Mumsnet members get a 10% discount from Boden (including free returns and free delivery), The White Company, sweaty Betty, Luxury Family Hotels, JoJo Maman Bebe, Siblu, GLTC, Bump to 3 (the official online shop for Grobags) and more. Click here for more info Join mumsnet here.
I suffer from hemiplegia, and can only use my left hand.
I had a little boy in 2003 and he is now a lively 4 year old !!
I was the same as you worrying about how I would cope, but I can assure that you just do. I might have been a bit slower getting my baby dressed than other mum's and carried him downstairs whilst siitting on my bum but I managed fine.
Again nappy changing was a bit slower than normal but I devised a knack of doing it !!
I'm sure you will be a great mummy. If you have any particular questions or want any advice or just want to chat than please feel free to contact me - I will be very happy to help.
No problem at all - Any questions no matter how minor they sound please feel free to ask !!
I also had a bath mesh seat for when baby was small and then moved onto a sturdier seat when he got older and started wriggling. (I think I got it from Blooming Marvellous catalogue). I have to admit when he was small I tended to only bath him when my DH was around. Now he is older it is no problem as he now climbs in and out by himself !!
Please feel free to email at Paula.mcguire@virgin.net
I just found this section of Mumsnet! I am an able-bodied mum but my DH has no use of his left arm at all following a massive stroke in June last year. He is also learning to walk and talk again.
He doesn't take much of an active part in parenting, but we did order a booklet from the disabled parents network which you might find useful. One woman's story about nappy changing was particularly interesting. She started as soon as her daughter was born giving her verbal 'triggers' when nappy changing. She would raise her legs saying 'up, baby, up' to get the nappy underneath, then would roll her onto her side saying at the same time 'roll, baby, roll!' to get the nappy round. Very early on (I remember thinking that it was extraordinarily early on) the baby responded with just the verbal trigger, rolling by herself and lifting up her hips so this woman could get the nappy underneath.
I think that kids become really adaptable and sense when you need help, the same lady said her daughter dressed herself without fuss and climbed into her own buggy way before other children and was generally really helpful.
He wasn't very hands on when the dcs were babies in terms of nappies, drssing, bathing, etc but as I was at home he probably didn't really need to be! He always managed to get them off to sleep when he pushed the buggy tho.
Dh was able to feed them and worked out ways to do many things with either one hand or a hand and teeth. I would say his biggest difficulty was not the single handedness but his dodgy balance and not being able to bend down or sit on floor.
Dcs are now 6 and 3 years and he pretty much could do everything required (if he wanted to ). He does the bathing and taking to bed as well as the early shift for breakfast before he goes to work. In fact, I would say he is more hands on than many other dads I know.
Congratulations. I'm sure you will be a fab mum.
ps. I like the idea of developing erbal triggers and would love to hear how you get on.
). He does the bathing and taking to bed as well as the early shift for breakfast before he goes to work. In fact, I would say he is more hands on than many other dads I know.
