disabled mum (wheelchair user) due in May 2011 looking for advice

[Justme24]

Hi all,

I am new to mumsnet :) I'm 24 and exspecting my first baby May 2011. Both myself amd my husband are very excited however as I am a wheelchair user I am understably nervous.

Its the little things like being able to safely pick up my son and hold him/move him. I am waiting for some specailst ots to get in touch and look at eqipment that could help but 1 this is taking way to long despite my chaceing,2 we have very little spece where we live and I have a feeling that anything we are offered maybe to big. I have also reseach the net to find useful product sites and whilst there are a few they have not been much help.

Therefore I wondered if there were any other disabled mums that could share any tips with me as I have so many questions

look forward to hearing from you

Gosh so many apelling mistakes as I was writing this quick. Hope you can read it .

I'm afraid I don't have any handy tips, but a friend of mine is a wheelchair user and I remember her having a fabulous car seat type contraption fitted to the front of her chair so she could care for her ds, so there are things out there which can help you I'm sure. Good luck with your baby

I don't really have any tips or experience to share but just wanted to say congrats on your pregnancy :)

Congratulations on your pregnancy, really only bumping for you (which means that your thread stays in the "active conversations part" of mumsnet). Other things that I would think would help would be a moses basket with a stand in your living room. They would to my mind be a good height for you to be able to lift your baby out of and into (for sleeping during the day or night). I also bought a travel system which had a stand with it so I had my dd's carseat, chassis and toddler seat ontop of it (like when coming home with shopping and she was asleep etc). Again, could be the right height for you. I'm sure you'll find a myriad of great practical solutions to suit your family. You could also get in touch with your midwife and health visitor and I'm sure they'll have tips for you. Congrats on your pregnancy!

www.disabledparentsnetwork.org.uk/cgi-bin/site/site.cgi?page=site/equipment

I don't know if this might be useful for you

I have been referred to the Oxford Centre for Enablement which I think is at the Nuffield. The idea is that they assess you and work out alternative ways of doing things for you with a life sized doll.

I had to ask my midwife for the referral myself though.

Hi, bumping for you - hope you get some good advice - and congratulations on your pregnancy!

Thanks all, for all tips and links.

I am currently waiting for my OT (who is a bit of a drip) to reffure me to the Oxford Centre for Enablement. I gave my SW the form months ago and she said she gave it to my OT who was like oh I had missed placed it now he's found it so I hope it wont be long .Nthirty I assume you are not far from Oxford? we are in Shipston On Stour. Have you requested a home visit ?

Thanks again all :)

Hi there - I am not disabled but came upon this site:

www.dppi.org.uk/index.html

when looking for a review of the Arm's Reach:

www.dppi.org.uk/journal/69/resources.php

I hope you get all the support you need - congratulations on your pregnancy!

I live about 90mins 2 hours away. I was intending to drive myself there, but the longer it takes I think the bump might come between me and the hand controls.

Hope you get your referral date soon

Thanks all, am checking out the links as I type. Havent been to well of late :( bad acid reflux + a cold + a cough + kidney infection + pain in my pelvis that is stoping me moving at times Anyone else going through the pelvic pain is this normal? not that I wont to sound as if I am moaning as it will all be worth it we know :)

I have a check up on thursday and figuer I should bring up the pelvic pain with them?

Hi,

I work in Health so my bit of advice is keep hassling the OT, every day if you have to and don't feel guilty. You need to get this stuff in place in good time. And hassle everyone else too. I know if I get hassle I get on with things !

I'm sure you will manage and be a brilliant mum - huge congratulations to you x

Thanks Southsearocks that means a lot :)

Congrats and bump!

Thanks

hi,firstly congratulations on your wonderful news,i remember those days clearly and couldn't help thinking it was not real and secondly I am disabled mum to 1 son who I adore more than anything and although I had the very same fears has you must be going through right now,I actually found that when I had my son I did not need any equipment has I found ways around it such has sitting on the bed to change nappies and using pillows to prop baby up while feeding and I'm not sure what wheelchair you have but I had a tray which went across my chair which was invaluable as it also supported my arms and made me so independent.
Hope this helps.
Jane.

Hi, I used to work for DPPI (link already given). They had a fair bit of info when I worked there 7 years ago so I would hope they have even more now.

Have you seen the book 'Mama Zooms' ? It wont help you with your OP but its a lovely book featuring a mum who is a wheelchair user