Re: Baby's Plagio Caused by Uterine Constraints?

[Guest guest]

Hi Jess! Welcome to the group. I'm a bit of a lurker nowadays, my

son is 8 now. But his head shape (scaphocephalic (Long/Narrow) )

came from inutero positioning - he was pretty big (8 lbs, 14.5), and

breech.

We had to rule out fused sutures (craniosynostosis) because of the

head shape he had, and then after finding out that wasn't the reason,

we tried to find something that would help correct his shape, and we

used the DOCband, too.

Because of insurance delays he wasn't casted until the day he turned

6 months old - and he did wear the band for 4 months, graduating a

few weeks before his 1st b-day (it took 2 weeks after the casting to

get his band).

A brief bio and some pictures are at

http://www.cappskids.org/CAPPSPlagioKidQuinn.htm

-- he's fine, he filled out in width, and most important to us he

now has a " slope " which is what we were aiming for. Prior to

treatment his head jutted straight back (see pix in the above link)

If you have to appeal to get covereage, do remember to mention in

your letter to insurance that the head shape was caused by inutero

constraint, which makes it a congenital condition. And make sure

that you have doctor/s who can prove this either in the chart notes,

or will state as much in the letter of medical necessity.

Good luck with everything! At 4.5 months, you should get some pretty

good correction!

aka " Kali "

mom to Quinn, born 11/19/99, DOCBand graduate for scaphocephalic head

shape.

>

> Hi everyone!

> My name is Jess - we just picked up my son Luke's DOC Band on

Monday

> (the 6th). He's 4.5 months old and he's been doing great so

far... I

> was just wondering if anyone else had their baby banded for plagio

or

> brachy that was caused by position in the uterus? >

[Guest guest]

The majority of my son's plagio was caused by tort, but he developed

the tort in utero and did also have some denting/sloping to the top

front of his head from his placement in my pelvis. He was 10lbs

11oz, bigger than at least two sets of twins (combined) that I know

of (perhaps yours would make it three?), so he was definitely

constrained. The inuterine shaping made his forehead bossing more

pronounced as it developed because that side of his forehead just

wasn't popping out at all. We did not band him until he was 17

months old and still saw very significant improvement in that area

of inuterine shaping, which I was thrilled about because his forehed

bossing was the primary reason I pushed for banding in the first

place. His forehead really evened out and the slope at the top of

his head is not nearly as pronounced, though I can still feel it

when I rub my hand over it. The dent/slope he was born with also

forced his left eyebrow bone downward a little, giving him sort of a

tired eye effect (more closed than the right), and that did improve

a little bit as well, though I can still see it (because I look for

it, no one else notices it). So the band made a big difference for

us. Hopefully, by starting at 4.5 months, you'll have great results.

Good luck!

Jake-2 (DOCBand Grad 9/19/08)

Jordan-4.5

>

> Hi everyone!

> My name is Jess - we just picked up my son Luke's DOC Band on

Monday

> (the 6th). He's 4.5 months old and he's been doing great so

far... I

> was just wondering if anyone else had their baby banded for plagio

or

> brachy that was caused by position in the uterus? I've heard it's

> common for multiples to have plagio/brachy b/c there's less room

for

> growth, and I have a uterine condition that left my poor son

wedged in

> pretty tightly and his head started to grow this way pretty early

on.

> Anyway, from what I've been told it's more difficult to correct if

it

> began in utero, and I was just wondering if anyone else has had

this

> experience and how it worked out. Luke is considered severe - his

> cranial vault measurements were off by 18mm when he was measured

just

> before banding. The had originally estimated he'd be in the DOC

for 8

> weeks, but now they're telling me more like 12 weeks, and possibly

a

> second helmet depending on how things go. Even though things seem

to

> be going pretty well so far, I'd love to hear some positive

stories!

> Thanks!

>

[Guest guest]

One positive thing I will say is that your son is very young and you

will be amazed at how quickly you see results, especially in the

beginning. And if you need a second band, which it sounds like you

may, the results immediately following getting that one will also be

astounding. My boys were 7 mos old when we banded them and I always

wish that we had gotten all of the information sooner, so already

you're ahead of me. This group has been and continues to be very

helpful, so you're in good hands as well. So, welcome to this new

chapter of your life :0) You will be so happy you made the decision

to band.

Shenelle

Katy, TX

>

> Hi everyone!

> My name is Jess - we just picked up my son Luke's DOC Band on

Monday

> (the 6th). He's 4.5 months old and he's been doing great so

far... I

> was just wondering if anyone else had their baby banded for plagio

or

> brachy that was caused by position in the uterus? I've heard it's

> common for multiples to have plagio/brachy b/c there's less room

for

> growth, and I have a uterine condition that left my poor son wedged

in

> pretty tightly and his head started to grow this way pretty early

on.

> Anyway, from what I've been told it's more difficult to correct if

it

> began in utero, and I was just wondering if anyone else has had

this

> experience and how it worked out. Luke is considered severe - his

> cranial vault measurements were off by 18mm when he was measured

just

> before banding. The had originally estimated he'd be in the DOC

for 8

> weeks, but now they're telling me more like 12 weeks, and possibly

a

> second helmet depending on how things go. Even though things seem

to

> be going pretty well so far, I'd love to hear some positive

stories!

> Thanks!

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, everyone! Your responses are definitely helpful - like

everyone has said, it's nice to know we're not in this alone!

Tammy, we're in NJ, too... Everyone at CT in Paramus IS wonderful!

I've run into so many moms at the playground or in a store whose babies

had a DOC Band and they all had great things to say about them, too!

It's good to know we're in such good hands! ;-) Thanks!