United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi everybody,
I'm so glad to have finally found this site. I have been looking at OBPI on the internet for 13 months and somehow missed this. It's nice to know there are others out there who understand BPI. My daughter has a ROBPI which resulted from shoulder dystocia and gross mismanagement of our care during labor. She had nerve graft surgery in December 2010 and is almost back to where she was preop. She can sit, and is a fast and proficient bum-scooter, however she can't get to sitting on her own. She goes to physiotherapy and occupational therapy and they have made some suggestions, but they are not working. Does anyone have any suggestions how I can help her to learn how to sit up on her own?

You may want to purchase the Bumbo. Target and Babies'r us sells them.

Agree'd...my son used one of those for just a bit and then learned quickly how to sit up on his own.Then came his "special" crawl and now...I can hardly keep up with my little runner

Thanks for the replies and suggestions! We used a Bumbo for my daughter many months ago and they are great. She has since outgrown it, and no longer needs it as she is able to sit unsupported and can bum scoot. She's having trouble getting to a sitting position from laying down on her back or belly.

what's going on with the therapists? they are not actively working with her on this? time for new therapists then!

Our daughter's injury was bilateral - her right more affected than her left - but she still had major issues with her stronger arm at your daughter's age. Aria actually learned to sit up on her own before her left arm was really strong enough or coordinated enough to help much. She would sling herself onto her side, hook one of her legs in front of her body (her leg bent in front of her, sole of foot resting on thigh of other leg) and use the strength of her legs and torso and momentum to help her get to sitting. It was one fluid motion with her torso swinging in front (kind of looked like she was trying to touch her face to the floor in front of her) before she used the momentum to swing her torso upright.

I wish to goodness I had videotaped it to show you. We worked with her for a long time before she could do this. If your daughter has the full use of one of her arms, I'm certain she could master this! Good luck!

I recall holding down on her hip/thigh from a laying down position. Propping her arm under her and having her push her self up. This was something we actively worked with the PT on every week. As stated above if your PT is not working on this with you it is time for a new one.

Marlene