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Update on M
So yesterday was our appointment in the city to see the Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon for Mackenzie's hip. When we first got there they sent us for another X-ray and then we waiting about 15 minutes or so before we went in to see the doctor. The resident examined her initially and kind of mumbled that he didn't feel anything. Then the main doctor came in and checked her out and told us that her hip wasn't dislocating but that it's "not a normal hip". No further explanation that that. He hummed a bit about whether to put her in a harness or a brace and decided since she is older and already sitting up and moving a lot they would go with the brace. He practically shoved us out the door while we were asking questions with a prescription to go down to the Rehab clinic to get her fitted with the brace.
The OT was really good about answering all our questions. Mackenzie got what is called a "diaper splint" which is kind of hard foam maternal that they shape and mold specifically for her. She has to wear it for 8 weeks essentially 24 hours a day except for diaper changes and baths and then we go back and they will reassess. Either she will be good to go, or she will need it for longer, or they possibly may have to do surgery and then she would get the full body cast.
We were reading a pamphlet about the cast when we were there and man oh man do I ever hope she doesn't need that. It does not sound like fun.
While the OT was waiting for her assistant to finish the brace she was looking at Mackenzie and said "does her head tilt to the left all the time?" and we were like "uhhhhhh.....I don't know". So she checked that out and her neck muscles are all good, but we have to do some exercises with her for that. Also she noticed that, likely because she sleeps 12 hours at night, her head is not flat but growing slightly upwards. It's not to the point of being alarmed or anything unusual but just that we should keep an eye on it and especially now that she is in the brace and can't sit up we should really make sure she gets lots of tummy time. That should also be easier now that she can't roll over which is what she used to do as soon as you put her down on her stomach.
So that was kinda crappy, can there be anything more wrong that people aren't noticing sooner?!? However, being at the children's hospital and seeing so many kids who are so much worse off than her really put things into perspective.
I asked the surgeon about whether items such as the jumperoo, exer-sauser, carriers that suspend them not with their legs splayed, etc, could have contributed to it (hers is developmental not congenital) and he didn't really answer, just said there is no way to know for sure but also said that they definitely DO NOT recommend parents use those types of items with their children. I know lots of people do all the time and their kids are fine, but I just thought I'd pass that tidbit on.
Here is what Kenzie looks like with her brace:
Today we are out to look for a convertible carseat that she can fit in with it on because she doesn't fit in the bucket with it. She also doesn't fit in the space saver high chair we have so we are going to look for something else to serve that purpose as well.
Please feel free to ask away if you have any questions. Thanks for the T&P's yesterday.
Re: Update on M
Hopefully the 8 weeks in the split will fix her up and she will be good to go. Luckily she is too young to really know the difference right now. She is still as cute as ever. Good luck!
I am curious about the recommending to not use an exersaucer etc. I'm not sure I have ever heard from anywhere. Not saying he is wrong, just a general comment that I hadn't heard that before.
I think it has to do with the way they are suspended and how the pressure is put on their legs. Same idea as to why they recommend carriers like the Ergo as opposed to the Baby Bjorn style.
This was my thought too. I have a friend whose daughter has scoliosis and was told something similar from a city doctor, but she assumed he was talking about her daughter specifically. I really hope that this does a good job of correcting her hip problems!
As for her head, our chiropractor pointed out that Wyatt has a 'horn' on his forehead where the plates in his skull molded together weird. He has a big line all the way down his forehead, it's not very noticeable but definitely there. I think things like that go away overtime more often than not.
This makes a lot of sense. My pedi told me to limit the time Brin spends in them and to make sure his feet were not flat on the ground. However I have heard the opposite as well! So much conflicting advice is frustrating!
Anyway... I will be keeping you guys in my prayers and hoping that in eight weeks things look much better and she can be weaned off the brace.
This makes a lot of sense. My pedi told me to limit the time Brin spends in them and to make sure his feet were not flat on the ground. However I have heard the opposite as well! So much conflicting advice is frustrating!
Anyway... I will be keeping you guys in my prayers and hoping that in eight weeks things look much better and she can be weaned off the brace.Hugs lady! Hopefully the 8 weeks will take care of and this will be a small blip on the radar. Brace or no brace, she's still as adorable as ever!
Interesting observation about the carriers, etc. I've heard that certain carriers, like the Bjorn are bad for baby's hips and legs as opposed to ones like the Ergo and Beco. I don't know if this was ever proven of not, but it's interesting to see if they do any research on it.
At least it's a pretty pink and polka dotted brace! I'm sending my vibes to her hip socket. BE NORMAL, HIP SOCKET!!
And yes, she is super cute. Those eyes are to die for!
KR had the head thing too, in fact, part of his head was flat (not super flat, but noticeable...at least to me) He wouldn't turn his head to the left, so the right side was getting flat.
My pedi pointed it out, so I started trying to fix it. DH's good friend is a chiropractor, he could feel that his neck was out of place, fixed it, and from that point on KR started turning his head to the left no problem.
Interesting about the gym thing...curious if there are any studies about that.
M looks VERY cute though. I pray that 8 weeks is all it takes!
Sorry if my response sounded snippy, I actually wrote the post before you posted and I was trying to quote Lindsay but my iPad wasn't cooperating! It wasn't in respose to your post.
Ditto exactly!
Lots of hugs-the brace sucks! She is so stinking cute with her big eyes!
I have heard the same about items that suspend them-mostly just to limit their time in them. Also, B has a head tilt too-she is a side sleeper no matter how you put her down. We do stretches daily, which make her giggle, and it helps a lot. Good luck with it all!
*hugs* Mackenzie is rockin' her brace, she is such a cutie!
I hope the brace corrects the issue and you have no more worries concerning her hip! GL over the next few weeks!
She is so. stinking. cute.!!!!
I hope these 8 weeks go quickly, and that it's all it takes to resolve the issue. I'm sorry the doctor was less than helpful... I'm sure that was so frustrating.
For the amount of money that doctors make, they could certainly show up and act like they gave a rat's...
So glad that you have answers for your little peanut, and wish her little legs all the strength they can get!
She looks quite fashionable in her brace.
I hope it all works out for you and her, and I'm sure the doctor knows what he's doing even if he's not very communicative.
William born 7/12/2000
Andrew born 10/30/2011 (9lb 4oz at 37 weeks)
I agree, it is way cuter then the ones I have seen! And she makes it look even cuter!