Mums with arithritis and RSI - what aids do you use to cope?

[Gigi]

I have no idea where to put this topic. (so if you want to move it moderators, go ahead).

I have RSI and have aids to help me with everyday life, but i was wondering if there were particular items of baby furniture and aids that were MORE useful to mums with RSI and Arthritis.

Years ago i saw an "Arthritis Support Group for Mums" advertised in the local press, but can't track this down now.

There are so many products available in the marketplace, i would love to hear from mums who are in same position and to hear what did and didn't work for them.

The only vauge ideas i have had so far are about

• baby slings
  change tables with strap across babe;s tummy
  lying down to feed babe

[Astrid]

Hi Gigi,

I developed pregnancy related carpal tunnel which went worse after birth due to excessive use of a manual breast pump. So I really recommend that if you wish to express to get an electric pump. Either buy or hire depending on your needs.

Lying down to feed it good, but can be tricky, the football hold is great. I used pillows to help support bubs for feeding.

Bathing might be difficult for you, so either have someone else bath the baby, get a bath support or do sponge baths.

I found mornings the worse, I would be in tears just trying to pick up my baby, luckily I am much better now. I assume you would be already set-up with wrist supports etc

Thats all I can think of for now, but if I can think of anything else I will post again.

[Gigi]

thanks for your ideas Astrid, I have had wrist supports for years but find them so impractical (e.g you can't get them wet or dirty) and i feel like i have my hands in water so often already, let alone with a baby.

I will remember to get an ELECTRIC breast pump if i use them. (too early to say yet).

The bathing part was definately worrying me, i don't know how often you are meant to bathe a baby per day, but i assume multiple times per day. (the idea of baby lying in their own waste as a baby gives me the creeps - even for a short time).

I have seen some item you put in a bath for a baby that can hold itself up (some circular thing that anchors the baby), but don't know if there are bath supports for babies before that stage (of holding self up).

Thanks for the breastfeeding idea too, i will seek out the football hold!

Were you picking up your baby from a low cot? I keep seeing cots with the two levels. Do you have one of those? If so, was it worth the extra expense?

thanks again Astrid.

[Astrid]

I had Maggie in a bassinet that I had placed in the cot on the highest setting. It would have definitely been too hard to have handled her at the lower setting.

At least wear your supports at night, I found that helped a lot as I would sometimes sleep on my hands in a funny position and make it worse! Also minimising computer use helped as well.

I have seen bath supports for young babies, they are angled to lay the baby on. As for bathing, every 2nd day is fine, better for their skin, see this thread for a discussion on bathing. Just make sure you do a good clean with baby wipes (commercial or home made) at every nappy change. Little babies sometimes do not like to be bathed to often.

[Gigi]

any reccomendations on baby carriers that are kind to your back, support it well? like Baby Bjorn and the Ergo for example? are they any good?

My back is really bad now and i'm only 21.5 weeks pregnant, i don't even have a big bump. Bending down to put clothes in the front loader is my worst nightmare right now.

[lucysmummie]

I havent got my bubs yet... Im 34wks preg and have RSI due to hairdressing... I got the hugabubs carrier and it looks very supportive! i also got this side sling which has HEAPS of support called the peanut shell by goo-ga u can get it onlie apparently and im planing to use it when i breastfeed for support cause I really dont think I can see myself holding a bubba there for however long it takes to BF. I got a scan done last week and my bubba weighs 2.2kgs already so am starting to worry bout how I will carry the little thing when i have trouble carrying shopping bags, and then theres the pram... but with RSI the thing ive learnt is to build ur muscles up and get them stronger not, not use them... HTH

[Gigi]

shinee, i have been looking at breastfeeding pillows. Many are shaped like doughnuts, this means baby will be at same height and you will have to hold baby's head up to your breast (which is not supportive of your one arm doing that). After all the talk on sitting and being symmetrical i got from the Back Care in pregnancy Class, this doesn't add up to a healthy thing to be doing to your body.

I saw one breastfeeding pillow shaped like a triangular wedge. The baby's head goes at the high bit of the triangle and their feet go at the low edge of the triangle. This makes sense to me, so i will try to make one up out of a piece of foam and an old pillow case. This is my attempt to make breastfeeding more ergonomic.

I think i saw the idea of a site called Pollywogs (USA).

At one stage i was lifting my stepchild's wheelchair in and out of my car boot - and my back has never recovered from that. I can't imagine lifting my pram in and out of car, the only place i can imagine using it is around the block for walks. I know that sounds very limited but i am so scared by the amount of back pain i am getting at 22 weeks (and i don't even have much of a bump yet). I have just moved house but even so.