Re: New here-casting for helmet today

[Guest guest]

Hi Tami

Sound like you have been having the same mixture of emotions that I

think just about everyone goes through when starting on this whole

enterprise- pleased you are doing something, but worried that you

are doing something at the same time. I think it gets easier,

especially when you see the results about something that has been

bothering you for a while. From what I understand from other group

members (my daughter has a passive band), you stand an excellent

chance of seeing some good results with a 9 month old in an active

band- you got there in plenty of time.

As for how people reacting- look back over some of the posts for

TRAVIS on this one- he found that people were staring in Home Depot

at his son- and had some really helpful replies. Once you feel at

ease with it, you'll relax into the whole thing, and feel more

confident taking her out. Most people are pretty positive- yesterday

I had two people talk to me about my daughter and lots of smiles.

Any stares tend to be curiosity rather than anything more

judgemental.

Good luck- feel free to get things off your chest at any time. It

really helps!

Hannah (mum to Lucia, London, UK)

passive helmet, 4/7/04

> I was given this link by (boomgirl) and thought I would

> jump right in and post.

>

> A little background...My daughter McKenna was born on 10-25-04.

> She's my fourth baby. I had and unplanned home delivery on my

> living room floor(delivered by my friend.)

>

> I suspected something was *right* with Kenna's head for a little

> while. I took her in for her 9 month well baby check and her ped.

> mentioned it right away. She gave me a referral to have Kenna

seen

> by a therapist.

>

> The therapist diagnosed her with Craniocephalgia. Is that the

same

> as plagiocephaly? Anyway, the therapist said it stems from her

> rapid delivery. My labor was under 15 minutes and she suspects

that

> when Kenna was trying to turn her head in the birth canal, I had a

> cx, which pulled the muscle in her neck. She said she had

> torticollis, but it wasn't bad and she worked it out herself, but

> not before she found a comfortable position to hold her head in.

> She isn't receiving any therapies for torticollis (and I've never

> noticed her head tilting.)

>

> McKenna went in for her casting today and it was the most HORRIBLE

> experience of my life. My poor baby screamed, cried, thrashed

> around trying to get away, and yelled " mamama mamama. " I was in

> tears along with her. Kenna has always been an angel baby. Never

> cries much and is always ready to flash a dimply smile. To see

her

> look so upset/terrified/scared broke my heart.

>

> She should have her Starband by next week. I'm struggling with

the

> way people will react when they see her in a helmet. I'm afraid

it

> won't correct the misallignment of her head. What is it's too

late

> to help her? The therapist kept telling me crunched for time

since

> she's 9 months old. I'm just plain afraid I guess. I, of course,

> want what's best for McKenna, but I'm terrified the band will hurt

> her or that it won't correct the problem.

>

> I found one positive about the helmet. She's just now pulling up

on

> furniture, so walking isn't far off. I always threatened to put a

> helmet on my other three kids, and now I will really have one on

> Kenna to protect her falls.

>

> Thanks for letting me ramble on. I think I'm just sort of lost

> right now since this is all new to me.

>

> Tami and McKenna 10-25-03

[Guest guest]

Tami-

So glad you stopped over! Feel free to view all the pics of babies

in bands if you haven't looked there yet. There are so many cute

ways to decorate the band to help with the stares people give. I've

had lots of people (the majority) comment on how cute Asher and his

helmet were (you can see his pics in there as well)!

God Bless,

(Mom to Asher, 9-months;pos. plagio, motor delays)

Hanger Cranial Helmet 6/30/04

> I was given this link by (boomgirl) and thought I would

> jump right in and post.

>

> A little background...My daughter McKenna was born on 10-25-04.

> She's my fourth baby. I had and unplanned home delivery on my

> living room floor(delivered by my friend.)

>

> I suspected something was *right* with Kenna's head for a little

> while. I took her in for her 9 month well baby check and her ped.

> mentioned it right away. She gave me a referral to have Kenna seen

> by a therapist.

>

> The therapist diagnosed her with Craniocephalgia. Is that the same

> as plagiocephaly? Anyway, the therapist said it stems from her

> rapid delivery. My labor was under 15 minutes and she suspects

that

> when Kenna was trying to turn her head in the birth canal, I had a

> cx, which pulled the muscle in her neck. She said she had

> torticollis, but it wasn't bad and she worked it out herself, but

> not before she found a comfortable position to hold her head in.

> She isn't receiving any therapies for torticollis (and I've never

> noticed her head tilting.)

>

> McKenna went in for her casting today and it was the most HORRIBLE

> experience of my life. My poor baby screamed, cried, thrashed

> around trying to get away, and yelled " mamama mamama. " I was in

> tears along with her. Kenna has always been an angel baby. Never

> cries much and is always ready to flash a dimply smile. To see her

> look so upset/terrified/scared broke my heart.

>

> She should have her Starband by next week. I'm struggling with the

> way people will react when they see her in a helmet. I'm afraid it

> won't correct the misallignment of her head. What is it's too late

> to help her? The therapist kept telling me crunched for time since

> she's 9 months old. I'm just plain afraid I guess. I, of course,

> want what's best for McKenna, but I'm terrified the band will hurt

> her or that it won't correct the problem.

>

> I found one positive about the helmet. She's just now pulling up

on

> furniture, so walking isn't far off. I always threatened to put a

> helmet on my other three kids, and now I will really have one on

> Kenna to protect her falls.

>

> Thanks for letting me ramble on. I think I'm just sort of lost

> right now since this is all new to me.

>

> Tami and McKenna 10-25-03

[Guest guest]

Hey Tami!

It's Mia from BBC. Just wanted to let you know I have been a member

of this board since was diagnosed and I have gotten so much

great advice from here. I'm sure you will too. started @ 8

months with his helmet and we were also told time was short. But he

has made great progress and should finish in about 4 weeks. I bet you

will see a huge difference in Kenna pretty quickly. And the helmet

has saved us many times since he's been mobile!

Mia

09/22/03 - brachy, tort, DOC banded 05/27/04

> I was given this link by (boomgirl) and thought I would

> jump right in and post.

>

> A little background...My daughter McKenna was born on 10-25-04.

> She's my fourth baby. I had and unplanned home delivery on my

> living room floor(delivered by my friend.)

>

> I suspected something was *right* with Kenna's head for a little

> while. I took her in for her 9 month well baby check and her ped.

> mentioned it right away. She gave me a referral to have Kenna seen

> by a therapist.

>

> The therapist diagnosed her with Craniocephalgia. Is that the same

> as plagiocephaly? Anyway, the therapist said it stems from her

> rapid delivery. My labor was under 15 minutes and she suspects

that

> when Kenna was trying to turn her head in the birth canal, I had a

> cx, which pulled the muscle in her neck. She said she had

> torticollis, but it wasn't bad and she worked it out herself, but

> not before she found a comfortable position to hold her head in.

> She isn't receiving any therapies for torticollis (and I've never

> noticed her head tilting.)

>

> McKenna went in for her casting today and it was the most HORRIBLE

> experience of my life. My poor baby screamed, cried, thrashed

> around trying to get away, and yelled " mamama mamama. " I was in

> tears along with her. Kenna has always been an angel baby. Never

> cries much and is always ready to flash a dimply smile. To see her

> look so upset/terrified/scared broke my heart.

>

> She should have her Starband by next week. I'm struggling with the

> way people will react when they see her in a helmet. I'm afraid it

> won't correct the misallignment of her head. What is it's too late

> to help her? The therapist kept telling me crunched for time since

> she's 9 months old. I'm just plain afraid I guess. I, of course,

> want what's best for McKenna, but I'm terrified the band will hurt

> her or that it won't correct the problem.

>

> I found one positive about the helmet. She's just now pulling up

on

> furniture, so walking isn't far off. I always threatened to put a

> helmet on my other three kids, and now I will really have one on

> Kenna to protect her falls.

>

> Thanks for letting me ramble on. I think I'm just sort of lost

> right now since this is all new to me.

>

> Tami and McKenna 10-25-03

[Guest guest]

Hi Tami,

Welcome to the group!!

I'm glad McKenna's casting is over... please let us know how her

fitting appointment goes next week.

Although at 9 months is not really a younger baby, that's plenty

enough time for getting correction through a band. The Starband

actually treats up to 18 months, so you should still expect

excellent correction for your daughter. The bands don't hurt the

babies at all; they use gentle pressure not felt by the baby. We

have lots of examples of before and after shots in the photos/before

and after folde if you'd like to see how these bands DO work well.

What type of flattening does McKenna have? Most babies have plagio

(flat on one side of the back of the head), some have brachy (flat

all across the back of the head), and a very few have scapho (narrow

headshape, and elongated from front to back.)

I also wanted to reply because you mentioned that the therapist

diagnosed " craniocephalgia... " I was unable to find that exact

spelling on google. I did find one mention of " craniocephaly " - I

don't know how old this term is, but it meant cranio, where a

saggital suture had closed. I also found " craniocephalic " as an

adjective, which meant a large head owing to a hydrocephalic brain,

and " craniocephalic disproportion " which meant that the skull size

and shape didn't match the contents inside (brain.) None of these

terms match the definition of plagiocephaly or what is going on with

plagio babies, so maybe the therapist used a word she just thought

was appropriate, I'm not sure.

All of the parents here at the group are so supportive, and will be

there to help you with support and information throughout McKenna's

banding treatment. There may even be another parent currently going

or who has gone to the same facility from where you all are getting

your helmet... where are you located?

Again, Welcome!

Christie (Mom to Repo'd Remy)

> I was given this link by (boomgirl) and thought I would

> jump right in and post.

>

> A little background...My daughter McKenna was born on 10-25-04.

> She's my fourth baby. I had and unplanned home delivery on my

> living room floor(delivered by my friend.)

>

> I suspected something was *right* with Kenna's head for a little

> while. I took her in for her 9 month well baby check and her ped.

> mentioned it right away. She gave me a referral to have Kenna

seen

> by a therapist.

>

> The therapist diagnosed her with Craniocephalgia. Is that the

same

> as plagiocephaly? Anyway, the therapist said it stems from her

> rapid delivery. My labor was under 15 minutes and she suspects

that

> when Kenna was trying to turn her head in the birth canal, I had a

> cx, which pulled the muscle in her neck. She said she had

> torticollis, but it wasn't bad and she worked it out herself, but

> not before she found a comfortable position to hold her head in.

> She isn't receiving any therapies for torticollis (and I've never

> noticed her head tilting.)

>

> McKenna went in for her casting today and it was the most HORRIBLE

> experience of my life. My poor baby screamed, cried, thrashed

> around trying to get away, and yelled " mamama mamama. " I was in

> tears along with her. Kenna has always been an angel baby. Never

> cries much and is always ready to flash a dimply smile. To see

her

> look so upset/terrified/scared broke my heart.

>

> She should have her Starband by next week. I'm struggling with

the

> way people will react when they see her in a helmet. I'm afraid

it

> won't correct the misallignment of her head. What is it's too

late

> to help her? The therapist kept telling me crunched for time

since

> she's 9 months old. I'm just plain afraid I guess. I, of course,

> want what's best for McKenna, but I'm terrified the band will hurt

> her or that it won't correct the problem.

>

> I found one positive about the helmet. She's just now pulling up

on

> furniture, so walking isn't far off. I always threatened to put a

> helmet on my other three kids, and now I will really have one on

> Kenna to protect her falls.

>

> Thanks for letting me ramble on. I think I'm just sort of lost

> right now since this is all new to me.

>

> Tami and McKenna 10-25-03

[Guest guest]

Christy~

Thanks for the response.

I asked the therapist to write down what McKenna had and she

wrote " Craniocephalgia " but at the next appointment the othotist

said placio. I also googled craniocephalgia and couldn't find

anything, which is why I was wondering if it was the same as plagio.

The therapist explained it this way to me....I had McKenna

accidently at home. My labor was under 15 minutes total and my

friend ended up delivering her. She said that I probably had a

contraction as McKenna tried to turn, which pulled on the muscles at

the base of her neck. The muscle tighten just enough that Kenna

tipped her head into a position she found that was confortable. The

tightness of the neck muscle pulled down on her skull, which shifted

everything and now her face is asymmetrical. The therapist also

mentioned Torticollis, but said she probably had a minor case and

worked it out herself around 5 months. I never noticed her head

tilted to one side, but did notice she always slept with her head in

basically the same position.

McKenna doesn't have a very big flat spot. Actually, I wouldn't

even call it flat. I've always described one side of her head as

lumpy, not really flat. If you look down on her head while

standing, you can see her ear position is off by a lot (or it seems

to be a lot to me lol) The ped said her eye sockets, cheek bones,

and jaw are also asymmetrical. I don't really see it in her face,

but I might be distracted by her beauty :-)

I should be getting a call on Friday to bring her in and have her

helmet fitted. I'm so worried about how she'll accept wearing the

helmet. I'm also worried about how receptive people will be to

her. Even my three older children are afraid of the helmet.

Like all parents, I want what is best for McKenna. I feel somewhat

responsible for her having to deal with this. I'm a single parent

of 4 kids and I attend college full-time. Did I do this to her

because I didn't hold her enough? She's always been an easy and

content baby, which definitely made it easier to do things for the

other three kids, but is she now paying the price. I feel so

guilty.

We live in Marquette, Michigan. I wish there was some sort of local

support group, but in all my years of living here, I've never seen a

baby in a helmet of any sort.

Thanks for responding.

> > I was given this link by (boomgirl) and thought I

would

> > jump right in and post.

> >

> > A little background...My daughter McKenna was born on 10-25-04.

> > She's my fourth baby. I had and unplanned home delivery on my

> > living room floor(delivered by my friend.)

> >

> > I suspected something was *right* with Kenna's head for a little

> > while. I took her in for her 9 month well baby check and her

ped.

> > mentioned it right away. She gave me a referral to have Kenna

> seen

> > by a therapist.

> >

> > The therapist diagnosed her with Craniocephalgia. Is that the

> same

> > as plagiocephaly? Anyway, the therapist said it stems from her

> > rapid delivery. My labor was under 15 minutes and she suspects

> that

> > when Kenna was trying to turn her head in the birth canal, I had

a

> > cx, which pulled the muscle in her neck. She said she had

> > torticollis, but it wasn't bad and she worked it out herself,

but

> > not before she found a comfortable position to hold her head

in.

> > She isn't receiving any therapies for torticollis (and I've

never

> > noticed her head tilting.)

> >

> > McKenna went in for her casting today and it was the most

HORRIBLE

> > experience of my life. My poor baby screamed, cried, thrashed

> > around trying to get away, and yelled " mamama mamama. " I was in

> > tears along with her. Kenna has always been an angel baby.

Never

> > cries much and is always ready to flash a dimply smile. To see

> her

> > look so upset/terrified/scared broke my heart.

> >

> > She should have her Starband by next week. I'm struggling with

> the

> > way people will react when they see her in a helmet. I'm afraid

> it

> > won't correct the misallignment of her head. What is it's too

> late

> > to help her? The therapist kept telling me crunched for time

> since

> > she's 9 months old. I'm just plain afraid I guess. I, of

course,

> > want what's best for McKenna, but I'm terrified the band will

hurt

> > her or that it won't correct the problem.

> >

> > I found one positive about the helmet. She's just now pulling

up

> on

> > furniture, so walking isn't far off. I always threatened to put

a

> > helmet on my other three kids, and now I will really have one on

> > Kenna to protect her falls.

> >

> > Thanks for letting me ramble on. I think I'm just sort of lost

> > right now since this is all new to me.

> >

> > Tami and McKenna 10-25-03