Hi Have fibromyalgia & need some help

[Jods14]

Hi there,
I'm Jods and I have fibromyalgia, which mostly effects my hands and feet oh and makes me really tired, so the first trimester has been a challenge for me.
I'm 11weeks and 5 days pregnant today and have already started exploring baby products and maternity products because I find it difficult to operate most items when my hands are really bad. My baby is due in winter, when my hands are usually at their worst.
I know many people say I will go into remission and it wont be a problem, but I'm not so sure, if anything things have gotten worse, not better. I loose function and my hands become really weak and drop things when they are like that. So I'm kind of worried that at some stage I will drop my baby among other things.
So far I've found one pram that I can manage, there's one other, but it's a bit more expensive and has a bassinet, which I'm not sure that I would manage to carry any distance anyway, so it might be a waste of money.
Not sure what to do about car seats, as the buckles are standard on all of them, so getting Bubs out could be a challenge. In not so bad, maybe?
I cant do the clips on the nursing bra, and I did think of getting one and changing it to velcro, but sometime velcro is just as bad. Has anyone found a bra that doesn't involve using fine motor function to get the bloody thing apart. (The back hook and eyes are OK, just the front flap).
How have other parents with special needs managed and where did you find the things you needed to make raising baby a little easier?
I look forward to hearing from anyone.

Thanks,
Jods xx

[Kahlia]

noticed this thread has been here for a while and wanted to reply, and maybe the bump will get you more answers

I am pretty sure all car seats have very similar clips as little babies need to be in a 5 point harness. You would have to just go along trying them all to see if any one is better than another for you.

Same with the prams, as you have obviously done. Make sure you take it for a walk around the shops and practise folding and unfolding lots of times and see if you cna lift it high enough to get into the boot of your car.

There may be an alternative to nursing bras.. i just tried searching nursing bras with no clips but didnt find anything useful except this: Breastfeeding Advice: Don't Buy Nursing Bras and Tops this woman nursed for 5 years but never used a nursing bra. might be something to consider. You could even try those Ahh Bras/Genie bras. My Big W actually stocks them so you might not have to order them from an infomercial

Have got a sling or thought about getting one? If you are worried about dropping bubs you could always change on the floor so you dont have to lift up to a table, then put bubs straight into sling even to walk through the house or out to the car, just so you have that extra support incase your hands slip.

[Jods14]

Hi Kahlia,
Yep not much choice in the car seat department and I haven't found one that is easier to manage than the other.

I did find a sleep nursing bra, which just crosses over. It's a bit out of my price range, but then again, most things are these days, so I think I will try and make something to suit. I'm sure I've got some cotton lycra kicking around here somewhere to play with.

I plan to get a sling or a baby carrier, not just for me to use but because my Mum, after the removal of a brain tumor was lost all of the movement in her right side. With rehab she has regained some of the movement, but not all. I thought if I got one, then at least she too could hold Bubs without worrying about the hand that doesn't work properly.

It's all becoming a little isolating, even getting the health professionals to understand my needs is difficult and incredibly frustrating.

[charli76]

I too have Fibro but must say it hasn't affected my hands like that but thought I'd jump in anyway.

For nursing bras, I used Ambra Stretch tops (I only have small b00bs though) and was able to just pull down the top when I needed so no messing around with clips.

As for car seats they do all have the same sort of clips/harness but if you keep the straps straight (so no kinks or twists) they tend to run easier which may help you.

I had a baby bjorn but found the clips and everything quite fiddly and that's without any issues so probably something else for you to double check.

Good luck with it all, I don't have that sort of trouble with my Fibro apart from the old loss of strength in my arms so I'm not sure what I can help with.