Hi, everyone. I'm new here...is there room here for a Yankee? (I live in California. ) I was really happy to find this forum as I just found out that my son (Sam, 2 months old today) has to wear a Wheaton-Pavlik Harness for acetabular dysplasia. We are lucky that his displasia is likely very mild (diagnosed with u/s), as I've read many of your stories and know that things could be much more difficult. Because it took so long to get him the right appointments (grrrr...), he'll likely need to wear the brace for several months. He only cried a little when they first put it on him today and he zonked out in the carseat on the way home and is only waking up now, so I'm hopeful it won't disrupt his sleep too much, but I guess time will tell. Like a few of you, I am sad that my days of cuddling with my newborn have so abruptly been cut.

Mainly, though, it's the unweildy-ness of the harness that is stressing me, mostly with regard to nursing him. Has anyone successfully breastfed a baby in a Pavlik harness while laying down in bed? BFing was hard at the beginning (he has a really hard latch) and is only just getting comfortable. I was so excited to successfully nurse him lying down last night (first time) because it meant I'd be able to get a little more sleep (as opposed to the two hours at a time I've had for two months now). Now I think I won't be able to do so because I can't keep his hips in the proper position while laying down.

Any input would be appreciated. Thank you guys SO MUCH for having this forum!