If your family has no previous history of haemophilia, your child’s diagnosis with haemophilia may come as a shock. It is important that you first come to terms with this, and then look realistically at your son’s diagnosis. Anyone who has not come across this condition before may find it particularly hard. You may find the diagnosis frightening and feel that your son needs to be protected and treated differently from other children.

However, you may find it helpful to bear the following in mind.

• Your son is a baby first, and a baby with haemophilia second. He is the same baby he was before the diagnosis was made and needs just as much loving as before.
• You will not cause your son any harm by doing the usual things, such as kissing and cuddling him.
• Your son will grow up normally and be able to live a normal life.

Although haemophilia is a serious condition, treatments and the long-term outlook for people with haemophilia in Ireland are excellent.

Once over the initial shock of the diagnosis, you should start to think about your hopes and fears for your son and discuss these with the experts at the haemophilia treatment centre. You could discuss the following with your haemophilia centre:

• How the bleeding disorder will affect your son’s health
• What symptoms he will have
• How your son has inherited haemophilia, and what this means for the rest of the family
• What treatments are available
• When you should consult your GP, and when to go to the haemophilia centre
• How haemophilia will affect your son’s schooling and employment prospects
• Which sports are safe for him to participate in
• Whether it is safe for him to travel

You can talk to the staff at the haemophilia centre anytime during your son’s upbringing to discuss issues as they arise.