Info please, I think my son has plagiocephaly

[Guest guest]

He was born 5 weeks ago, happy and healthy-over 9 pounds. However,

because of his size the doctor was forced to use vacuum extraction

during the ceasarian.

His head has been slightly misshapen since. THe right side perfect,

but the left sight is flattened in the front and the bump from the

vacuum extraction persists on the back of his head.

I have been patiently waiting for him to regain a more normal shape,

but I see no changes and I am beginning to worry that things are not

going to correct naturally.

For those of you out there with experience in this matter, I would

appreciate any insight that you might have with regard to the road

ahead and any 'bumps' in the road with regard to treatment,

insurance, etc...

As a concerned first time father, I am very greatful for your time

and assistance.

DR

[Guest guest]

Hi DR,

Welcome to the group. Are you near a Cranial Tech office? They make

the DOCband and offer free evaluations. You can find out where they

are located by going here: http://www.cranialtech.com

No one can tell you for sure whether or not your son's head will

round out or not. Some do, most don't. I think pediatricians are

getting a little bit better about treating plagio. So you may be one

of the lucky ones whose ped is pro treatment.

Your son is still young enough to receive great correction from

aggressive repositioning. You must be diligent, it is a 24/7 job and

it is hard work. These links will help you out if that is what you

chose to do:

http://www.geocities.com/alittleone2000/plagiopage.htm

http://www.cappskids.org/CAPPSRepositioning.htm

http://www.plagiocephaly.org/support/repotech.htm

If you plan on seeing a specialist, you really should get the ball

going. It can take weeks to get an appointment. Please keep us

posted.

--- In Plagiocephaly , " dxr919 " <dax_richard@s...>

wrote:

> He was born 5 weeks ago, happy and healthy-over 9 pounds. However,

> because of his size the doctor was forced to use vacuum extraction

> during the ceasarian.

>

> His head has been slightly misshapen since. THe right side

perfect,

> but the left sight is flattened in the front and the bump from the

> vacuum extraction persists on the back of his head.

>

> I have been patiently waiting for him to regain a more normal

shape,

> but I see no changes and I am beginning to worry that things are

not

> going to correct naturally.

>

> For those of you out there with experience in this matter, I would

> appreciate any insight that you might have with regard to the road

> ahead and any 'bumps' in the road with regard to treatment,

> insurance, etc...

>

> As a concerned first time father, I am very greatful for your time

> and assistance.

>

> DR

[Guest guest]

Hi Dr,

Welcome to the group Dad! Congrats on your new baby boy! You are way ahead of the game so the good news is, even if there is not some natural correction taking shape, you have treatment options out there. Just curious if the flat spot is on the opposite side of the vaccum bump? Maybe he is trying to keep of it as it still may be tender and therefore staying on that other side too much? My son also had the vaccumm (was also 9lbs.13oz) and he had a nasty sore from it as well. I would try letting him sleep his naps on your belly or mom's belly when you can, and just keeping him as much off of that back of the head as possible. Good luck with your repositioning efforts and please keep us posted on your little guy. Don't worry, you have lots of time on your side to see things or make things take shape for your little one. Keep up the good work Dad!

'mom

[Guest guest]

DR, welcome to the group. I am sure that our resident father, Sponagle will

be so glad to hear that there is another father out there! It is good that

you are thinking about this at your son's young age. We knew when our son

was just a few days old that his head was not normal, but we waited until he

was 6 months old to get treatment. I wish that we would have done something

sooner. With your son also being this young, you have a really good chance

of repo with him. That is something that I would try. Have you talked to

your ped about this and stated your concerns? Our helmet was covered except

for my office visit that we had to pay. We had a locally made helmet from

MN. My son was in his helmet for about 8-9 months, but is was well worth

all the time to see the nice round head. I would contact your ped and see

if you and your wife can see a specialist. Best wishes, Heidi, mom to

Jeffry, local helmet grad, MN

Hugs & Drool,

Jeffry, Heidi & Brett

Zimmerman

>From: " dxr919 " <dax_richard@...>

>Reply-Plagiocephaly

>Plagiocephaly

>Subject: Info please, I think my son has plagiocephaly

>Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2003 04:43:00 -0000

>

>He was born 5 weeks ago, happy and healthy-over 9 pounds. However,

>because of his size the doctor was forced to use vacuum extraction

>during the ceasarian.

>

>His head has been slightly misshapen since. THe right side perfect,

>but the left sight is flattened in the front and the bump from the

>vacuum extraction persists on the back of his head.

>

>I have been patiently waiting for him to regain a more normal shape,

>but I see no changes and I am beginning to worry that things are not

>going to correct naturally.

>

>For those of you out there with experience in this matter, I would

>appreciate any insight that you might have with regard to the road

>ahead and any 'bumps' in the road with regard to treatment,

>insurance, etc...

>

>As a concerned first time father, I am very greatful for your time

>and assistance.

>

>DR

>

>

>

>For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

I see you have rec'd several replies, so I will just welcome you to

the group and hope you keep us updated on the progress.

Dustie, mom to , DOC Grad '03

--- In Plagiocephaly , " dxr919 " <dax_richard@s...>

wrote:

> He was born 5 weeks ago, happy and healthy-over 9 pounds. However,

> because of his size the doctor was forced to use vacuum extraction

> during the ceasarian.

>

> His head has been slightly misshapen since. THe right side

perfect,

> but the left sight is flattened in the front and the bump from the

> vacuum extraction persists on the back of his head.

>

> I have been patiently waiting for him to regain a more normal

shape,

> but I see no changes and I am beginning to worry that things are

not

> going to correct naturally.

>

> For those of you out there with experience in this matter, I would

> appreciate any insight that you might have with regard to the road

> ahead and any 'bumps' in the road with regard to treatment,

> insurance, etc...

>

> As a concerned first time father, I am very greatful for your time

> and assistance.

>

> DR

[Guest guest]

The vacuum was placed slightly to the left and slightly lower than

the hair swirl at the top of his head and the flat spot is on the

same side. Currently, there is a pronounced ridge where it appears

that the skull plate on the front of the head has slid under a plate

closer to the top of the skull.

If you were to take your finger and put it on the middle of your

head, half way between the forehead and top of the skull and then

draw a line down to your left ear-that would be the location of the

small ridge (maybe 1 or 2 millimeters high). Everything in front of

the ridge is slightly flat. and behind is misshapen (although the

bump from the vacuum is still there and I expect it to continue to

decrease in size.

This general shape has been present from the moment that I saw him

(and I was the first non-medical person to get my hands on him). I

wasn't concerned then because I knew about the likelihood of vacuum

use, and I was aware of the miraculous nature of an infant's skull.

Since that time the problem hasn't become more pronounced, but it

hasn't gotten any better and that has been of some concern-especially

since I started looking into things and discovered that most books

say that most infant's heads return to their normal shape by 6 weeks

of age. Whatever may happen, I doubt that we will see such a

monumental change in another month's time-much less 7 days (his six

week b-day)

Anyway, as people have replied to my questions, the anxiety has

started to subside and his mother and I are able to understand what

we may be dealing with and what can be done. That helps a lot and we

thank everyone who has taken the time to educate us.

Thanks,

Horton's Dad

(Dax)

> Hi Dr,

> Welcome to the group Dad! Congrats on your new baby boy! You are

way ahead

> of the game so the good news is, even if there is not some natural

correction

> taking shape, you have treatment options out there. Just curious

if the flat

> spot is on the opposite side of the vaccum bump? Maybe he is

trying to keep

> of it as it still may be tender and therefore staying on that other

side too

> much? My son also had the vaccumm (was also 9lbs.13oz) and he had

a nasty sore

> from it as well. I would try letting him sleep his naps on your

belly or

> mom's belly when you can, and just keeping him as much off of that

back of the

> head as possible. Good luck with your repositioning efforts and

please keep us

> posted on your little guy. Don't worry, you have lots of time on

your side to

> see things or make things take shape for your little one. Keep up

the good

> work Dad!

>

> 'mom

[Guest guest]

Has your child been seen by your pediatrician. There may be need for

a referral to rule out an even more serious (but rare 1 in 300,000)

condition called craniosynostosis(premature fusing of the one or

more skull sutures) This must be ruled out before assuming it is

plagio related. I would recommend visiting your physician.

Plagio can be caused in utero. My concern lies with the overlap of

the sutures.

Sponagle

PS. Do you notice if one of your child's ears is lower than the

other?

Again, this is not for fear purposes. This is something to consider.

Premature fusing must be ruled out. Again, cranio is very , very

rare but does occur.

-- In Plagiocephaly , " dxr919 " <dax_richard@s...>

wrote:

> The vacuum was placed slightly to the left and slightly lower than

> the hair swirl at the top of his head and the flat spot is on the

> same side. Currently, there is a pronounced ridge where it appears

> that the skull plate on the front of the head has slid under a

plate

> closer to the top of the skull.

>

> If you were to take your finger and put it on the middle of your

> head, half way between the forehead and top of the skull and then

> draw a line down to your left ear-that would be the location of

the

> small ridge (maybe 1 or 2 millimeters high). Everything in front

of

> the ridge is slightly flat. and behind is misshapen (although the

> bump from the vacuum is still there and I expect it to continue to

> decrease in size.

>

> This general shape has been present from the moment that I saw him

> (and I was the first non-medical person to get my hands on him).

I

> wasn't concerned then because I knew about the likelihood of

vacuum

> use, and I was aware of the miraculous nature of an infant's skull.

>

> Since that time the problem hasn't become more pronounced, but it

> hasn't gotten any better and that has been of some concern-

especially

> since I started looking into things and discovered that most books

> say that most infant's heads return to their normal shape by 6

weeks

> of age. Whatever may happen, I doubt that we will see such a

> monumental change in another month's time-much less 7 days (his

six

> week b-day)

>

> Anyway, as people have replied to my questions, the anxiety has

> started to subside and his mother and I are able to understand

what

> we may be dealing with and what can be done. That helps a lot and

we

> thank everyone who has taken the time to educate us.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Horton's Dad

> (Dax)

>

>

>

>

>

> > Hi Dr,

> > Welcome to the group Dad! Congrats on your new baby boy! You

are

> way ahead

> > of the game so the good news is, even if there is not some

natural

> correction

> > taking shape, you have treatment options out there. Just

curious

> if the flat

> > spot is on the opposite side of the vaccum bump? Maybe he is

> trying to keep

> > of it as it still may be tender and therefore staying on that

other

> side too

> > much? My son also had the vaccumm (was also 9lbs.13oz) and he

had

> a nasty sore

> > from it as well. I would try letting him sleep his naps on your

> belly or

> > mom's belly when you can, and just keeping him as much off of

that

> back of the

> > head as possible. Good luck with your repositioning efforts and

> please keep us

> > posted on your little guy. Don't worry, you have lots of time

on

> your side to

> > see things or make things take shape for your little one. Keep

up

> the good

> > work Dad!

> >

> > 'mom

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the heads up. I was already somewhat aware of it and have

already contacted his doctor.

> > > Hi Dr,

> > > Welcome to the group Dad! Congrats on your new baby boy! You

> are

> > way ahead

> > > of the game so the good news is, even if there is not some

> natural

> > correction

> > > taking shape, you have treatment options out there. Just

> curious

> > if the flat

> > > spot is on the opposite side of the vaccum bump? Maybe he is

> > trying to keep

> > > of it as it still may be tender and therefore staying on that

> other

> > side too

> > > much? My son also had the vaccumm (was also 9lbs.13oz) and he

> had

> > a nasty sore

> > > from it as well. I would try letting him sleep his naps on

your

> > belly or

> > > mom's belly when you can, and just keeping him as much off of

> that

> > back of the

> > > head as possible. Good luck with your repositioning efforts

and

> > please keep us

> > > posted on your little guy. Don't worry, you have lots of time

> on

> > your side to

> > > see things or make things take shape for your little one. Keep

> up

> > the good

> > > work Dad!

> > >

> > > 'mom