Babywearing with a colostomy bag anyone?

[flower01]

Hi.  I was recently diagnosed with stage four colon cancer and had surgery a couple days ago to put in a stoma for a colostomy bag.  It is obvious that I will no longer be able to use my Ergo for my 18 month old.   For around the house I have a mayawrap that I can use in a hip carry, but am wondering if anyone can suggest something for a back carry. I was so looking forward to our family hikes during the spring and summer and would love to find a solution. I have attempted a back carry in a moby but that didn't work too well.  I don't love the idea of wrapping, but maybe a mei tai would work?  I would love to talk to people who baby wear with stomas.

[insidevoice]

I don't have experience with trying to accommodate a stoma while babywearing.  I suppose what would work best would depend on the location of the stoma, if it is low on our abdomen, a mei tai tied high might be a great option- you could even consider wearing an SSC high up at/over your natural waist.  A wrap would give you the option of not having anything tied at your waist. An onbu could achieve this as well- but I don't know if it would be supportive enough for extended wearing.

I hear mixed reviews about the kokopax carrier, but it has a lumbar support without a waistbelt- it is a framed carrier.  I don't know that I would use it, but maybe it would be worth a try?

Make sure to give yourself time to heal.  It took me well over two years to have most of my energy back following chemo and radiation for a different type of cancer.  

[Jane]

What about a dedicated hip carrier? I also wonder about an old-style up on the shoulders back carrier, like a Kelty.

[TiffanyToo]

Moby wraps are not safe for back wearing. A German style woven wrap or gauze wrap like Wrapsody Baby Bali breeze would be wraps for back carries.

[mckittre]

I don't know where a stoma is, but I used a woven wrap all through pregnancy, keeping it above my giant belly.  There are ways to tie quite high (tying tibetan, or just a knot under the breasts), and have it still be comfortabl

[sublime*momma]

You could use a mei tai.  I am a RN so I've seen my fair share of stomas :)  As long as yours is pretty low (belly button range or lower), you could tie the mei tai just under or over your breasts to do a comfortable back carry.  I have a Baby Hawk, and I while I don't back carry often, I found it most comfortable to tie on top of my breasts so they weren't so smushed looking.  That type of carry would work really well with a stoma as long as it was comfortable for you.  Good luck!

[chel]

Originally Posted by insidevoice 

wearing.

I hear mixed reviews about the kokopax carrier, but it has a lumbar support without a waistbelt- it is a framed carrier.  I don't know that I would use it, but maybe it would be worth a try?

I have a carrier very similar to the kokopax, mine is 18yrs old! Overall I like it. My 17m dd loves it more than a ring sling and tries to climb in every time she sees it. For more than 2-3 hrs my shoulders start to ache.

[ABO Mama]

I think a woven wrap, or a mei tai will give you the greatest flexability in positioning the straps in a way that is comfortable for you.

Please don't use the moby, or any stretchy wrap, for a back carry.  Here's a short u-tube clip on why not.