Hi I'm a new member - here is a little about us

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone, I am new to this group and thought I would share a little about

ourselves...

My daughter Kate, turned 6 months yesterday and is perfect in my eyes. She

is the 3rd and final of my children and has two older brothers. Kate was born

at 36 weeks gestational, but that was a great accomplishment for me! My first

son was born at 31 weeks, after I went into spontaneous labor when my water

broke. He spent 3 weeks in the NICU, but is healthy and has grown and developed

at a " normal " pace. He is actually one of the bigger kindergartners in his

class. After my first came so early, I was considered a high-risk pregnancy

candidate and took weekly injections of hydroxyprogesterone starting at 18 weeks

of my next pregnancy to make sure I did not go into to labor early again. I

went on bedrest at 30 weeks and was able to carry my 2nd son to 35 weeks before

my water breaking spontaneously again. He required no hospital stay and is also

perfectly healthy. Kate our third was conceived after 2 miscarriages and 2

rounds of clomid. (My first was also conceived after 2 rounds of clomid) I was

much more laid back with this pregnancy, going on partial bed-rest starting

around 25 weeks. Contractions really started in my 34th week, but I hung on

until 36 weeks exactly when Kate was born. Again, no complications, she was

perfectly healthy and has been so far, minus a double ear infection that cleared

up on its own at 3 months.

Around Christmas time(roughly 3 months old), I noticed she was leaning

slightly to the right, especially in most pictures, but wrote it off to the fact

that she was still so young and didn't have the muscles to hold herself up

properly yet. It didn't seem to be getting better though. At 5 months it was

very noticeable that her head was tilting to the right, especially when she was

on her tummy. Developmentally she babbled early and has excellent fine motor

control, but has hated tummy time since day 1. Thus she just rolled over from

front to back a few weeks ago and hasn't since. She can sit-up assisted and

rolls from back to each side (not all the way over) but may have gross motor

delays. I always have to remember though her adjusted age is still only 5

months.

I grew increasingly concerned about the tilting and scoured the internet for

possible causes. I thought she may have torticollis. A few weeks before she

turned 6 months, I wanted to get that checked out and couldn't wait until her 6

month appointment. I took her in, voiced my concerns and they sent us straight

away for x-rays. The x-rays showed 1 curve to the right in her spine. Our

pediatrician immediately said it may be scoliosis and started the referral

process to see an orthopedic surgeon. We go this Wednesday to our first

appointment at Peyton Manning St. Children's hospital in Indianapolis.

This possible diagnosis never entered my mind until then.

I again took to the internet trying to find out everything I could about

scoliosis. I didn't know it could effect infants. I remember in gym class in

middle school getting checked for it, but never thought of it again. After

many, many tears I found the ISOP website and for some reason became relieved,

yet even more scared. The thought that my 6 month old might having to be casted

for the next few years scares me to death. My mind is playing the " what if " game

and its driving me crazy.

I am trying to go to this first appointment as prepared as I can be, but I

feel like I will break down into tears and not accomplish anything.

I keep praying that she is part of the group that " fixes " itself and doesn't

need any intervention, has anyone known anyone like this? I also am afraid that

the doctor is going to tell us to wait and see and we will monitor her and she

will progress much worse. How long should we " wait and see " before something

should be done? Can we see progression in as little as a month? I want to help

my daughter in the best way possible, and its heartbreaking that I don't know

what or how that is. I also am worried about an MRI. Is that completely

necessary? How will they get her to " drink " the sleepy juice? (she is

exclusively breastfed and refuses a bottle, she however does drink a little out

of a sippy cup at the table)

Any information or guidance on how to proceed through our first ortho visit

is welcomed and wanted....

Thanks for letting me join your group and share my story and concerns.....

~