Partner Support in the Primary Caregiver Role:
The family is the main support for the father and/or caregiver of a baby with complex congenital heart disease.
Caring for a child with a complex congenital heart disease implies a greater need for social support, since there are more difficult situations to overcome with him, which generate an emotional impact that is experienced by the entire family nucleus.
The functions and roles of each member of the family change and adjust according to the event that is now part of the family dynamic, but should not become the center of it.
Assuming a role is not easy and it is not an automatic process, it requires negotiations between the same members of the family to achieve adaptation.
Choosing a medical provider:
Some things that can help you are:
- Identify how you feel about the "caregiver role" and ask for help with the new responsibilities acquired, it is part of the learning process to feel overwhelmed, experience sadness and frustration.
- Dialogue and make agreements about the care that the baby requires (share the burdens) in order to avoid differences of opinion regarding the provision of the same and future conflicts due to the inadequate distribution of responsibilities.
Cooperation, understanding and empathy are achieved with good communication between spouses.
good communication between spouses:
In case of presenting differences of opinion that may generate discussions, please note:
- Accumulating negative feelings and not expressing them favors resentment and distancing, it is recommended to evaluate the magnitude of the event and prevent it from becoming an open conflict prolonged over time and a source of future stress.
Think about what you disagree with, what has made you angry, sad or uncomfortable, if you ignore that fact you will end up with a list of unresolved issues.
- Clearly express your own opinions, positions, needs and feelings with respect and serenely, give time for feedback, do not assume or anticipate the response.
Listen and reconsider with respect the opinion or new knowledge that your partner may offer related to baby care or family adjustment, recognize the positive aspects of their argument and do not focus on the positive.
- Avoid wrong thoughts or ideas about yourself, your partner and your relationship, which generate false expectations, serve as an example: “If you really love me, you should know how I feel and what I need” “If something bothers me, it is better leave it like that, so as not to affect the tranquility of my partner” “In all this time I should already know things”.
It is important that you know that each person understands things according to their way of being, there is no reason to assume that your partner should understand the matter in the same way that you do.
