Travelling in the car with BiPAP

 The machine is small, portable and easy to use. It is ideal for home and gave us the confidence to take Bethan out and about. We were supplied with a battery pack, which would last for three hours when fully charged, which the BiPAP was plugged into directly.

 

We purchased a battery converter, which ran off the cigarette lighter in the car. (150W inverter from Halfords) This meant we did not use the battery pack when travelling in the car, so it was available fully charged for when we reached our destination. The BiPAP was plugged into the battery converter, which in turn was plugged into the cigarette lighter.

Bethan led on a reclined 0-4 years car seat which was very padded and so supported her body, with her legs on mum's lap.The seat is meant to lay flat just for new borns but we mounted the seat in the middle of the car and reclined it. Bethan was about 3ft long so she lay across the whole of the back seat of the car.

The seat was expensive (£ 450) but worth every penny as it was comfortable and practical.

 I think there is now a newer version - this was the Aprica Euroturn from Mothercare. We removed the newborn headsupport to make more room. See demo of the seat on Youtube

 

 

The seats belts held it in place like any other car seat. We attached a chest harness to the seat which ensured Bethan was secure.

Out in the pushchair

The Mamas and Papas 3 in 1 pushchair we purchased for Bethan before she was born,  reclined almost flat which allowed us to take Bethan out and about. We changed the chassis to a suspension version called Excel which also had a tray to hold the Bipap, battery and other equipment.

 

 Bathing

In the first year, Bethan sat in a Mamas and Papas bath seat for babies.

 

However as she grew we used a Rafton Bath Chair for children, which we could lay flat in the bath. (Bethan's little sister Maya demonstrates)

Bethan didn't like bathing and washing hair was a complete no no! By using the BiPAP whilst in the bath, we could wash Bethan's hair without the threat of desaturation, despite her cries of annoyance.

However this was definitely a two-person job - one holding the mask over the nose, whilst the other removed the headgear, washed hair and replaced headgear.

Drying hair was similar team effort.    

Not for the Feint hearted!