Hi guys,

I have been reading and see that there a few new mums to the forum. I have only been using this forum for a few weeks and I have found it to be a great help. The other mums that have been through or going through the same thing have some great ideas.

Emma, Monica - I know how you guys are feeling. I was devastated when I found out our little girl Eleni had a dislocated hip and needed to be put in a spica. Then after the second plaster the doc told us that she would need surgery and my heart broke. Luckily they are trying the spica again (this is now our third one!!) and hopefully we will not need the surgery. I have trouble dealing with the whole situation emotionally every day. I still cry an awful lot. Physically we do what we have to do as parents, but it is so hard to watch your little babes go through this. I was to the point where I did not even want to go out, because I did not want to see all those "normal" babies doing what little babies should be doing. I feel like Eleni is missing out on so much as she is so restricted. I guess I feel like I am missing out also. All you want is for your children to be as healthy and happy as they can. Now I am just taking one day at a time. And all I can do is try to make her as happy and comfortable as possible. It is the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I have found this forum to be a great comfort too. It is nice to hear from the mums that are going through the same thing and to hear from the mums that have already been through it and lived to tell the tale!!!

As for the nappies and the whole smell issue, I use a newborn nappy stuffed up the back as far as I can. Then a larger nappy over the top. I use a fair bit of powder too. You cant really help the smell. And I find it really hard to deal with sometimes. Our little girls are meant to smell all beautiful!!! I sponge bath Eleni and I feel like I am ripping her off as she loved her baths, but she has learnt to love this just as much. I wash her hair under the kitchen tap and sponge as much water over her as I can without getting any down the spica.

When ever Eleni gets a new spica on it takes her a good week or two before she is back to her normal sleeping habbits. She is sleeping through the night now. And I use a rolled up blanket under her ankles to take the pressure off also. The doona under the sheet sounds like a great idea too!!! Might give that one a go. I am ever so careful with Elenis back. I am also really worried about hurting her. I find she hates it on her tummy and her favorite spot is sitting upright on my lap facing me or on my hip walking around. This can get a little tiring though as she is so heavy and my hip has the bruises to proove it!!! They are just so awkward arent they.

We are back up to Syd on 11 Dec to hopefully have a spica change. Hopefully they will not decide to operate (fingers crossed!!!). That will stay on for 6 weeks then hopefully into a brace for 9 months. Still have not heard anything back about the CT scan. It is like banging your head on a brick wall sometimes isnt it.

Hope everyone is good and well, and hanging in there. Take care.

Tammy
XXX