Re: Growing out of brachy -warning, long post!

[Guest guest]

We don't have all the answers. The Back to Sleep campaign is only about 10-15 years old so the rise in flat headed babies is still stumping doctors. I just met a grown woman on the plane yesterday who has brachy. She wore her hair pulled back to hide it. She was a business woman and extremely bright, also beautiful, funny, and thought my baby was adorable so of course I liked her. I didn't notice her head shape because of her hair, but she told me about it when we were discussing my son's helmet. She constitutes rather a small statistical sample but she sure didn't seem to have any ill effects, apart from, noticeably, insecurity about her head shape. A man wouldn't really be able to hide the flatness if he had short hair.

Long-winded way of saying no one really knows all the ramifications of brachy or plagio. The obvious one is self-esteem, and who would want to mess around with that? We can dismiss cosmetic concerns as "shallow" or "silly," but numerous studies show that physical appearance is a very big deal. Tall children get a better response and more attention from teachers and peers, which makes them more confident and more likely to succeed in life. People with symmetrical faces are more likely to be considered beautiful or attractive. Attractive people are more likely to get the job they are interviewing for and to get promotions. And here's an interesting fact: 6 month old babies who are put before two pictures, one of a beautiful person and one of a plain person, will spend more time looking at the beautiful person, so this isn't a "learned" thing; it seems to be instinctive. Studies also show that people are more attracted to healthy people, and the key factors in determining health on a visual level are facial symmetry and good skin (asymmetry and scars could indicate disease, etc. I'm talking about our reaction on a very atavistic, basic level, the way cave people had to determine who was a good mate. Studies show we haven't evolved very much and use the same general methods for choosing a mate a majority of the time).

Another small statistic sample: I developed a pimple yesterday and I didn't have any makeup with me. I stressed about that thing the whole way down to San Diego, pulled my hair forward, and kept turning my face the other way when I spoke to people. I felt ridiculous but I was sure everyone was staring at the zit (in my mind now the size of a golf ball). And I am a reasonably confident, accomplished grown up. We hope our kids will grow up so confident and happy and accomplished that they won't care how they look. But let's face it--they probably will. They're little kids and the first time they get teased is just stunning to them, hurts them deeply, even leaves scars. Who would want to risk that if they had a choice? Repo and helmets are our saviors.

Anyway, no, I don't think brachy will round out on its own because the baby is always going to want to sleep on the nice comfortable flat spot. People swear by CST, and I'm trying it for my son, but I haven't seen any hard evidence that it works, just very positive anecdotal evidence. If your SIL is wrong, she may regret it. She can always do CST while the child is in a band.

It's too bad your SIL wasn't supportive of your decision to band, but you don't have to treat her the same way. Show her pictures of brachy babies before and after. You can call the Cranial Tech people and they'll send you a brochure, or print pics off their site. And for the kids at the daycare, the one who is just over a year old can still benefit from a DOC band. These Moms may not be able to tell there is a problem. My son is absolutely perfect (of course) and I really have a hard time seeing asymmetry. But the measurements put him in the moderate range. A lot of kids look fine when they are round, chubby babies, and when they are older the deformity starts to become more noticeable.

Sorry sorry sorry for the blathering. I've had five hours of sleep in 48 hours.

, 18 mos, tort, plagio, DOC band

On Wed, 26 May 2004 17:46:21 -0000 "rhondareev" <rhonda.gillespie@...> writes:

Hi everyone!The only reason I ask this question is because sometimes I have guilty(for lack of a better word) feelings about banding Collin.. b/c of my sis-in-law. She doesn't believe in it, and didn't support it when Collin was banded for his plagio last year. She suggested craniosacral therapy.Now -- year later... she has a baby of her own with a bad case of brachycephaly. Since i live far away, I didn't see it progress, but when I saw him last week, I was surprised to hear her mention that he received "just one hour of homeopathic" something and one side popped right out, in the back, making it less flat. She said, "yeah, his head looked like a football when I took him, but it's much better now." Better, yes, still very flat in the back - surely. Does brachy ever get better?? I have a friend who never got treatment for her son with brachy, now 3 yrs. old and his head is no where near as round as Collin's. He still has a block-like look to his skull with it flat in the back. Another child at daycare, same thing-- he's just over 1, but with no treatment, he still has a large dent on oneside, and very flat in the back.Just wondering -- if I am crazy? Don't get me wrong, I am glad I had the treatment. I just wonder if I did something 'cosmetic'?? Do we know yet, if there are any long-term effects of untreated brachy or plagio?I'd love to hear from anyone who is on both sides of the fence on this one...Thanks! Hope everyone is doing well :)Rhonda, Mom to Collin, DOC grad 2003For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

Hi -

loved the letter. I agree with you. Brachy is hard with repro- or

impossible. I tried repro. with for 3 months. It was exhausting

and I didn't see any change. He has worn his Starband helmet for 4

weeks now and I see more rounding. The 4 weeks was not full time

either. It took him a while to adjust especially with sleep.

I went to the Ped. today (new one). He says " they " (the doctors) are

rethinking that " odd " shaped heads are hereditary. It kills me how

these doctors will stick up for the " back to sleep " campaign. I said to

him, no it is from back sleeping. He changed the subject.

Krissy

ph's mom

Starband 4/28/04 (he was 7 months)

On May 26, 2004, at 2:38 PM, sj grill wrote:

> We don't have all the answers. The Back to Sleep campaign is only

> about 10-15 years old so the rise in flat headed babies is still

> stumping doctors. I just met a grown woman on the plane yesterday who

> has brachy. She wore her hair pulled back to hide it. She was a

> business woman and extremely bright, also beautiful, funny, and

> thought my baby was adorable so of course I liked her. I didn't notice

> her head shape because of her hair, but she told me about it when we

> were discussing my son's helmet. She constitutes rather a small

> statistical sample but she sure didn't seem to have any ill effects,

> apart from, noticeably, insecurity about her head shape. A man

> wouldn't really be able to hide the flatness if he had short hair.

>  

> Long-winded way of saying no one really knows all the ramifications of

> brachy or plagio. The obvious one is self-esteem, and who would want

> to mess around with that? We can dismiss cosmetic concerns as

> " shallow " or " silly, " but numerous studies show that physical

> appearance is a very big deal. Tall children get a better response and

> more attention from teachers and peers, which makes them more

> confident and more likely to succeed in life. People with symmetrical

> faces are more likely to be considered beautiful or

> attractive. Attractive people are more likely to get the job they are

> interviewing for and to get promotions. And here's an interesting

> fact: 6 month old babies who are put before two pictures, one of a

> beautiful person and one of a plain person, will spend more time

> looking at the beautiful person, so this isn't a " learned " thing; it

> seems to be instinctive. Studies also show that people are more

> attracted to healthy people, and the key factors in determining health

> on a visual level are facial symmetry and good skin (asymmetry

> and scars could indicate disease, etc. I'm talking about our reaction

> on a very atavistic, basic level, the way cave people had to determine

> who was a good mate. Studies show we haven't evolved very much and use

> the same general methods for choosing a mate a majority of the time).

>  

> Another small statistic sample: I developed a pimple yesterday and I

> didn't have any makeup with me. I stressed about that thing the whole

> way down to San Diego, pulled my hair forward, and kept turning my

> face the other way when I spoke to people. I felt ridiculous but I was

> sure everyone was staring at the zit (in my mind now the size of a

> golf ball). And I am a reasonably confident, accomplished grown up. We

> hope our kids will grow up so confident and happy and accomplished

> that they won't care how they look. But let's face it--they probably

> will. They're little kids and the first time they get teased is just

> stunning to them, hurts them deeply, even leaves scars. Who would want

> to risk that if they had a choice? Repo and helmets are our saviors.

>  

> Anyway, no, I don't think brachy will round out on its own because the

> baby is always going to want to sleep on the nice comfortable flat

> spot. People swear by CST, and I'm trying it for my son, but I haven't

> seen any hard evidence that it works, just very positive anecdotal

> evidence. If your SIL is wrong, she may regret it. She can always do

> CST while the child is in a band.

>  

> It's too bad your SIL wasn't supportive of your decision to band, but

> you don't have to treat her the same way. Show her pictures of brachy

> babies before and after. You can call the Cranial Tech people and

> they'll send you a brochure, or print pics off their site. And for the

> kids at the daycare, the one who is just over a year old can still

> benefit from a DOC band. These Moms may not be able to tell there is a

> problem. My son is absolutely perfect (of course) and I really have a

> hard time seeing asymmetry. But the measurements put him in the

> moderate range. A lot of kids look fine when they are round, chubby

> babies, and when they are older the deformity starts to become more

> noticeable.

>  

> Sorry sorry sorry for the blathering. I've had five hours of sleep in

> 48 hours.

>  

>

> , 18 mos, tort, plagio, DOC band

>  

>  

>  

> On Wed, 26 May 2004 17:46:21 -0000 " rhondareev "

> <rhonda.gillespie@...> writes:

> Hi everyone!

>

> The only reason I ask this question is because sometimes I have guilty

> (for lack of a better word) feelings about banding Collin.. b/c of my

> sis-in-law.  She doesn't believe in it, and didn't support it when

> Collin was banded for his plagio last year.  She suggested

> craniosacral therapy.

>

> Now -- year later... she has a baby of her own with a bad case of

> brachycephaly.  Since i live far away, I didn't see it progress, but

> when I saw him last week, I was surprised to hear her mention that he

> received " just one hour of homeopathic " something and one side popped

> right out, in the back, making it less flat.  She said, " yeah, his

> head looked like a football when I took him, but it's much better

> now. "   Better, yes, still very flat in the back - surely. 

>

> Does brachy ever get better?? I have a friend who never got treatment

> for her son with brachy, now 3 yrs. old and his head is no where near

> as round as Collin's.  He still has a block-like look to his skull

> with it flat in the back.  Another child at daycare, same thing--

> he's just over 1, but with no treatment, he still has a large dent on

> oneside, and very flat in the back.

>

> Just wondering -- if I am crazy? Don't get me wrong, I am glad I had

> the treatment.  I just wonder if I did something 'cosmetic'??  Do we

> know yet, if there are any long-term effects of untreated brachy or

> plagio?

>

> I'd love to hear from anyone who is on both sides of the fence on

> this one...

>

> Thanks!  Hope everyone is doing well

>

> Rhonda, Mom to Collin, DOC grad 2003

>

>

>

> For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

~~ You must know that I have copied and printed out a copy of

this reply you wrote. I was moved to tears by how honest it was.

I am still so new to this whole " adventure " with Zoe and your post

has made my decision seem THAT much more the right one. You know

those nagging doubts that creep up at 3a.m.......

Thanks again..your post will get me through any rough patches I may

come across.

BTW ~ Zoe gets her helmet fitted tomorrow. I will report back on how

that went and how many tears there were (hers or mine! LOL).

, mom to Zoe 51/2 months..getting helmet tomorrow

> We don't have all the answers. The Back to Sleep campaign is only

about

> 10-15 years old so the rise in flat headed babies is still stumping

> doctors. I just met a grown woman on the plane yesterday who has

brachy.

> She wore her hair pulled back to hide it. She was a business woman

and

> extremely bright, also beautiful, funny, and thought my baby was

adorable

> so of course I liked her. I didn't notice her head shape because

of her

> hair, but she told me about it when we were discussing my son's

helmet.

> She constitutes rather a small statistical sample but she sure

didn't

> seem to have any ill effects, apart from, noticeably, insecurity

about

> her head shape. A man wouldn't really be able to hide the flatness

if he

> had short hair.

>

> Long-winded way of saying no one really knows all the

ramifications of

> brachy or plagio. The obvious one is self-esteem, and who would

want to

> mess around with that? We can dismiss cosmetic concerns

as " shallow " or

> " silly, " but numerous studies show that physical appearance is a

very big

> deal. Tall children get a better response and more attention from

> teachers and peers, which makes them more confident and more

likely to

> succeed in life. People with symmetrical faces are more likely to

be

> considered beautiful or attractive. Attractive people are more

likely to

> get the job they are interviewing for and to get promotions. And

here's

> an interesting fact: 6 month old babies who are put before two

pictures,

> one of a beautiful person and one of a plain person, will spend

more time

> looking at the beautiful person, so this isn't a " learned " thing;

it

> seems to be instinctive. Studies also show that people are more

attracted

> to healthy people, and the key factors in determining health on a

visual

> level are facial symmetry and good skin (asymmetry and scars could

> indicate disease, etc. I'm talking about our reaction on a very

> atavistic, basic level, the way cave people had to determine who

was a

> good mate. Studies show we haven't evolved very much and use the

same

> general methods for choosing a mate a majority of the time).

>

> Another small statistic sample: I developed a pimple yesterday and

I

> didn't have any makeup with me. I stressed about that thing the

whole way

> down to San Diego, pulled my hair forward, and kept turning my

face the

> other way when I spoke to people. I felt ridiculous but I was sure

> everyone was staring at the zit (in my mind now the size of a golf

ball).

> And I am a reasonably confident, accomplished grown up. We hope

our kids

> will grow up so confident and happy and accomplished that they

won't care

> how they look. But let's face it--they probably will. They're

little kids

> and the first time they get teased is just stunning to them, hurts

them

> deeply, even leaves scars. Who would want to risk that if they had

a

> choice? Repo and helmets are our saviors.

>

> Anyway, no, I don't think brachy will round out on its own because

the

> baby is always going to want to sleep on the nice comfortable flat

spot.

> People swear by CST, and I'm trying it for my son, but I haven't

seen any

> hard evidence that it works, just very positive anecdotal

evidence. If

> your SIL is wrong, she may regret it. She can always do CST while

the

> child is in a band.

>

> It's too bad your SIL wasn't supportive of your decision to band,

but you

> don't have to treat her the same way. Show her pictures of brachy

babies

> before and after. You can call the Cranial Tech people and they'll

send

> you a brochure, or print pics off their site. And for the kids at

the

> daycare, the one who is just over a year old can still benefit

from a DOC

> band. These Moms may not be able to tell there is a problem. My

son is

> absolutely perfect (of course) and I really have a hard time seeing

> asymmetry. But the measurements put him in the moderate range. A

lot of

> kids look fine when they are round, chubby babies, and when they

are

> older the deformity starts to become more noticeable.

>

> Sorry sorry sorry for the blathering. I've had five hours of sleep

in 48

> hours.

>

>

> , 18 mos, tort, plagio, DOC band

>

>

>

> On Wed, 26 May 2004 17:46:21 -0000 " rhondareev "

> <rhonda.gillespie@c...> writes:

> Hi everyone!

>

> The only reason I ask this question is because sometimes I have

guilty

> (for lack of a better word) feelings about banding Collin.. b/c of

my

> sis-in-law. She doesn't believe in it, and didn't support it when

> Collin was banded for his plagio last year. She suggested

> craniosacral therapy.

>

> Now -- year later... she has a baby of her own with a bad case of

> brachycephaly. Since i live far away, I didn't see it progress,

but

> when I saw him last week, I was surprised to hear her mention that

he

> received " just one hour of homeopathic " something and one side

popped

> right out, in the back, making it less flat. She said, " yeah, his

> head looked like a football when I took him, but it's much better

> now. " Better, yes, still very flat in the back - surely.

>

> Does brachy ever get better?? I have a friend who never got

treatment

> for her son with brachy, now 3 yrs. old and his head is no where

near

> as round as Collin's. He still has a block-like look to his skull

> with it flat in the back. Another child at daycare, same thing--

> he's just over 1, but with no treatment, he still has a large dent

on

> oneside, and very flat in the back.

>

> Just wondering -- if I am crazy? Don't get me wrong, I am glad I

had

> the treatment. I just wonder if I did something 'cosmetic'?? Do

we

> know yet, if there are any long-term effects of untreated brachy

or

> plagio?

>

> I'd love to hear from anyone who is on both sides of the fence on

> this one...

>

> Thanks! Hope everyone is doing well

>

> Rhonda, Mom to Collin, DOC grad 2003

>

>

>

> For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

My son was very brachy. He is now 4. I have a folder for him under Tyler

P. He rounded pretty good. He still has slight flatness but improved

tremendously. That was with no repo because i din't realize he had it until

looking back at photos. My daughter Jenna was plagio/brachy and wore a

STARband.

Angie and Jenna

Re: Growing out of brachy -warning, long post!

> ~~ You must know that I have copied and printed out a copy of

> this reply you wrote. I was moved to tears by how honest it was.

>

> I am still so new to this whole " adventure " with Zoe and your post

> has made my decision seem THAT much more the right one. You know

> those nagging doubts that creep up at 3a.m.......

>

> Thanks again..your post will get me through any rough patches I may

> come across.

>

> BTW ~ Zoe gets her helmet fitted tomorrow. I will report back on how

> that went and how many tears there were (hers or mine! LOL).

>

> , mom to Zoe 51/2 months..getting helmet tomorrow

>

>

>

>

>

>

> > We don't have all the answers. The Back to Sleep campaign is only

> about

> > 10-15 years old so the rise in flat headed babies is still stumping

> > doctors. I just met a grown woman on the plane yesterday who has

> brachy.

> > She wore her hair pulled back to hide it. She was a business woman

> and

> > extremely bright, also beautiful, funny, and thought my baby was

> adorable

> > so of course I liked her. I didn't notice her head shape because

> of her

> > hair, but she told me about it when we were discussing my son's

> helmet.

> > She constitutes rather a small statistical sample but she sure

> didn't

> > seem to have any ill effects, apart from, noticeably, insecurity

> about

> > her head shape. A man wouldn't really be able to hide the flatness

> if he

> > had short hair.

> >

> > Long-winded way of saying no one really knows all the

> ramifications of

> > brachy or plagio. The obvious one is self-esteem, and who would

> want to

> > mess around with that? We can dismiss cosmetic concerns

> as " shallow " or

> > " silly, " but numerous studies show that physical appearance is a

> very big

> > deal. Tall children get a better response and more attention from

> > teachers and peers, which makes them more confident and more

> likely to

> > succeed in life. People with symmetrical faces are more likely to

> be

> > considered beautiful or attractive. Attractive people are more

> likely to

> > get the job they are interviewing for and to get promotions. And

> here's

> > an interesting fact: 6 month old babies who are put before two

> pictures,

> > one of a beautiful person and one of a plain person, will spend

> more time

> > looking at the beautiful person, so this isn't a " learned " thing;

> it

> > seems to be instinctive. Studies also show that people are more

> attracted

> > to healthy people, and the key factors in determining health on a

> visual

> > level are facial symmetry and good skin (asymmetry and scars could

> > indicate disease, etc. I'm talking about our reaction on a very

> > atavistic, basic level, the way cave people had to determine who

> was a

> > good mate. Studies show we haven't evolved very much and use the

> same

> > general methods for choosing a mate a majority of the time).

> >

> > Another small statistic sample: I developed a pimple yesterday and

> I

> > didn't have any makeup with me. I stressed about that thing the

> whole way

> > down to San Diego, pulled my hair forward, and kept turning my

> face the

> > other way when I spoke to people. I felt ridiculous but I was sure

> > everyone was staring at the zit (in my mind now the size of a golf

> ball).

> > And I am a reasonably confident, accomplished grown up. We hope

> our kids

> > will grow up so confident and happy and accomplished that they

> won't care

> > how they look. But let's face it--they probably will. They're

> little kids

> > and the first time they get teased is just stunning to them, hurts

> them

> > deeply, even leaves scars. Who would want to risk that if they had

> a

> > choice? Repo and helmets are our saviors.

> >

> > Anyway, no, I don't think brachy will round out on its own because

> the

> > baby is always going to want to sleep on the nice comfortable flat

> spot.

> > People swear by CST, and I'm trying it for my son, but I haven't

> seen any

> > hard evidence that it works, just very positive anecdotal

> evidence. If

> > your SIL is wrong, she may regret it. She can always do CST while

> the

> > child is in a band.

> >

> > It's too bad your SIL wasn't supportive of your decision to band,

> but you

> > don't have to treat her the same way. Show her pictures of brachy

> babies

> > before and after. You can call the Cranial Tech people and they'll

> send

> > you a brochure, or print pics off their site. And for the kids at

> the

> > daycare, the one who is just over a year old can still benefit

> from a DOC

> > band. These Moms may not be able to tell there is a problem. My

> son is

> > absolutely perfect (of course) and I really have a hard time seeing

> > asymmetry. But the measurements put him in the moderate range. A

> lot of

> > kids look fine when they are round, chubby babies, and when they

> are

> > older the deformity starts to become more noticeable.

> >

> > Sorry sorry sorry for the blathering. I've had five hours of sleep

> in 48

> > hours.

> >

> >

> > , 18 mos, tort, plagio, DOC band

> >

> >

> >

> > On Wed, 26 May 2004 17:46:21 -0000 " rhondareev "

> > <rhonda.gillespie@c...> writes:

> > Hi everyone!

> >

> > The only reason I ask this question is because sometimes I have

> guilty

> > (for lack of a better word) feelings about banding Collin.. b/c of

> my

> > sis-in-law. She doesn't believe in it, and didn't support it when

> > Collin was banded for his plagio last year. She suggested

> > craniosacral therapy.

> >

> > Now -- year later... she has a baby of her own with a bad case of

> > brachycephaly. Since i live far away, I didn't see it progress,

> but

> > when I saw him last week, I was surprised to hear her mention that

> he

> > received " just one hour of homeopathic " something and one side

> popped

> > right out, in the back, making it less flat. She said, " yeah, his

> > head looked like a football when I took him, but it's much better

> > now. " Better, yes, still very flat in the back - surely.

> >

> > Does brachy ever get better?? I have a friend who never got

> treatment

> > for her son with brachy, now 3 yrs. old and his head is no where

> near

> > as round as Collin's. He still has a block-like look to his skull

> > with it flat in the back. Another child at daycare, same thing--

> > he's just over 1, but with no treatment, he still has a large dent

> on

> > oneside, and very flat in the back.

> >

> > Just wondering -- if I am crazy? Don't get me wrong, I am glad I

> had

> > the treatment. I just wonder if I did something 'cosmetic'?? Do

> we

> > know yet, if there are any long-term effects of untreated brachy

> or

> > plagio?

> >

> > I'd love to hear from anyone who is on both sides of the fence on

> > this one...

> >

> > Thanks! Hope everyone is doing well

> >

> > Rhonda, Mom to Collin, DOC grad 2003

> >

> >

> >

> > For more plagio info