Q: Informing your loved ones of the nature of your baby's birth defect will help others know what to expect and how to safely interact with your child. Talking about your feelings and emotions with regards to your baby's birth defect may help you cope by relieving stress and sharing your struggles with people who care about you and are willing to support you. There are many national and local groups that offer support for families with a child living with a birth defect. Search online for group meetings or outings with other parents and families. Some families find engagement and activism tremendously helpful in coping with a birth defect. Volunteering at birth defect awareness groups and working to prevent birth defects in other children may provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment once the initial adjustment has taken place. In some cases, you may wish to seek the help of a professional in dealing with the news of a birth defect. Realize that it is natural to feel overwhelmed and stressed when learning to cope with birth defects. Do not be afraid or ashamed to seek assistance, as receiving formal help may make the difference between an unhappy initial experience and a successful transition to life with your new baby. Health care counselors may be able to give specific, useful advice for caring for children with particular birth defects. They will also be informed of the most recent treatments, interventions, and research and will be able to link you and your child with the best options for care and support. Psychological counselors can help you work through feelings of anxiety, fear, inadequacy, apprehension, and sadness. If you feel overwhelmed and depressed for more than a few weeks, consider seeking the assistance of a professional for talk therapy or emotional support.
A: Discuss the birth defect with family and friends. Search for a local support group. Seek professional counseling or advice.

Q: Posture is extremely important and will make it easier for you to breathe properly while singing. This will take pressure off of your vocal cords. Your feet should be positioned shoulder width apart with your knees slightly bent. Never lock your knees in place. In order to maintain proper singing posture, you should raise your chest slightly and keep your abdomen flat. By engaging your core muscles you can help ensure that you breathe from your diaphragm. This will help to protect your vocal cords. While you are singing your chin should be parallel to the floor. This will help to take pressure off of your vocal cords, making it easier to sing clearly. When you are breathing for singing, your shoulders should be relaxed. This will help to ensure that you take deep abdominal breaths, rather than shallow breaths. Avoid raising your shoulders while you breathe in. Instead, keep your shoulders down and relaxed. While singing, you do not want to strain or put pressure on your vocal cords by tensing the surrounding muscles. This can make it much more difficult to sing and will put additional strain on your voice.
A:
Bend your knees slightly. Raise your chest. Keep your head up. Keep your shoulders relaxed. Relax your neck, jaw, and face muscles.