Re: RA and Caring for Children

[Guest guest]

Hi Maxine, I didn't have RA when my boys were babies, but I had two ruptured disks in my back. At a very early age, they learned how to come to me, to climb up to me with my gentle support. I couldn't hold them other than if they could climb onto me. Kids are incredibly perceptive at a very young age. I would sit on a low chair..and give them any sort of step up to help them. To get them out of a crib, you might have them stand up and hold onto your neck and you hold around their body using their weight as the main effort with the movement to get them out of crib after lowering rail....Hubby has always taken over bath duty, which was painful to me...but at least he had good one on one bonding time with them.. Hope that is a bit of help! You might be surprised how much help an occupational therapy consult in your home might be for you. Hugs, Sandy

From: "Maxine "

Reply-Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: RA and Caring for Children Date: Sun, 09 Feb 2003 21:03:31 -0000

Hello All, I would love some clever, helpful ways to enjoy being with children. How does one with RA pick up young children from a crib, from a car seat, from a high chair.......and anything else you can think of? How can we carry them? How can we play with them at their level? How do we protect our back, neck, legs, etc? Thank you so much. Maxine

[Guest guest]

Hi Maxine-

I think it all depends on what part of your body is affected with the

RA. When I was first diagnosed almost 5 years ago my sons were 18

months and 6 weeks old. At that time my elbows were not affected my

RA so a lot of picking up was done with my forearms and some using my

wrists. The boys' spent a lot of time on my hips while I steadied

them with my lower arms. Looking back it is all a blur to me!

(Maybe it would have been if I hadn't had RA too-I was one busy mommy

with their ages so close!) I know we spend a LOT of time on the

couch looking and reading books. They enjoyed it and it was

something I could do that didn't hurt. I missed the time spent on

the floor playing with them. On a good day I would use a chair to

help me get down to their leval-it was worth the pain. If I had to

do that today, wouldn't be as easy as my RA has progressed a lot since

then. Hope this helps you some.....

Blessings,

Shari Fedders

At 09:03 PM 2/9/03 +0000, you wrote:

Hello All,

I would love some clever, helpful ways to enjoy being with children.

How does one with RA pick up young children from a crib, from a car

seat, from a high chair.......and anything else you can think of? How

can we carry them? How can we play with them at their level? How do

we protect our back, neck, legs, etc? Thank you so much.

Maxine

[Guest guest]

Thanks Sandy,

Your post was quite inspirational for me. I am 28 years old,

married, and contemplating having children. I came off Methotrexate

last year for 3 months...couldn't last any longer. I want to get

pregnant. But I crippled up after 3 months and had to go back on it.

(Doctor said after 6 months off I can try.) I hope someday to try

again. Maybe when the disease isn't so active I can try. My hubby

and I are waiting now, though, because he is in the Army reserves

and we think he will be called to active duty so it wouldn't be a

good time. But I am scared of caring for a child. Your words

comforted me. You're right, kids learn your limitations and work

with them. I think an occupational therapist could help me too when

the time comes. Thank you.

-

>

[Guest guest]

.......never let anything get in the way of your dreams!!!!!! Thank you so much for your reply. Love, Sandy

From: " "

Reply-Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Re: RA and Caring for Children Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 02:14:43 -0000

Thanks Sandy, Your post was quite inspirational for me. I am 28 years old, married, and contemplating having children. I came off Methotrexate last year for 3 months...couldn't last any longer. I want to get pregnant. But I crippled up after 3 months and had to go back on it. (Doctor said after 6 months off I can try.) I hope someday to try again. Maybe when the disease isn't so active I can try. My hubby and I are waiting now, though, because he is in the Army reserves and we think he will be called to active duty so it wouldn't be a good time. But I am scared of caring for a child. Your words comforted me. You're right, kids learn your limitations and work with them. I think an occupational therapist could help me too when the time comes. Thank you. -

>

[Guest guest]

> What a wonderful group this is!! Thank you all for such in depth

> responses. You have given me a lot of new techniques and hope.

> Blessings and good health, Maxine

>

Hi all,

I'm usually a lurker here, but this discussion of caring for kids

gave me a lot of encouragement. I'm 28 and in a relationship with a

wonderful man. We're undecided on whether we want to have kids, but

one of my main objections has been " how could I take care of them? " .

The ideas you ladies gave are wonderful and have given me hope that

I'll find ways of adapting. I often use pillows to cushion whatever

hurts on a given day, so it would be easy for me to pile a couple of

extras to support a baby.

Thanks again,

Sara