>
>  a question has just come up from a young father on "ask the doctor'
>  and i realized this is a subject that has never (as far as i know ) been
>  discussed on the list before
>  how do young parents with pd handle their precious babies.
>
>  as you all probably know by now, i have had three pregnancies, and given
> birth to three   wonderful children, all since developing pd.
> i was pregnant with jed - now 19 - when i started doing the round of doctors,
>  trying to find out what was wrong with me - why the tremor, why my right leg
>  dragged etc.  I was diagnosed whilst pregnant with jane amy, now nearly 18,
>  but i waited till whe was weaned before starting medication. And jessi was
>  conceived, carried and born while i was taking full medication - she will be
>  15 on monday.
>  i guess those were early days yet. i never stopped to think whether i could
>  handle my children - i just did,  i nursed the first two - jessi, because of
>  the medication, was a bottle baby. but i did it mostly on my own; my late
>  husband enjoyed spending time with the kids but he was not one for changing
>  diapers, or bathing or feeding etc.
>
   helpful hints:
>  i did employ a mother's help - so that i could get plenty of rest./
>  when jed was a baby, i had a student come in after school each day and take
>  him for walk, then give him his bath, while i rested.
>  with jane amy i guess fatigue was getting more of a problem - i had someone
>  in 5 days a week half  day, and jed went to nursery school.
>  with jessi it was pretty much the same situation, and then she went into
>  daycare even tho i was not working.
>  the problems began when my husband died, and i know longer could afford all
>  this help.  And then social services entered my  life, and i was give all t
>  he wrong advice. But that is another story.
>
   we are considering this young man and how he can safely handle, relate to and
>  bond with his baby.
>
   helpful hint 2.
>  a very useful device is a sling for carrying the baby. this way the baby
>  is not dependent on your hands for her safety - you have body contact, but the
>  sling is doing the holding - your hands are free to participate in the
>  holding, or to shake and tremor.....
>
    helpful hint 3
>   get on the floor with the baby - at first she can lie looking up at you .
    later she will interact and respond to you.
>  make eye contact. sing to her, talk to her. let her know what you look like
>  and what you sound like, even if you feel you cant actually carry her
>
   helpful hint 4
>  and keep contact with her - watch her having her diaper changed - even
>  participate by handing mother the clean diaper, disposing of the soiled one
>  etc.
>  sing your daughter lullabies to sleep - doesnt matter if you re an operatic
>  tenor or croak like a frog - she will love it
>
>  i.e. even if you don't actually hold her - you can still be close, give her your
>  love, let her know the feel of you, the sound of you and the look of you - and
>  be a fabulous dad!

   best wishes for a happy family and a wonderful life


hilary blue
51,33,24