Through Thick and Thin (Part 3)

[Chair]

Thanks @Kristen I am now back from my holiday.  Here is Chapter Six.

 

Chapter Six

 

Selina and Steven stared at each other. What was going on?

“What's happening? Is Jasmine ok? I would rather you were honest with us. I'm a nurse in another hospital as well as a new mother.”

“Jasmine's foot is slightly turned in. I am going to get a physiotherapist to come and look at Jasmine.”

- - - -

The physiotherapist came along and checked over Jasmine.

“Talipes can happen sometimes when the baby is wedged in the side of the womb. This can happen like in Jasmine's case where she is quite a long baby.

The physiotherapist did a few checks.

“I wouldn't worry too much. This can be corrected. Would you be able to bring Jasmine for physiotherapy?”
“We'd be happy to do that.”
The physiotherapist looked in her diary.

“How about Friday 31st May?”

“We'll be there.”

“Steven you'll be back at work then.”

“Selina, you and Jasmine are my priority and matter much more than work. I'll come to the appointment with you both.”

“Ok. I'll give you some exercises to help correct the talipes on the 31st May."

 

To be continued...

[Guest]

Great chapter

oh no poor Jasmine I hope everything will be okay.

I trust you enjoyed you're holiday @chair

Update again soon

 

[Chair]

Thanks @Kristen.  Here is Chapter Seven.

 

Chapter Seven

 

On the day of the appointment the physiotherapist called them through. She did a few checks and advised them to keep doing the exercises.

“Ok, please don't panic but I also wanted to discuss something else with you. Do either of you have any history of hip problems in your family?”

“I lost my own parents at the age of fifteen. They never mentioned hip problems but I guess it's possible.”

“I don't really talk to my biological parents anymore than I can help it. I'm not aware of any hip problems though in the family. Is there a problem with Jasmine's hips?”

“When I tested Jasmine's hips at birth I could hear a click. I tested them again today and I could still hear a click. I'm going to book Jasmine in for a hip scan. Do I have your permission to do that?”

They both nodded and Steven hugged Selina.

“I'll support you and Jasmine through this.”

“Thank you darling.”

 

- - - - - -

 

Selina was doing the washing up but kept staring out of the window. Steven came over and wrapped his arms around her.

“Are you thinking again about Jasmine's appointment tomorrow?”

“Yeah. I don't know what's going to happen. I mean I know the basics of hip dysplasia through my training as a nurse. But it's different going through it with our daughter.”

“I will be there to support you and Jasmine through it all. We've given Jasmine her bath.”

“Yes I remember from my training that if she goes in a pavlik harness you aren't meant to take it off during the day. So we would need to just use a sponge to bath her whilst she has the harness on.”

 

To be continued...

 

Here is the storyline mentioned at the beginning of this fanfic.  Also the clue from the title of Part 2, 'Joining Our Lives Together'.  I hope I can do this storyline justice.

 

[Guest]

Great chapter 

so Jasmine might have hip dysphasia poor thing 

update again soon 

[Chair]

Thanks @Kristen  Here is Chapter Eight.  I have written the chapters up to this one so far.  Chapter Nine isn't fully written yet so I will post when I have written more.

(Side note - It came in rather handy that Steven might not be aware of all of his family's medical history!)

 

Chapter Eight

 

The next day Steven and Selina wheeled Jasmine into the hospital. Jasmine was fast asleep. The letter they had been sent told them they needed the x-ray department so they headed there. They booked in and took a seat.

A man came out to meet them. He shook both their hands.

“G'day, am I right in thinking this is Jasmine Matheson? I'm Peter, I will be x-raying Jasmine's hips today.”

“Hi. We are Jasmine's parents. I'm Steven and this is my wife Selina.”

“Nice to meet you all. Come on through. We're going to x-ray Jasmine's hips today. Can I just check how old Jasmine is please?”

“She's 4 weeks old.”

“I can reassure you that this isn't going to hurt at all. Now I need you to take Jasmine out of her pram and lay her down on the bed.”

Selina picked up Jasmine and realised she had a wet nappy. Selina changed her nappy quickly then lay her down where Peter had directed.

“Now I am going to x-ray Jasmine's hips from the side and from the front.”

Jasmine started to stir whilst they were doing the x-ray. She had a couple of whimpers but fortunately they were able to finish the x-rays before she was fully awake and demanding milk!

 

- - - - - -

 

After they had finished the x-ray they were directed to the area they would see the consultant. They went and sat in the area where Selina was able to breastfeed Jasmine.

About halfway through Jasmine's meal they were called through. The lady saw what was going on and came and spoke to them. She could see her next patient was waiting and called them through first. Jasmine took a while so the next patient afterwards was seen next as well.

The consultant called them in eventually.

“Hi I'm Rosie. I'm here to discuss the results of Jasmine's hip scans today.”

“Hi, this is Jasmine, we're her parents. I'm Selina and this is my husband Steven.”

“Ok guys. I've looked through the scans. Have you heard of hip displasia before? Are there any hip problems in either family?”

“I lost my parents suddenly when I was 15. I'm not aware of any hip problems in the family but it's possible.

“I've checked and there are none on my side of the family. I'm trained as a community nurse though and hip displasia was covered in my nurse training. I've filled Steven in on what I know though I don't have any personal experience really.”

Rosie held up the x-rays.

“The hips are meant to be in the socket at a certain angle. The hip isn't in the angle it is meant to be. It's 60 degrees out of the angle it's meant to be. Are you following?”

Steven and Selina both nodded.

“To correct this Jasmine is going to need to wear a pavlik harness for the next twelve weeks. She will need to wear it 24/7 and the harness can't be taken off, not for Jasmine being weighed. You will need to sponge bath Jasmine. Any other questions?”

“Will she need further treatment with surgery or anything else after this?”

“Hopefully not if the harness does its job. She will have regular checkups over the next 12 weeks.”

 

To be continued...

 

This is a pavlik harness:  https://www.google.com/search?q=pavlik+harness&rlz=1C1AVFA_enGB760GB760&oq=pavlik+har&aqs=chrome.0.0j69i57j0l4.2650j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

[Guest]

Great chapter

I hope Jasmine will not have any more problems and the Pavlik harness will help.

Update again soon

 

[kathrine french]

This is good 

Hope u continued this

[Chair]

Thanks @Kristen and @kathrine french  I do appreciate the comments and they keep me encouarged to write more.  I was struggling to write more but have managed to write some more tonight.  Here is the next chapter:

 

Chapter Nine

The nurse went on to explain that the harness would go on over the baby vest. If the babygro needed changing it would be quite difficult to change the vest. Another option if the babygro was damp but wasn't pooey or anything was to use a hairdryer to dry the vest. Jasmine wasn't ill and her life wasn't in danger. She just needed to wear the harness to correct her hips.

Before leaving the hospital they made an appointment for the following Thursday.

Steven and Selina took Jasmine home. Jasmine was used to kicking her legs about and wasn't too impressed with the new harness trapping her legs!

Jasmine kept waking up during that first niand ght wanting Mummy cuddles. Selina felt bad that she couldn't take the harness away.

Selina had to find a new way to breastfeed Jasmine now she was in the harness and make sure both of them were comfortable. Steven and Selina knew they could love and support each other and Jasmine.

 

To be continued...

[Guest]

Great chapter 

Jasmine having to wear the harness and not being able to do much.

Selina seems to be coping

Update again soon

[Chair]

Thanks @Kristen  I hope this post isn't all gloom and doom but I wanted to make it as realistic as possible.

Chapter Ten

 

Selina didn't always find things easy. On top of the sleepless nights which comes as part of the territory of being a new Mum, she was having to change the clothes around the harness. Of course Steven helped out where possible but as she was breastfeeding, she usually got up with Jasmine during the night. She got a breast pump and express fed. Jasmine would fortunately take a bottle so if Selina needed to pop out in the future Steven would be able to feed her himself.

Also several people had already sent lovely sweet little outfits. The dresses fitted perfectly but the trousers wouldn't go on over the harness. Selina and Steven appreciated all the lovely presents. Selina just wished that it was possible to dress Jasmine in some of those matching tops and trousers or matching dress and tights. She knew that Jasmine's health came first though.

- - - - - -

On the Monday following the harness being fitted, Selina had promised to take Jasmine into Steven's office so that everyone could meet Jasmine. Steven did offer to postpone the visit but Selina was determined to get out of the house. She couldn't spend the next 12 weeks indoors apart from hospital appointments!

The office did run pretty efficiently whether Steven was there or not thanks to a great team who pulled together and mostly got on. Steven still oversaw the place but was taking more and more of a step back. He was even considering opening another office elsewhere but for the time being they were based in Sydney, especially with Jasmine's hospital appointments.

Steven's secretary Carol had sent a hamper when Jasmine had been born but had been away for the last two weeks. She was due back today.

Selina arrived in the office about eleven. She was only running about half an hour late which wasn't too bad! Most of the guys gathered around. Steven had explained on Friday about the harness to the guys.

“Looks like Stevo – poor kid!”

“Yeah! I should have sent a condolences card instead of a congratulations card!  Hopefully your looks change soon and you start to look more like your Mum!”

“That's a pavlik harness isn't it? My niece Stacey had to wear that.”

Selina turned to look at Carol.

“Yes. They put it on on Thursday and she has to wear it 24/7 for 12 weeks. How is your niece doing with her hips?”

“She's doing fine thanks. She's grown up now. No kids yet but they'll probably test her kids' hips when she has kids. Stacey had to wear the harness for about the same period of time. My brother and his wife could take the harness off for an hour a day so they could bathe her but it was a struggle to get it back on afterwards as Stacey liked to kick about while she had the freedom to do so.”

“How are her hips now?”

They're fine now. I think what you need is a great big hug. Come here.”

Selina gratefully accepted Carol's hug. It was good to talk to someone who had some idea what they were going through.

 

To be continued...