Joy & Joe baby wrap
  • Welcome
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • Contact us
  • Reseller form

News and updates

Picture

Downs Syndrome and Babywearing~Corrie's story #MyFriendsMyCommunity #howdoyouseeme #downsyndromeawareness #carrymyjoy

3/20/2016

0 Comments

 
' I am actually currently working to become a Volunteer Babywearing Educator for the local Babywearing International group and my number one goal is to bring in more families who have a baby with Down syndrome'  
​I'm Corrie. I am the mother of three boys. Nolan (8) Ephraim (7) and Arden (3). 
Picture
When asked while I was pregnant if I wanted any extra testing done I told them no. I was 27 at the time. I thought it didn't matter. Even if it did it wouldn't have changed anything. Not then and certainly not now.
I didn't find out that Arden had Down syndrome until he was in my arms looking up at me with those different eyes. I. Was. Terrified.
I knew instantly, but no one said anything. My husband didn't know, he just saw his beautiful baby boy and fell in love. For about an hour I was terrified and alone in a fog holding this tiny baby that was not the baby I had expected, trying to nurse this tiny baby, because I felt like it would make things feel more normal. Maybe if I could just bond with him, things would be okay. I didn't want to be the one to bring it up that he was different though. It felt wrong. And what it I was wrong? Finally my midwife came back and pointed out the markers. I was scared out of my mind. I wished I could disappear, hoped this was all a dream. Even though I had already known, I wanted her to take it back. I didn't know what Down syndrome was. I knew what it looked like, but I didn't know what it was.
He was in the special care nursery that first night and I was in my recovery room crying. It was so much easier when he was inside of me. His blood sugar was low, he was too cold, and he couldn't hold his head up enough to keep his airways open. My body could take care of him and keep him safe, if only I could just put him back.
Picture
)  Someone close to me has been dealing with postpartum depression and I could sympathize, because of my beginning with Arden. Not knowing how to connect. Wanting your baby back where they belong. She asked me when I finally started to be able to connect with Arden and I thought about it and made the discovery that it was around the time I started wearing him.
I did some form of babywearing with each of my kids, but with Arden I had to learn all over. He had low tone, something that is common in Down syndrome. My stretchy wrap didn't offer enough support. I was afraid to use the Mei Tai I had. He still needed to have a hip ultrasound done to check for hip dysplacia (another one of those things with Down syndrome) and I was afraid to splay his legs in a carrier. But then I rediscovered the ring sling a friend had given to me. It was perfect. From there I got into woven wraps. They provided us with a good deal of support, which was great. I joined the local babywearing group. At my first meeting a Mom walked right up to me so excited to see us. She had seen me on facebook and was excited to meet Arden. She had a sister who has Down syndrome. It's like we're in a club. People who love someone with Down syndrome. It's a really awesome club that everyone should join.
In the meeting I met other babywearing moms and made amazing new friends who saw Arden as I saw him. As just another kid.
He started taking leaps and bounds in physical therapy and by 15 months old he was walking! I give 50% of the credit for this accomplishment to his big brothers. He had to learn to walk so he could keep up with them! But I give the other 50% of the credit to babywearing. It's not just a great core workout for me, but an awesome one for him as well.
Babywearing helped me to connect, and it helped him to be the strong boy he is today. The wild boy who is now three and going to preschool, in the same school his big brothers go to, with typically developing children as well as those with special needs.
Babywearing helps us still even at three years old. It helps his Daddy put him to sleep on nights I am unavailable to nurse him. It helps us sooth him when he is sick, and it helps me get him to take a nap on days when his energy gets to be too much for me to handle. This boy can get into some serious trouble! Babywearing saves my sanity.

​My advice to other parents considering babywearing their child with Down syndrome... DO IT. Find a local group and join it. Meet all the other wonderful babywearers out there. I am actually currently working to become a Volunteer Babywearing Educator for the local Babywearing International group and my number one goal is to bring in more families who have a baby with Down syndrome. It has done so much for me. I want to help others get to experience the same thing. 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    June 2021
    March 2021
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    May 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

    RSS Feed

    Author

    Hello, my name is Bisi, babywearing consultant (SoB CIC), mother to two cheeky & very special kids (Joy and Joseph). Our 3rd baby has been christened Joy&Joe baby wrap slings! and we loveeee babywearing :)
    Click here to learn more about me

    Picture
Joy and Joe® is a registered trademark that belongs to Joy and Joe limited . We are registered in England and Wales. Company registration number 08495654.
VAT number GB277613674
Privacy policy
Customer Care
Contact us            
Safety               
Woven wrap archive
Meet the team
Woven wrap sizing
Gallery
How to Wrap
Videos
​Breastfeeding support
​Shipping

Returns
#Embracewrapping (wovens)
​#Embracewrapping (strechies)
Charity
Subscription box customers
Reviews
Wraps
FAQ
For retailers
Current retailers
Our story
Meet the founders
Safety testing
Product registration
Woven wrap grading
Sling library
Press

Newsletter signup
Customer satisfaction survey
Affiliate registration


Flag Counter

Our Office address:
Joy and Joe Babywearing Boutique,
81 Junction Lane,
St. Helens,
WA9 3JN
​United Kingdom
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

  • Welcome
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • Contact us
  • Reseller form