Re: What if the treatment was used as a preventative measure???

[Guest guest]

Ian,

I think that knit cap with cone is very interesting, too. I'm

hopeful that something like it could be available for our repoing

parents in the U.S. someday, but I really don't know any specific

details about it. I wish I were able to access my email right now,

but from what I remember, Dr. de Chalain wrote that there just a few

specialist in the country that are appropriate referrals for

treating plagio. Here is the contact info for Dr. de Chalain in New

Zealand (it is also in the Helmet/Band Database):

Dr. Tristan de Chalain

Auckland Plastic Surgical Centre,

Suite 6, Auckland Surgical Centre,

9 St Marks Road,

Remuera, Auckland

New Zealand

email: plassurg@...

website: www.plassurg.co.nz

I have also read about a product similar to the mattress you are

describing. I have tried to find as many devices as possible that

would be of help for aggressive repositioning parents on the web,

and then put a link in the LINKS section, REPOSITIONING folder. The

product I found was called the OCCblock mattress, and,

coincidentally, is from New Zealand. I don't know if this product

is also available from England. If you have a different product, I

would love to add it to the LINKS, REPOSITIONING folder! Would you

let me know?

As it turns out, Dr. de Chalain conducted a study on another

promising repositioning product, the Safe T Sleep sleep wrap, also

from New Zealand. The study appeared to be a preliminary

examination of how well the sleep wrap maintained the baby's sleep

position (it did very well.) It has me wondering if the New Zealand

specialists are working hard at developing effective nighttime head

repositioning help! I hope I hear from him soon. The links for the

2 New Zealand products are:

OccBlock mattress http://www.kiddy-worth.co.nz/occblock.htm

Safety T Sleep Sleep wrap http://www.safetsleep.com

Take care,

Christie (Mom to Repo'd Remy)

> > > I know this sounds strange, as most of us are getting treatment

> > after

> > > moderate to severe plagiocephaly develops. But I started

thinking

> > > about how hard it is to fight with the insurance companies and

the

> > > doctors to get it diagnosed and treated and paid for. I

realize

> > that

> > > there are many children out there who could significantly

benefit

> > > from treatment but due to lack of insurance coverage and

parents

> > not

> > > being able to afford it, they go without.

> > > What angers me the most is that a lot cases could be diagnosed

at

> > > birth or shortly after (i.e. if related to tort)...I know

newborns

> > > have funny shaped heads-believe me my son took 1st prize on

that

> > one

> > > because he had overlapping of the frontal ridges which made it

> > look

> > > like he had a headband on too tight or something. But when

> > newborns

> > > have unusual shaped heads, why cant the doctors take a more

> > > aggressive approach and recommend repositioning before the

> > flatness

> > > develops or worsens??? What if molding helmets or bands were

used

> > as

> > > a preventative measure for the first 3 months instead of as a

> > > corrective treatment for 3-6 months or longer??? Think about

it!

> > A

> > > newborn spends the majority of his/her time lying down or being

> > held

> > > or sitting in a swing, etc. They can't hold their heads up

like a

> > 4

> > > or 6 month old can. The helmet could " protect " their head

before

> > it

> > > ended up being severe and causing lengthy treatment.

Hopefully by

> > > that time, they would be holding their head up and enjoying

tummy

> > > time more, so they would be able to move their head around in

> > their

> > > sleep too and prevent the plagio from re-developing. Also,

this

> > > could possibly prevent the severe facial assymetry caused by

> > > plagiocephaly! That is VERY HARD to correct with helmet/band

> > > treatment after its past a certain point and after a certain

age.

> > > I know this is relatively new medicine but come on! I want to

> > push

> > > buttons and make medical people start accepting this sooner so

> > > something can be done BEFORE it gets severe!!

> > >

> > > Jenn

> > > 8

> > > Madisson 7

> > > Carson almost 6 months (2 weeks on Friday in helmet)

> >

> >

> >

> > For more plagio info