https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 17 May 2026 10:50:38 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-had-to-deal-with-a-full-arm-cast#post-2013104 Wed, 07 Jan 2015 05:58:24 +0000 lamariniere 2013104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son was in a full leg cast (toes to mig thigh) last year (at 2.5 years), so he couldn't bathe for 3 weeks! We definitely used wipes as often as possible and he adjusted to sleeping on his back instead of his tummy. I was much more sad about the whole situation than he was. Wishing your little guy a speedy recovery! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-had-to-deal-with-a-full-arm-cast#post-2013018 Tue, 06 Jan 2015 23:03:42 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2013018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pancakes: we are using a pasta bag for dinner :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-had-to-deal-with-a-full-arm-cast#post-2013017 Tue, 06 Jan 2015 23:03:18 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2013017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@elchalten: of course I remember you! Hi! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-had-to-deal-with-a-full-arm-cast#post-2013012 Tue, 06 Jan 2015 22:58:56 +0000 elchalten 2013012@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi!<br /> You might remember me from weddingbee :))</p> <p>I'm sorry you have to deal with this! I can't share the exact same story but will promise you that kids are amazing to adjusting to life with a cast. </p> <p>Our girl was in a hip spica cast (from her belly down to her ankles) for 10 weeks at 6-9 months. She lost all her ability to move from one day to another. Wasn't able to reposition herself during sleep. Had to sleep on her back etc.... And you know what.... She did amazing!!! She could not have been bothered less. It's way harder on the parents than it is on the babies. </p> <p>We will need to do the whole spica cast again in a few months and while I hate for her to go through it, it def helps to know that she will do just fine. </p> <p>Good luck to you and D. Hope the 3 weeks fly by!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-had-to-deal-with-a-full-arm-cast#post-2012960 Tue, 06 Jan 2015 22:22:52 +0000 marionberry 2012960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a full arm cast due to breaking my elbow when I was in 5th grade. I had to wear it the entire summer in AZ where we spent every day in the pool. My parents just tied a garbage bag over it any time I was playing near water and then I was careful to keep it out of the bath while I got washed (with parental help) - no showers. Obviously your poor lo is younger and might need a lot more of your help. If there's a cover for the cast that sounds like a fabulous option. I don't remember my cast being that much of a pain otherwise (like you said, kids adapt) but the skin does certainly get itchy around the edges as you go on, so keep it lotioned up as much as you can. No great tips but hang in there mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-had-to-deal-with-a-full-arm-cast#post-2012930 Tue, 06 Jan 2015 21:57:39 +0000 brady80 2012930@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I broke my leg I got this bag from a medical supply place. I could keep my leg in the shower and it wouldn't get wet. It was a lifesaver! You can google cast cover for the shower, I'm sure they make them in kid sizes too. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-had-to-deal-with-a-full-arm-cast#post-2012909 Tue, 06 Jan 2015 21:42:15 +0000 Pancakes 2012909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was in elementary school when I broke my elbow. My mom put a bread bag over the cast during my baths to keep it dry :happy: I hope everything heals well and you can get your sanity back soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-had-to-deal-with-a-full-arm-cast#post-2012740 Tue, 06 Jan 2015 20:02:42 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2012740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: yeah it's only for 3 weeks and I figure we can wash his hair in the sink. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-had-to-deal-with-a-full-arm-cast#post-2012639 Tue, 06 Jan 2015 19:02:32 +0000 blackbird 2012639@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh no!!! He will probably get used to it very quickly! </p> <p>When all else fails, baby wipes make a good bath substitution. DH used to do that in the field </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-had-to-deal-with-a-full-arm-cast#post-2012572 Tue, 06 Jan 2015 17:57:52 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2012572@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. bird: I think two year olds heal so fast that he'll only need it for 3 weeks total. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-had-to-deal-with-a-full-arm-cast#post-2012570 Tue, 06 Jan 2015 17:57:13 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2012570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SLR: I've decided sponge baths are it. I'm traumatized after letting it get wet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-had-to-deal-with-a-full-arm-cast#post-2012527 Tue, 06 Jan 2015 17:29:49 +0000 mrs. bird 2012527@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh. That stinks! I had a compound fracture of my radius &amp; ulna, but it was a long time ago. Casts are so much more breathable &amp; light now! I found it most comfortable to prop it on a pillow while sleeping &amp; during the day I had it in a sling the first couple wks. Do you have a sleeve to cover it during baths? I'm sure it depends on the arm &amp; the break, but for the last couple wks (I think I had it for 8-9wks total, they had to rebreak it so it was longer than normal) I was given a shorter cast, so maybe he won't have the full cast the whole time. The short cast was such a relief, I hope that's an option at some point for him! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-had-to-deal-with-a-full-arm-cast#post-2012524 Tue, 06 Jan 2015 17:27:16 +0000 SLR 2012524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Green Grass: What worked best for her baths was to put her in the baby tub where she didn't have much room to move around and to put a plastic bag or liner of some sort with a long sock over it. The bag freaked her out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-had-to-deal-with-a-full-arm-cast#post-2012483 Tue, 06 Jan 2015 17:06:50 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2012483@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SLR: That's exactly it. : ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-had-to-deal-with-a-full-arm-cast#post-2012458 Tue, 06 Jan 2015 16:53:28 +0000 SLR 2012458@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not sure that hers was considered a full arm cast, but it was at least above the elbow. She had generally been a stomach sleeper.....but she managed okay. :happy: Good luck! </p> [attach=2783/15/nhrzh5.530x577.em.png] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-had-to-deal-with-a-full-arm-cast#post-2012450 Tue, 06 Jan 2015 16:50:25 +0000 Eko 2012450@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I personally had a full arm cast when I was 12 (so not really that young) and I remember it being annoying, but sorted itself out like @Mrs.Tiger mentioned. I think the biggest downfall of it is that you develop itchy skin from the cast, so there was a lot of irritability just from that. Did they not offer you a waterproof cast? or was it that he was getting it soaked so much it had to be redone anyway? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-had-to-deal-with-a-full-arm-cast#post-2012440 Tue, 06 Jan 2015 16:41:30 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 2012440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh no! I'm sorry. My SIL broke her arm (jumped off the back of a couch) and needed a cast when she was five, but I can't remember how they managed. Kids are adaptive, he'll sort it out quickly I think! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-had-to-deal-with-a-full-arm-cast#post-2012415 Tue, 06 Jan 2015 16:33:37 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2012415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh. We finally saw the orthopedist today and because Dylan fractured his ulna along with his radius, he needs a full-arm cast since the ulna rotates at the elbow. I of course told the doctor to do whatever is best for his arm, but now I'm starting to worry about our sanity for the next 3 weeks!</p> <p>I've already decided no baths since our first try ended up with a wet cast which had to be removed and redone yesterday (so we've actually had 3 casts in the last 5 days!). But Dylan sleeps on his tummy with his arms under him. Do you think he'll be able to sleep on his back instead? Or on his cast without it bothering him?</p> <p>If anyone has any experience or suggestions (or commiseration), I'd appreciate it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/broken-tailbone#post-1215373 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 10:04:57 +0000 Mariposa 1215373@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Broken tailbones are actually quite common among some women according to my ob. The pressure from the baby's head alone during the end of pregnancy CAN be enough to cause a hairline fracture all on its own. I say talk to your doctor about it as well as maybe see a chiropractor during pregnancy?? I know for me weekly adjustments towards the end helped a lot to get my body and my daughter in the right position for birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/broken-tailbone#post-1215355 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 09:58:02 +0000 Lindsay05 1215355@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Fronkinzankinsbride: lol well tailbone pain is quite literally a pain in the ass but it wouldn't hurt to get things checked out and try some exercises beforehand. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/broken-tailbone#post-1215210 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 09:09:57 +0000 heartsnsunshine 1215210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like pp I broke my tailbone during child birth. I am nervous for whne I have a second it will break again, but my lo was facing thw wrong way so I think that had a lot of factoring. . My pain from my tailbone was aweful and I had third degree tearing..@Sapphiresun: I had almost the same experience. ... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/broken-tailbone#post-1215108 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 08:10:02 +0000 Foodnerd81 1215108@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Fronkinzankinsbride: I have no experience with the tailbone issue, but in terms of pain tolerance that you mention- I don't feel that your every day pain tolerance is really indicative if your pain tolerance in labor. I can't even get my teeth cleaned without squirming but had a med free delivery. Just totally different types of pain and tolerance. That said, if the tailbone would cause additional pain and the epidural will fix that, sounds good to me. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/broken-tailbone#post-1215017 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 04:06:46 +0000 Dandelion 1215017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also injured mine during my delivery of S. I still cannot sit upright for long periods of time and it has been 8 months. It was a challenge getting around the first coue weeks but I didn't have a newborn to deal with so I was able to just work on healing.</p> <p>It's actually one of the top reasons I'm planning a c-section with this baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/broken-tailbone#post-1215009 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 02:23:14 +0000 Ree723 1215009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not certain whether or not mine was broken as I never had an X-ray, but about 20 years ago I had a very nasty fall from some height onto ice and landed directly on my tailbone. The pain was excruciating and lasted for weeks (gradually lessening in severity but it was awful for a while) and my doctor was pretty sure I fractured it, but said there was really no treatment other than time and rest, so we just let time do its thing. Ever since, it has occasionally bothered me, especially with this, my second pregnancy, but it was a complete non-issue during pregnancy and labour with my first LO. The epidural worked perfectly and it did not impede labour at all. I'm hoping for the same this time - I can let you know in 2.5 months or so! :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/broken-tailbone#post-1214983 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 00:44:09 +0000 sarac 1214983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ouch! Can you consult with a physical therapist or some such when you're ready to get pregnant? Maybe you can work to strengthen the surrounding muscles or something to lesson your chances of reinjuring it during a pregnancy/delivery. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/broken-tailbone#post-1214976 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 00:36:44 +0000 Sapphiresun 1214976@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've broken mine several times (figure skater - apparently not that good at it). Mine's pretty achy regularly. I joke that my butt can predict the weather, because it is especially achy just before it rains. I usually sit forward on my sit bones to avoid leaning on it.</p> <p>Honestly, labour... not that fun. There was a lot of pressure and bearing down. I didn't notice so much during labour, but after, I couldn't sit down for about three days, because I had to choose to either sit on a very sore tailbone, or lean forward on a 2nd degree tear. Hospital bed was the worst, because the inclined bed pretty much puts all the pressure right on it, so I just avoided that. Don't even have the classic "mom in hospital bed with baby" pose photo because I couldn't sit in it. All our pics are me standing while everyone came in to visit, which was definitely tiring after labour/delivery.</p> <p>I also had to learn to nurse only side lying, which is challenging with a tiny newborn but doable. I went to a lactation consultant again a few days after we got home to be taught the other positions that I missed out on in the hospital. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/broken-tailbone#post-1214939 Wed, 13 Nov 2013 23:26:58 +0000 immabeetoo 1214939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Fronkinzankinsbride: It completely depends on how it healed, I think. I fractured mine in addition to a burst fracture and a hairline fracture in higher up vertebrae, and scoliosis and was really nervous about it all. My OB wasn't worried at all- although she did say younger pregnancy might treat me better than an older pregnancy due to bone changes. </p> <p>My epidural worked fine (I consulted with the hospital previously so they could look at my back) and I delivered without re-breaking my tailbone (or anything else). However, since giving birth if I sit at the wrong angle it feels like someone stabbed me with a lightning bolt up through my tailbone. So something must've shifted around. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/broken-tailbone#post-1214895 Wed, 13 Nov 2013 22:29:59 +0000 Fronkinzankinsbride 1214895@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Lindsay05: fair enough! Maybe my complaining about it now should be an indication of my pain tolerance and I should rethink whether I might want an epidural! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/broken-tailbone#post-1214893 Wed, 13 Nov 2013 22:28:29 +0000 Fronkinzankinsbride 1214893@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: I havent. I remember reading at the time that fusing was one of the things could happen but I didn't think about further misalignment of the spine. I haven't really had an opportunity or motivation to get it checked out by anyone. I should get on that. Good to know that there is some ways to improve the situation! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/broken-tailbone#post-1214879 Wed, 13 Nov 2013 22:20:29 +0000 yoursilverlining 1214879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you been checked for your pelvic/lower back alignment and condition since then?</p> <p>I broke my tailbone in the past (like, 10+ years ago), and my lowest vertebrae is fused to my tailbone, which causes some spinal and pelvic misalignment, generally. I had a LOT of pain throughout pregnancy (pelvic, lower back and hip) and had to do regular physical therapy, chiropractic work and yoga to try to ease the pain. I've seen several different doctors for the tailbone issue, and none have ever mentioned that being a problem for birth. </p> <p>I had a scheduled c-section, in part due to small pelvic opening size, so I can't say how it reacted during birth, sorry! </p>