes when you are the parent. An emotional time Jack was born on February 12, 2016. He cried immediately, which was a relief, but it still was a whirlwind of emotions and exhaustion. After the first night, his care team determined he needed to remain on his stomach so he could breathe. After three nights, the team sent Dr. Carolyn Rogers-Vizena of the Cleft and Craniofacial Center at Boston Children’s Hospital to talk with us about interventions Jack would require. Dr. Rogers explained that Jack would need to be moved to Boston Children’s and would require treatment for his m...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Diseases & Conditions Our Patients’ Stories Cleft and Craniofacial Center cleft lip and palate Dr. Carolyn Rogers Dr. Cory Resnick Pierre Robin sequence Source Type: news