Hi, My DD was in one too, at 12 wks. We were not allowed to touch it at all, as the adjustments were all made when being scanned so a teeny bit confused about someones suggestion at having a spare ( sorry - no offence meant to that person!)
I bought a load of wrap round vests and was able to get them onto DD under the straps, with mucho fiddling! The physio who was dealing with DD's saw us twice a week in the first 6 weeks then once a week for remainder. She suggested, as will I, that we put a pair of Daddys socks over the feet/harness ( you know what it looks like!) when changing nappies, to stop nasties getting onto harness as she'd be very reluctant to change it for a new one once into treatment.
I washed DD every evening, with cotton wool and put lovely creams on the bits I could, or oils, to massage, just to help her feel lots of nice skin contact. I was br feeding, so had to adjust positions of that too... took practice but was fine in the end!
I made sure she got lots of play stimulation on her back and rolled up a towel under her chest & "helped" her, with tummy play too, so she was getting lots of regular different positioning.
We dressed her in soft jersey shorts ( it was this time of year too) and t shirts. And managed to get the shorts up a bit over her 'stuck together' feet so she didn't look so odd! or, just nappy and a t shirt/the wrap round vest. I used washable nappies so they looked really lovely anyway!
She did get used to not being able to stretch out her legs after a week or two. It was SO distressing, but trust me, I had DDH missed until I was 2 and have had a life time of pain and surgery instead, so would have welcomed a few months of harness. As hard as it is, the alternative is not worth thinking about.
I understand how hard it is, to come to terms with. I felt I lost that part of my tiny girls development, she was already prem, so I felt so robbed, so unfair. You do, somehow get used to it all though, in time, truly
My DD is 3 now and the harness seems to have worked. She still has under developed acetabulems ( socket) but, the think this may be just part of the genetic side of things - clearly passed from me. However, nothing holds her back, and she strangely, still hit all the usual developmental milestones at the expected times, sat almost as soon as it was all taken off, despite not having had the 'practice' times! She pulled herself up, cruised, walked - slightly late, not much though.
It definitely does give them more wind, and this is a documented thing too. ( i'm a nurse and did lots of research, for me, and for her situation) So unfortunately the tummy eing sore does come and go. It does help to 'help' as I said, with some tummy play. They fid it harder to prop themselves up than others of same age without harness as no knees to help! So you do need to help there.
I'll try to think of anything else I can tips etc. BUt, the time does go by faster than you think it will.
One thing I do remember, oddly, was that I knew, and had no problem holding her straight away, just sideways on your hip almost, but if given to anyone else, they seemed to struggle with her for ages til they worked it out! Found that quite odd!
Really really good luck & i'll keep watchign the thread, & as I say, try to think of anything else that helped us.
Sorry if too long & too much to read... lastly, they are great things and the success rate is good. They know fairly early on into the harness being put on, if its not going to work. Sometimes, they do have to be on longer than the 12 weeks they hope for. My DD was in it much longer but it is unusual.