United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I had the strangest feeling in Babies R Us the other day. Gabrielle our first baby has a rt BPI. Now we are purchasing items for our second baby coming in two weeks. As my husband and I went through the store I found myself saying things like "Oh those bottles are to big for babies." And "we don't need that for two more years". Then my husband I and realized that we were thinking that our baby would only be able to use one arm so we only purchase items that could be used with one hand i.e. streamline bottles. We never had to babyproof because Gabrielle could never pull herself up. I never used a pack and play because she was not moble until age 2. WOW things are going to be so different this time (we pray). Just wondering if this happend to anyone else when the only thing they knew was a baby with a BPI?

Tina - these strange thoughts are just wonderful! Imagine the rejoicing when you see both little arms move and see the new wee one crawl without difficulty. I pray for a safe and wonderful birth for you!

-francine

Tina

I don't think its strange just habit... it shows how you have adapted to putting careful thought into what you purchase for your babies

Happy shopping and new baby to be...

Kath

Wait until you try to dress the new little one! When my grandson came along after Katie I had the darndest time getting used to two arms moving in all directions! But it is wonderful to see both arms flailing I do have to say..

and hats...
out of all my 6 kids, Max was the only one who would allow me to put hats on him as a baby,
I loved it!
cuz I always had his moving arm pinned behind me when I was holding him on my left hip-and he couldnt reach up with his other(BPI) hand!
and we never bought bottles

Our Emily (ROBPI) was the middle child, but 5 years later, when Abby came along, it was so strange to dress a child who did not have a floppy arm! To see the shoulder straps stay up, to be able to pick her up normally, to feel her support herself steadily as I held her,to watch her run without being one step behind her so she didn't land on her face...to not have to wonder if every blessed thing was somehow related to "the arm", TO NOT HAVE TO THINK ABOUT AN ARM and all that came (or didn't!) with it!!!!
Enjoy your new baby, and try to use what difficulty you have experienced with Gabrielle as blessing to others-
My best to you-
Sue

well, didnt uz parents have a hard time with a baby with bpi! its funny bcos i jst take for granted that my parents looked after me without so much fuss but to hear that makes me realise that it was hard

Also i have a younger brother(14) and he has more freedom that i did at that age! maybe i was the cottonwool kid for my arm ??

Michelle x

Michelle

I was LOL when I read your post... I thought I was so cute that was the reason they made such a fuss... I also never realized how much work I must have been. Not even when I had my own kids... I just never thought it effected my parents... kids are so self absorbed they just don't think about it... I never realized it until I found the General Message Board and all the parents sharing...

But I also did not have the freedom my brothers had when they were young... I thought it was that boy girl thing...

Kath

Tina, good luck on your upcoming surgery and birth!

I shared those same feelings with you before my second baby came along, a planned c section as well, didn't want to think about it until now but so far i still have some of those feelings.


Blessings,
Lenni

I find I dress my second son (he's 2 now) the same way I dressed my first - left arm first in all shirts, jackets and coats......can't break the habit...