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Parenting with a chronic illness

beadgirl1981beadgirl1981
in Babies: 0 - 3 Months

I'm wondering if anyone else has a chronic illness and do you have any tips for taking care of a baby when you get bad.  The forums are down on the site I'd normally go to for this.

I have chronic migraines and stabbing headaches.  Changing medication so right now the pain is not controlled well.  Husband works full time on a late shift so during the week he takes her starting at 3am but after 7am she is mine.  MIL lives next door but I always feel like I'm imposing as she works full time, takes care of her mother who has alzheimers and is crazy to start with, and her husband who is a semi invalid from liver failure caused by being given the wrong meds also his diabetes is barely under control.  On the weekends she is also usually taking care of her 5 other grandkids.

 Any ideas would be appreciated, thank you in advance.

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Re: Parenting with a chronic illness

  • etoyamaetoyama member
    I'm sorry, I wish I had better advice, as I'm in the same boat. I fund I'm very easily worn out just by doing the bare minimum. Good nutrition, lots of water and the occasional nap with LO seem to help, but don't entirely fix the situation. Best of luck to you!
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  • c_washingtonc_washington

    I have type 1 diabetes. what I can tell you is just like in an airplane when you would put your mask on first, you gotta do the same in real life. If I am low, I can't pick LO up and risk hurting him. He may have to cry a bit longer. It breaks my heart, but thats the life we live.

    asking for help is SO SO SO important. You and your DH need to sit down and come up with a plan. If MIL is unable to help (talk to her, dont assume she can't. She may want to.) then maybe you need a list of babysitters or friends that can help out. I would also talk to your doctors to see if they have any suggestions. Maybe there is a support group in your area?  

    Also, for me, the guilt is the worst. I talk to DH a lot about it and our pediatricians. I worry so much that LO is at higher risk due to me. I want to be sure we do everything possible to protect him. 

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  • JMack1117JMack1117
    Just lurking from 3rd tri, but after DD was born, I started to get chronic migraines.  They went from maybe 1 a month to 2-3 a week, and lasted 2-3 days each, so basically, I had a migraine every day.  I couldn't parent well because the pain was so bad.  Imitrex wasn't working anymore, OTC's weren't working, nothing was helping.  Luckily DH can work from home, and he stayed with me on the really bad days.  I finally found a preventative regimin that works (400 mgs of vitamin b-2 and 50 mgs of magnesium daily) and now I'm like a whole new person.  I wish you luck getting control of your headaches. 
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  • Nita2603Nita2603 member

    I have Crohn's and while I was blissfully in remission during pregnancy, it is now back with a vengance - same with migraines, but my migraines are thankfully are sort of once every 4 weeks kinda thing.

    The Crohn's, however, is not controlled whatsoever and I flared about 5 days pp. I went through a bunch of different meds and they don't do it for me.

    As for how to care for a baby with a cronic disease, I am still figuring it out. We spend a lot of time in bed together - if I am really bad, I cannot get up, so we need to get used to spending time together in the big bad.

    I also have my hubby (who mostly works from home, thankfully) help out with preparing things (because if he is NOT at home, I need to function by myself as well) - making formula bottles before he leaves, get me a changing pad / diapers / supplies near by (and stuff for me like puke bowl, drinks etc). It works somewhat and we are getting better and better along the way.

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  • beadgirl1981beadgirl1981

    Thanks everyone.  I am getting SIL's number tomorrow, she lives down the road and can help Tue-Thurs, and my husband is home Fri-Sun.  I have a friend who would love to help but we have to wait till her girl is done being sick and work around her schedule.  I will look into finding a support group as well.

    We spend alot of time in the recliner on my bad days, I have a baby rocker next to it so I can lay her down and keep and eye on her and her swing is just a few steps away.  I keep everything I can within reach.  Now that she is getting better about sleeping I am back to taking a daily nap and that usually helps.

    It sucks but at least I know others are going through similar situations.

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