This is for all the moms and dads whose worst fear might come true...becoming Injured On Duty and having to look after your baby.
Ren is a very healthy 11kg at 8 months. I mean he doesn't look like the Michelin Man but holy moly...he feels like lead. He has been wanting to stand for months and could hold his weight on his legs from about about 4 months old. His muscles are hard and he can really pack a punch. Chuck Norris would be proud of his round-house kicks.
Now that he is starting to hold onto things and pull himself up, we dropped our crib to the lowest level and now picking him up and putting him down in the middle of the night is an art. I'm bent over 90 degrees at the hips, hamstrings stretched to the limit, holding my lump of lead and slowly putting him back to his resting spot and hope that the landing is smooth.
After his midnight feed, I felt something strange happening in my lower back. It was like something popped, but not the good kind. I took an anti-inflammatory in case - I'm all about prevention - and went back to sleep. Fast forward to 5 AM for his morning feed and I could not stand up more than 90 degrees. I'm in pain and I feel like it's not the muscle but something deeper inside my lower back / hip region. I manage to wake my deep-sleeping husband to make a bottle and help me move Ren into bed with us as he always sleeps better next to his momma and this momma needed some more sleep. (Co-sleeper haters, be gone!)
After hobbling downstairs for breakfast, we found the nearest orthopedic surgeon and I hopped on my bike and rode the 1km there. Riding and leaning forward actually reduced the pain but getting on and off the bike was a sight for sore eyes.
Bent over I shuffled in to the reception area, I was called over the loudspeaker and was seen to quite quickly. After some x-rays and an assessment, the doctor suspected I pinched a nerve in my lower back and this is what I suspected /dreaded. I begged for a spinal block injection so that I could at least walk 20m without stopping and he reluctantly administered it. This is the last request Japanese people usually have, he said. I also requested stronger pain medicine than the usual Loxonin. He said the stronger meds wouldn't be covered by National Health, but I didn't care. I wanted ZERO pain. So off I limped, with a back corset on, enough medicine to open a pharmacy and rode home.
Part way home I had a mild panic attack, my husband was home today, but how on earth would I manage to hold and take care of Ren tomorrow when he was at work? We called our ward - Setagaya - and they said that there were coupons that we were given for San-San Support BUT we would have to book 2 -3 weeks in advance. They also have a service if the carer falls ill but that is only for the evening and they take your baby! They apologised and said that we should look for a babysitter.
With the clock ticking and time against us (it was 3PM), I Googled for my life and came up with some options:
I registered but didn't like that I would have to search through each person and see if and when they would be available. Most of their response time was more than a few days. There is an option to pay ¥2980 per month to be a premium member and this allows you to post a job listing. I didn't like this model (I know they need to make money) as I wouldn't envision using them as I would use my helper - who is currently overseas for 2 months.
This website was user-friendly - if you can read Japanese and there was no sign up fee and no monthly cost. I signed up and started searching but couldn't find anyone appropriate at such late notice. I will definitely use this service in the future.
While searching, a fellow expat mom graciously offered for me to contact her helper and ask if she would be willing to come for the day and she agreed! I'm really looking forward to having some help around the house as all you parents can understand...
As a wise man named Ice Cube once said, "You can do it if you put your back into it"...NOT.
Oh my goodness, hope your back gets better soon darling!!!