Spica Dipes

i'm pretty bummed about the diaper situation with the cast. now it takes two disposable diapers to cover sabine when we used to use only one cloth one. i feel like the months of the cloth diapers are being out done by the weeks of the cast diapers. but oh well. apparently we don't have it too bad with this part as far as diapering in a spica cast go.

so first, i should tell you about the cast. it is hot pink fiberglass with a cottonish layer in the middle for comfort and then next to her skin is a layer of gore-tex. the layer of gore tex is just about the best thing we could ask for. it is much better for the skin than other cast lining materials AND it can tolerate being wiped a little bit. so now if her diaper leaks here and there it's ok for us to wipe it up. i was reading last night that you can actually bathe and shower with goretex/fiberlgass casts, but our dr didn't say we could do that so i'm not going to try it without the ok. so while we know there will be some stuff getting inside the cast, at least we can do as much wiping as possible and keep it sort of clean (and stink-free) for as long as possible.

the cast itself is in a sort of V shape or upside down U shape with her legs wide. it comes just to her belly button and then down to her ankles. and there is a hole cut for diapering. that's where we were pleasantly surprised actually. we've read horror stories of people having to cut diapers into small pieces and fill the gap with maxi pads and poise pads and dry the whole thing with a hairdryer at every changing... sounded like LOTS of work. but for us she is just right and the hole is just the right size that we just shove a newborn sized diaper up there front and back, tucking it in on the sides. then we cover the outer part of the cast and the hole with a size 5 diaper. it took us a little while to get the hang of it but i'd say now it only takes a minute longer than our cloth changes did before. and she tolerates it pretty well unless i start taking too long.

so i guess slowly but surely we'll make our way to some sort of 'Cast Normal' for the next few weeks. i'm personally trying to stay present and enjoy this time with her too. but in all honestly, i'll be glad when it's over.