Re: 11 week old daughter with bilateral clubfeet/blisters

[Guest guest]

We started in the DBB at the end of December, and your message

brings back memories! Our son Zeke went into the brace at 8 months,

doesn't have terribly sensitive skin, and is generally pretty

mellow, but the first couple of weeks in the brace were still

tough. Unfortunately, when the babies' skin is the most sensitive

after weeks in casts, the new shoes are the most stiff and

unyielding and it is harder to get them really locking the foot in

place, I think. (Plus we parents are new at it) We had only one

blister and we got to it early with a blister block bandaid. I love

those bandaids!!!! We found a less expensive version at OSCO and

they are now a staple in our house, not only for blisters but for

other healing opportunities. I hike and have used moleskin, but I'm

going to stock my pack with these bandaids this summer. They

cushion and allow the area to heal at the same time. Zeke's blister

was small but deep, and healed as I recall in a week with the

blister blocker, while still in the DBB full time. He hasn't had one

since. He seemed much more comfortable when wearing the bandaid.

We also used two soft socks on each foot the first week. I think the

grip bottoms also help to keep the foot in place. Something else

suggested on the list by many was to make sure the shoes are very

tight on the feet to prevent blisters. One member has even said she

was told you can't get them too tight. We found this helpful too,

especially for our confidence as we tightened the buckles and Zeke

yelled, and it seemed we were strangling his foot. No movement, no

rubbing, no blisters. Other advice we found helpful is to hold the

shoe (after you've got it tied and buckled) and pull the knee of

that foot up and down. If the toes move, the shoe is too loose. We

found we had to tighten the buckle a notch or two right away, past

what the orthotist at Iowa City had done. When the leather softened

and stretched we had to tighten more notches. I think with one foot

we had to add four notches more within the first month.

We used any distraction available the first week when putting on the

shoes. Bottle, toys, an uncle playing the guitar... After a while

everyone got used to the process and the fussing went away (from

parents and child!). We started off with the shoe process as a two

parent effort, one holding and distracting (and giving 'helpful'

advice- we made sure to rotate), the other putting on the shoes.

Zeke was dismayed at not being able to crawl in the way he was

accustomed. He had alot of distractions the first week (Christmas

visiting) which helped immensely and by the second week he was going

strong again.

I think it took a month for Zeke to go back to his pre-brace

sleeping habits. We were grateful for cousins who got him very

tired the first week, which I think helped him sleep more soundly.

Still, he woke up more often and was much fussier, until he felt

comfortable sleeping with the brace. We also put him in a sleep

sack because he would get tangled in blankets, and we had to put

pipe foam on some crib slats because he would get his feet stuck

between them.

The first weeks of the brace were probably the toughest part of the

Ponseti method for all of us. Zeke definitely struggled with this

part of the process more than the initial casts or the tenotomy.

But it does get easier! We have only one week left full time, and

Zeke is standing and walking with assistance with brace on or off,

sleeps soundly all night, and seems to even enjoy having his shoes

put on (sometimes).

If your daughter sleeps on her back, it might help to put a towel

under her calves so that the weight of her feet/legs is off her

heels...

You may want to do a search of old messages on this list- there has

been alot of discussion on this topic, I think in October/November.

Also, if you look in the files I think there are some suggestions

posted there too.

We will be thinking of you- keep us posted on how things are going!

Caroline

mom to Zeke, 11 months, 1 week left in DBB, bilateral