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Home help to support disabled child?

3 replies

laumiere · 11/10/2008 10:38

Hi Ladies, I wonder if anyone can help?

I'm expecting baby 2 in March, but as my DS arrived 2 months early, I'll be on maternity leave in Jan. At the moment the hubby stays home and looks after our son (who's 2.5), but he'll need to go back to work as soon as I go on leave, so we can eat etc.

This is all somewhat complicated by DS being disabled (he has CP and limited mobility). At the moment he is approx half my height and weighs 13.6 kg. As part of the CP he has low muscle tone and cannot support his weight well, so if you carry him or push him in his pushchair you have to manage a lot of inert weight too.

I'm having trouble managing DS now at 19 weeks pregnant and cannot push him long distances or carry him upstairs, and I will be contraindicated from carrying him at all by 28 weeks, in case it brings on labour. Can anyone suggest any care agencies we mght be able to access? DS has to get to nursery 2x a week and physio once a week as well as visual, audiology and other appointments.

(We're currently in Lewisham, SE London)

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needmorecoffee · 11/10/2008 11:24

Do you get respite care? Have you got a social worker?
You can get an assessment of your family needs for respite support. They can then give you direct payments to pay for agency help.
My dd has severe cerebral palsy and I have MS so dh is her main carer - he gave up work but we get respite so he gets a break. I never have to look after her alone.

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chatee · 11/10/2008 12:20

please contact ss and demand help....i was told no lifting when i was pregnant with dc2(at the time dc1 was 3 year old and quad cp sounding similar to your ds abilities-couldn't stand unaided)
anyway at 31 weeks had a scary bleed and was then put on 'house arrest' at 38 weeks i had no choice but had to lift dc1 and pop went my waters-had dc2 less than 12 hours later.
The consultant said if she had realised the full implications of dc1 disability she herself would have made a referral to ss for assistance!

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laumiere · 11/10/2008 12:35

Thanks needmorecoffee and chatee, we're in touch with the PCT but not Social Services. Will give them a call. I actually had DS after lifting heavy boxes at a conference, so I'm trying to avoid lifting!