Re: One more questions ( at least for now)

[Guest guest]

Hello,

I didn't know before she was born but I do not think that you are seeking help

before you give birth! I would have done the same. It most likely is the fact

that they do not use the Ponseti method. I know when I had Breanna treated by

Dr. Ponseti that he was very interested in knowledge of clubfeet before birth.

I am sure if you spoke with someone how uses the Ponseti method you would

receive a different response. For the doctors not to acknowledge your concern

and need for knowledge before the birth, I think, is rude and I would not want

to go to a doctor that can't understand that. I think that just shows that they

have become callus to the feelings of their patients. You are the mother and

you know best!

Sincerely,

& Breanna

mfitz42900 wrote: For those of you who discoverd that your

child had club foot prior to

birth, when did you contact a Ped. Orthopedist? My husband and I

thought we should have someone lined up prior to birth since the best

time to begin treatment is within the first week or so after birth.

The couple of orthopedist I've called (prior to the referal to Dr

Herzenberg) have all seemed at little put off that I called so

early. Maybe this is because they don't use the Ponsiti method which

needs early intervention. Am I being a pest to call doctors this

early?(I'm due in August) I just really want to sit down with someone

and understand the treatment and make sure things are ready to go as

soon as our son is born.

[Guest guest]

Hello,

I didn't know before she was born but I do not think that you are seeking help

before you give birth! I would have done the same. It most likely is the fact

that they do not use the Ponseti method. I know when I had Breanna treated by

Dr. Ponseti that he was very interested in knowledge of clubfeet before birth.

I am sure if you spoke with someone how uses the Ponseti method you would

receive a different response. For the doctors not to acknowledge your concern

and need for knowledge before the birth, I think, is rude and I would not want

to go to a doctor that can't understand that. I think that just shows that they

have become callus to the feelings of their patients. You are the mother and

you know best!

Sincerely,

& Breanna

mfitz42900 wrote: For those of you who discoverd that your

child had club foot prior to

birth, when did you contact a Ped. Orthopedist? My husband and I

thought we should have someone lined up prior to birth since the best

time to begin treatment is within the first week or so after birth.

The couple of orthopedist I've called (prior to the referal to Dr

Herzenberg) have all seemed at little put off that I called so

early. Maybe this is because they don't use the Ponsiti method which

needs early intervention. Am I being a pest to call doctors this

early?(I'm due in August) I just really want to sit down with someone

and understand the treatment and make sure things are ready to go as

soon as our son is born.

[Guest guest]

Hello,

I didn't know before she was born but I do not think that you are seeking help

before you give birth! I would have done the same. It most likely is the fact

that they do not use the Ponseti method. I know when I had Breanna treated by

Dr. Ponseti that he was very interested in knowledge of clubfeet before birth.

I am sure if you spoke with someone how uses the Ponseti method you would

receive a different response. For the doctors not to acknowledge your concern

and need for knowledge before the birth, I think, is rude and I would not want

to go to a doctor that can't understand that. I think that just shows that they

have become callus to the feelings of their patients. You are the mother and

you know best!

Sincerely,

& Breanna

mfitz42900 wrote: For those of you who discoverd that your

child had club foot prior to

birth, when did you contact a Ped. Orthopedist? My husband and I

thought we should have someone lined up prior to birth since the best

time to begin treatment is within the first week or so after birth.

The couple of orthopedist I've called (prior to the referal to Dr

Herzenberg) have all seemed at little put off that I called so

early. Maybe this is because they don't use the Ponsiti method which

needs early intervention. Am I being a pest to call doctors this

early?(I'm due in August) I just really want to sit down with someone

and understand the treatment and make sure things are ready to go as

soon as our son is born.

[Guest guest]

,

I think you can learn a lot about the doctors you are considering by

how they respond to your very reasonable wish to speak to them about

treatment while you are still pregnant. It's one of the advantages of

knowing about the clubfoot ahead of time. We didn't know, and spent

the first few days postpartum (during the July 4th holiday, no less)

making frantic phone calls, and being put off by appointment-desk

clerks, who wanted us to wait a month or two for an appointment. One

told me, " Well, they don't usually do the surgery till about 8 months

old or so, so there's no rush anyway. " So, sometimes the problem is

getting by the appointment desk. If you ask to speak to the doctor's

secretary, you might have better luck.

True Ponseti method doctors would want to see your baby right away,

and I would hope that they would be happy to discuss the treatment

ahead of time, because they know only too well the great variation in

the care that's available for clubfoot, and how vital it is to start

down the right path.

Don't think of yourself as a " pest " .. Be strong.. and follow your gut

instinct. If something doesn't sound right, question it. You're your

baby's advocate for the best care out there!

Let us know what happens..

and

> For those of you who discoverd that your child had club foot prior

to

> birth, when did you contact a Ped. Orthopedist? My husband and I

> thought we should have someone lined up prior to birth since the

best

> time to begin treatment is within the first week or so after

birth.

> The couple of orthopedist I've called (prior to the referal to Dr

> Herzenberg) have all seemed at little put off that I called so

> early. Maybe this is because they don't use the Ponsiti method

which

> needs early intervention. Am I being a pest to call doctors this

> early?(I'm due in August) I just really want to sit down with

someone

> and understand the treatment and make sure things are ready to go

as

> soon as our son is born.

[Guest guest]

,

I think you can learn a lot about the doctors you are considering by

how they respond to your very reasonable wish to speak to them about

treatment while you are still pregnant. It's one of the advantages of

knowing about the clubfoot ahead of time. We didn't know, and spent

the first few days postpartum (during the July 4th holiday, no less)

making frantic phone calls, and being put off by appointment-desk

clerks, who wanted us to wait a month or two for an appointment. One

told me, " Well, they don't usually do the surgery till about 8 months

old or so, so there's no rush anyway. " So, sometimes the problem is

getting by the appointment desk. If you ask to speak to the doctor's

secretary, you might have better luck.

True Ponseti method doctors would want to see your baby right away,

and I would hope that they would be happy to discuss the treatment

ahead of time, because they know only too well the great variation in

the care that's available for clubfoot, and how vital it is to start

down the right path.

Don't think of yourself as a " pest " .. Be strong.. and follow your gut

instinct. If something doesn't sound right, question it. You're your

baby's advocate for the best care out there!

Let us know what happens..

and

> For those of you who discoverd that your child had club foot prior

to

> birth, when did you contact a Ped. Orthopedist? My husband and I

> thought we should have someone lined up prior to birth since the

best

> time to begin treatment is within the first week or so after

birth.

> The couple of orthopedist I've called (prior to the referal to Dr

> Herzenberg) have all seemed at little put off that I called so

> early. Maybe this is because they don't use the Ponsiti method

which

> needs early intervention. Am I being a pest to call doctors this

> early?(I'm due in August) I just really want to sit down with

someone

> and understand the treatment and make sure things are ready to go

as

> soon as our son is born.

[Guest guest]

,

I think you can learn a lot about the doctors you are considering by

how they respond to your very reasonable wish to speak to them about

treatment while you are still pregnant. It's one of the advantages of

knowing about the clubfoot ahead of time. We didn't know, and spent

the first few days postpartum (during the July 4th holiday, no less)

making frantic phone calls, and being put off by appointment-desk

clerks, who wanted us to wait a month or two for an appointment. One

told me, " Well, they don't usually do the surgery till about 8 months

old or so, so there's no rush anyway. " So, sometimes the problem is

getting by the appointment desk. If you ask to speak to the doctor's

secretary, you might have better luck.

True Ponseti method doctors would want to see your baby right away,

and I would hope that they would be happy to discuss the treatment

ahead of time, because they know only too well the great variation in

the care that's available for clubfoot, and how vital it is to start

down the right path.

Don't think of yourself as a " pest " .. Be strong.. and follow your gut

instinct. If something doesn't sound right, question it. You're your

baby's advocate for the best care out there!

Let us know what happens..

and

> For those of you who discoverd that your child had club foot prior

to

> birth, when did you contact a Ped. Orthopedist? My husband and I

> thought we should have someone lined up prior to birth since the

best

> time to begin treatment is within the first week or so after

birth.

> The couple of orthopedist I've called (prior to the referal to Dr

> Herzenberg) have all seemed at little put off that I called so

> early. Maybe this is because they don't use the Ponsiti method

which

> needs early intervention. Am I being a pest to call doctors this

> early?(I'm due in August) I just really want to sit down with

someone

> and understand the treatment and make sure things are ready to go

as

> soon as our son is born.

[Guest guest]

We found out I think around 17 weeks that our son had bi-lateral CF.

We also tried contacting some of our local Ortho Dr.'s and they would

not even talk to us. One receptionist told us the Dr. said he never

belives a child has CF until he can see it. We were very scared and

just wanted someone to tell us something, but the internet was our

only source of comfort and information. We wasted valuble time using

a Dr. here in Savannah, Ga and Caleb was 5.5 months old when we got

to Dr. Ponseti. He was still able to correct his feet without major

surgery! Four other Dr.'s had told us that surgery was our only

option! We have sent them all letters and pictures of how well

Caleb's feet have turned out in hopes that they may switch over to

the Ponseti method.

I think it is important that you make contact with a " True "

Ponseti method Dr. and get your child to them as soon after birth as

possible. And if they are a good Dr. they will anwser your questions!

Keep us posted, our prayers are with you!

And Caleb 3-31-01

> For those of you who discoverd that your child had club foot prior

to

> birth, when did you contact a Ped. Orthopedist? My husband and I

> thought we should have someone lined up prior to birth since the

best

> time to begin treatment is within the first week or so after

birth.

> The couple of orthopedist I've called (prior to the referal to Dr

> Herzenberg) have all seemed at little put off that I called so

> early. Maybe this is because they don't use the Ponsiti method

which

> needs early intervention. Am I being a pest to call doctors this

> early?(I'm due in August) I just really want to sit down with

someone

> and understand the treatment and make sure things are ready to go

as

> soon as our son is born.

[Guest guest]

On this topic.... I've recently had a flurry of email inquiries from

pregnant couples who have had an USS suggestive of Clubfeet as well

as some local referrals now that the Obstetricians know that I'm

interested in Clubfeet. (For those of you who don't know me, I

haven't posted in ages as I was on parental leave with our new

daughter, I'm a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon at Queen's University

in Kingston, Ontario) I'm happy to see parents-to-be prenatally to

let them know the treatment plan and answer questions. It's

important to tell people that USS may well overdiagnose CF and that

baby may come out with straight feet.

It's actually much easier to answer questions in advance, rather than

six hours after birth when there is often so much else going on.

However, during my training I never saw " prenatal " consults and had

only previously done one in about 7 years prior to switching to

Ponseti (and for a non CF disorder), so most orthopaedic surgeons may

be surprised by the request. (When I was in France last year, they

routinely did these " consults " ).

I've also been able to direct people to Ponseti-users who are closer

than me as there are a few other Canadians using the method who are

not on the U. of Iowa list. FYI this treatment is available in

London, Ont (Dr. Carey) and Hamilton (Dr. ).

So, bottom line, don't think you're " bugging people " you're just in

new territory for many surgeons.

son

[Guest guest]

I have found that the doctors don't seem to really

want to discuss treatment etc. so far ahead of time

because the severity of the clubfoot is really unknown

until birth. I've even heard of some people being

told it was bilateral and then only turned out to be

unilateral. So they just don't like discussing

hypotheticals.

I don't think it is unreasonable to call the docs

ahead of time, however, to discuss what meathod of

treatment they follow for clubfoot, and how they would

pursue seeing your baby when he is born. The first

doctor who I went to was not a " Ponsettian " and he

still spoke to me over the phone so I would have an

idea of what to expect as far as him comeing to the

hospital to look at my son when he was born.

Also, let your pediatrician know of the situation and

he/she should be involved in what's happening with

your baby with the specialist.

Just have the specialist lined up, do your own

research,and wait until the birth...then you'll have

educated questions. best wishes!!

--- mfitz42900 wrote:

> For those of you who discoverd that your child had

> club foot prior to

> birth, when did you contact a Ped. Orthopedist? My

> husband and I

> thought we should have someone lined up prior to

> birth since the best

> time to begin treatment is within the first week or

> so after birth.

> The couple of orthopedist I've called (prior to the

> referal to Dr

> Herzenberg) have all seemed at little put off that I

> called so

> early. Maybe this is because they don't use the

> Ponsiti method which

> needs early intervention. Am I being a pest to call

> doctors this

> early?(I'm due in August) I just really want to sit

> down with someone

> and understand the treatment and make sure things

> are ready to go as

> soon as our son is born.

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I have found that the doctors don't seem to really

want to discuss treatment etc. so far ahead of time

because the severity of the clubfoot is really unknown

until birth. I've even heard of some people being

told it was bilateral and then only turned out to be

unilateral. So they just don't like discussing

hypotheticals.

I don't think it is unreasonable to call the docs

ahead of time, however, to discuss what meathod of

treatment they follow for clubfoot, and how they would

pursue seeing your baby when he is born. The first

doctor who I went to was not a " Ponsettian " and he

still spoke to me over the phone so I would have an

idea of what to expect as far as him comeing to the

hospital to look at my son when he was born.

Also, let your pediatrician know of the situation and

he/she should be involved in what's happening with

your baby with the specialist.

Just have the specialist lined up, do your own

research,and wait until the birth...then you'll have

educated questions. best wishes!!

--- mfitz42900 wrote:

> For those of you who discoverd that your child had

> club foot prior to

> birth, when did you contact a Ped. Orthopedist? My

> husband and I

> thought we should have someone lined up prior to

> birth since the best

> time to begin treatment is within the first week or

> so after birth.

> The couple of orthopedist I've called (prior to the

> referal to Dr

> Herzenberg) have all seemed at little put off that I

> called so

> early. Maybe this is because they don't use the

> Ponsiti method which

> needs early intervention. Am I being a pest to call

> doctors this

> early?(I'm due in August) I just really want to sit

> down with someone

> and understand the treatment and make sure things

> are ready to go as

> soon as our son is born.

>

>

__________________________________________________