RE: Re: Zoe Update

[Guest guest]

I would be concerned about your doctor keeping your child in the FAB full

time for longer than the three months. It could be an indicator that he or

she is not following the protocol properly.

Our daughter was our second doctor's first Ponseti Patient. She initially

said that Zoe would be in the FAB full time until she pulled to a stand.

When I finally learned from this board that the protocol was 3 months, I

asked the doctor why Zoe would be in it for much longer. She explained at

that time that she was being " conservative " and that it wouldn't hurt and

once she started weightbearing that would be self correcting, so she

wouldn't need to wear the shoes as much. She did not pull to a stand until

11 months or walk until 16 months. She was on the other end of the normal

range for gross motor development. Sometimes I think " what if " I hadn't

found this support group and " what if " she would've worn the shoes and bar

full time for 8 months!

At the next checkup (when Zoe was 8 months old and had been in the bar full

time for five months), the doctor reduced the time in the boots and bar to

naps and night time.

This was the first of many red flags that the doctor wasn't following the

method exactly at that time. I'm hoping that at this point she is. I'm also

hoping that they're giving the parents a lot more information and support

about the proper use of the FAB so that the parents will comply with wearing

the brace...I heard a lot of discussions in the waiting room between parents

whose children had been " using " the brace for awhile and those who were

still in casts. The general advice was: " when your child cries and won't

sleep, take it off. That's what we do. "

The doctor was shocked to see a 12 " bar on Zoe. Her comment was: " We never

use more than an 8 " bar! "

Luckily, I had learned from this site the way to check to see if the bar is

too short and that if it's too short the child will be uncomfortable and may

have difficulty sleeping, so when she outgrew the 10 " bar, I went ahead and

switched it.

Anyway, sorry to " rant " but doctors not following the protocol is one of my

" hot buttons " .

Hope this helps in some small way...

Joanne W. mom to Zoe, 3-25-01, right clubfoot

Message: 12

Date: Thu, 13 May 2004 08:18:06 -0700

Subject: Re: Zoe Update

till they walk??? Wahhh?? If you check the Ponseti website you'll find

it's 23/7 for 3 mo's. I would absolutely question that. She's

what? 2-1/2 mo's old? That at minimum (saying she walks at 11 mo's which

is kind of right in there) is 8 mo's 23/7?? What if she doesn't walk till

14 mo's? Add another 5 months of 23/7 to make 13? When all is needed is

3? no, no, no, no...

Absolutely question it. I would not have my baby in it full time for 8

months. No way.

also, we have not done nights and naps. I just do the full time in one

stretch. So there's lots of cuddle time without the DBB during the

day:~} I totally know how you feel though. I just LOVE infants and

cuddling them and everything about them. The DBB sure puts a damper on all

that baby mush.

Kori

At 01:46 PM 5/12/2004, you wrote:

>Hi all,

>

>I took Zoe for her 2 week check up after getting the FAB and the dr. told

>me he keeps the children on 23/7 until they start to crawl. That burst my

>bubble a bit as I was thinking

>we would reduce the hours somewhat around the end of July. Other than that

>little tid bit he said to keep a bandaid on her blister that developed on

>her heal the first 3 days she had it and that alchohol may help dry it out.

>We go back in two months.

>Can't deny I feel a bit bummed. It is so nice to cuddle her without the

>FAB and I was hoping for a just a few extra hours a day sooner than later.

>Well, whatever is best for her.

>

>Louisa

>Zoe 2-22-04 rt uni cf

> 6-27-99

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