The existence of the parents of achild with congenital malformation

Abstract

The conflict between the imagined child and the real one assumes several dimensions in the face of a congenital malformation diagnosis and tends to reflect upon the family as aw hole. Health professionals must interact appropriately in order to detect problems and provide early intervention. Therefore it is absolutely essential to consider the experience of the parents of a child with congenital malformation. This study aims to acknowledge the parents'experience regarding the birth of a child with congenital malformation, and to identify their feelings after the congenital malformation diagnosis. This is a qualitative research performed in an Antenatal Intensive Care Unit of a philanthropic hospital in the city of Juiz de Fora. The study subjects were eight parents of children with congenital malformation hospitalized in that unit between September and November 2008. The report describes the huge impact generated by the congenital malformation diagnosis and the emotional reactions on parents and other family members. This study was instructive in pointing to which extend health professionals need to be prepared to act properly in cases of congenital malformation. It highlighted as well the need for further nursing research in order to better prepare nurses for the caring of a malformed child as well as expand the nursing body of knowledge.