>
> 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
