Breast feeding a baby in a Pavlik harness

[Trillian42]

My 13 week old DD has been put into a Pavlik harness for DDH :( www.hip-baby.org/pavlik.html In case you're not familiar with it, her legs are bent at the knee and as far out as they can go - there's a picture at the link above. The ultimate no-no is to have her legs come together because the whole point is that her legs stay apart the whole time.

The consultant assured me there would be no problems breast feeding, but had no practical advice on how, nor did the young physio who also said it was easy but ruled out her lying on her side in any way for the duration of the feed.

We're finding it difficult to do on one side without putting pressure on her 'bad' leg. She mostly fed lying down previously, which is now possible on one side only. We've tried the cradle hold which can sort of work if I suspend her so that there is no pressure on that leg, but it is murder on the arms & she seems to get restless after a few minutes. She screamed when I tried the rugby hold, so guessing that's out too. Any suggestions?

Last night was miserable for all three of us as she was uncomfortable, and though she's fed since the harness has been on, her feeds are a lot shorter and I suspect she's only feeding enough to get by. I'm so worried that she's not getting enough to grow. :( :(

Hi there!
Big support coming your way! Just noticed your post on mine and had to come over here and say hi. My DD is in week 4 of a 20 week stint in the Pavlik Harness due to DDH. What a shock that was!!! She was 6 weeks when diagnosed but officially confirmed at 7 weeks then the harness was fitted.

I had been exclusively BF and burst into tears when we got home as I had no idea where to start even getting into a position as my LO felt so solid from the harness but so fragile at the same time.

I tried the 'classic' position with her tummy to me, laying horizontally with my arm between her legs - supporting her wide leg position. I used a v pillow to support my arms. This would have been fine but we could not get a latch right. I had been doing the 'side on' position. In the classic position as the latch was so bad I was sore and cracked and bleeding which was no good either. Although I can't have her on her side for too long I do feed her that way which works so much better for us. I went to a breastfeeding counsellor to try all the positions in the optimum way - even the sitting up one, which felt very strange and awkward to me.

The side on position works for feeding but has meant that I have to give top-ups by bottle in the evening as my DD can cluster feed for 5 hours which she cannot do on her side for that long. I know you have having problems getting your LO to take a bottle of expressed milk. I had the same issue and I got my DH to feed so she didn't get too confused and she took it! Now she takes a bottle from me too.

I love BF and for us I could only keep it going this way and for us it works as she sleeps longer - last night was 10.30 til 7am (she is 11weeks) and so for that whole period she is in the optimum position which I know is vital. Every week we have a check up she is developing perfectly and almost healed (we still have to complete the 20wks though - other hospitals vary).

As for clothes my DD wears a vest with a top over it at night time (as I find the edge of the straps are sharp and have scratched her face) and in the day it's dresses all the way. I managed to put a skirt and top on as the skirt was floaty and I just put the waistband up higher so she was comfortable and the straps were not impeded.

Her leg straps currently keep her legs warm and I put socks or bootys over the top of them for extra warmth as I find that after a week of wear the toe portion becomes soft and lifts up so her little toes poke out!

All the best with your LO - hope I have been of some help. Just know that you are not alone and tap into that fantastic instinct xxx

My 16 week old has DDH and has been put into a pavlik harness three weeks ago. After reading these threads I realise that she has a very mild form of this as her hip started at 47 degrees and is now at 54 so the harness is definitely working and I can take the harness off for bathing every night. The only problem I have is that it seems to cause discomfort at night when she is in one position for a long period of time. She wakes up a few times during the night and I have to give her a dummy to soothe her back off again.

Any advice?

Hi,
My baby girl was in a Pavlick Harness from 2 - 8 weeks old, and she was very small so our experience is probably very different to yours. At this stage we BF and FF, and she wasn't allowed to take the harness off at all.

Re the BFing - we tried biological nurturing (relaxed laid back positions, tummy to tummy) with her sitting on my knee or across my tummy at an angle (and me reclining)

Re clothes - we kept her in bigger size sleepsuits and if they got a bit tight (and before we managed to get the next size up) we kept the middle bit unbuttoned so as to keep the triangle shape. She also wore dresses and long socks over the legs (they stretched the socks!)

And re the monster poo - yep, we had one of those. We had to sponge clean it as well as we could, use a hairdryer to dry it and then make an appointment to get another fitted (we had strict instructions not to remove it unless in an emergency)

Good tip while changing her nappy - put a clean one underneath her bum while you change the dirty one so you can just whip away the dirty one and there's a clean one in its place - that way if she starts another wee or poo while you're changing her, or whatever, you've got one there to soak it up. Also, spread a little vaseline/petroleum jelly on the creases at the top of her legs to stop the skin here getting cheesy and peeling.

PS - I know how hard it is but it does get easier, and remember it's for the best and will all be worth it

Just saw the responses to this now. A quick update - we've mostly settled into feeding lying down now. She lies on her back and turns her head. Her weight gain did slow at the time the harness was put on, but has recovered thankfully.

Ronnie I don't think the harness is supposed to affect their sleep past the first few days? I'd mention it at your next visit. Though DD's sleep is appalling at the moment so maybe this is a contributory factor.

Hi, Im studying Childrens Nursing at Southampton Uni.
Im currently writing an essay on breastfeeding children in pavlik harnesses and was wondering if any of you would be happy to tell me any problems you encountered while breastfeeding and to give me your opinion of the support you received??
Any feedback would be much appreciated!
Thanks
Sarah xx

This is a very old thread. YOu will get more responses if you start a new thread, sarah :)