New Mom, New Band, New Nerves!

October 29, 2008

Hello! I am new to all of this plagio stuff. My 5mos. old daughter is getting her DOCBand on Wednesday and I'm just so nervous! Mostly, I want her to turn into the incredible Hulk and grow out of it in half the time that they gave me. I know it's only a short time (8-10wks is what we were told), but I can't help but be bummed about this whole thing. Dealing with the "what if they think she has brain issues" and "why won't they just stop staring"...I'm trying to work through my own vanity, but I figured that there has to be at least one other mom who has dealt with these mixed emotions. Of course, I'm thrilled that it's getting taken care of now so she doesn't resent me as a teenager, but it's still tough. If any of you experienced plagio mom's could check out her "mug shots" and let me know what you think, I'd love some expert advice. Our blog is thegrewecrew.blogspot.com.

Thanks everyone. I'm sure I'll be glued to this discussion board for the next couple of months.

October 29, 2008

Good for you for getting your DOC Band so early. I am sure that she will be out of it in no time. One thing that helps with the medical look of the helmet is decorating it. Some people get very creative but we went the simple route with paper-backed stickers from the craft store. I waited several weeks before decorating, but as soon as I did it, the helmet looked so much better. In fact, when I removed the old ones to change the theme, I couldn't believe how odd the helmet looked with nothing on it. Believe it or not the time will pass very quickly. Have fun with it.

Leah

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October 29, 2008

I feel the same way you do and we havent even gone for our DOCband consult yet! I am nervous about all the stares and people feeling sorry for him. I am very active with my little guy too. We go to play groups, baby gym, stroller strides, etc... and now I feel like we will need to go on hiatus until the band comes off. I know thats being unrealistic but I just guess Im not sure how I am going to deal with it. I know all my friends will be supportive but I think its the stares and questions from strangers that will get to me. Ill just get him a t-shirt that says "Dont Ask." HA!! I checked out your gals mug shots on your blog and that looks like a round head to me! Is it just the ears you are trying to correct?~ 5 month old with plagioFrom: mrsjmgrewe <mrsjmgrewe@...>Plagiocephaly Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 8:36:35 PMSubject: New Mom, New Band, New Nerves!

Hello! I am new to all of this plagio stuff. My 5mos. old daughter is getting her DOCBand on Wednesday and I'm just so nervous! Mostly, I want her to turn into the incredible Hulk and grow out of it in half the time that they gave me. I know it's only a short time (8-10wks is what we were told), but I can't help but be bummed about this whole thing. Dealing with the "what if they think she has brain issues" and "why won't they just stop staring"...I' m trying to work through my own vanity, but I figured that there has to be at least one other mom who has dealt with these mixed emotions. Of course, I'm thrilled that it's getting taken care of now so she doesn't resent me as a teenager, but it's still tough. If any of you experienced plagio mom's could check out her "mug shots" and let me know what you think, I'd love some expert advice. Our blog is thegrewecrew. blogspot. com.

Thanks everyone. I'm sure I'll be glued to this discussion board for the next couple of months.

October 30, 2008

I was a mess before my daughter got her band- 3 weeks ago, both about how she

would react and about what it would be like being out and about. We too are out

and about everyday. I must say that I am very used to her having it on now and

that taking her out is in no way a traumatic experience. Sure, sometimes people

will look and just smile, once in a while (but I think only 3 times) someone

asked what it was for and twice someone said- oh she has a flat head because

some relative or friend had a band. The first day I was nervous about bringing

her all over, but that was short lived, she is still my sweet, beautiful

daughter- helmet or not!!!!!!! Plus- it doesn't bother her one bit! Not from

day one! Her sleeping hasn't been great- but she has never been a great sleeper

anyway!!!!! Hope that helps!!

Mom of McKenna- 6months old- band for 3 weeks

> From: Knapp <knapp1307@...>

> Subject: Re: New Mom, New Band, New Nerves!

> Plagiocephaly

> Date: Thursday, October 30, 2008, 4:33 AM

> I feel the same way you do and we havent even gone for our

> DOCband consult yet! I am nervous about all the stares and

> people feeling sorry for him. I am very active with my

> little guy too. We go to play groups, baby gym, stroller

> strides, etc... and now I feel like we will need to go on

> hiatus until the band comes off. I know thats being

> unrealistic but I just guess Im not sure how I am going to

> deal with it. I know all my friends will be supportive but I

> think its the stares and questions from strangers that will

> get to me. Ill just get him a t-shirt that says " Dont

> Ask. " HA!! I checked out your gals mug shots on your

> blog and that looks like a round head to me! Is it just the

> ears you are trying to correct?

> ~

> 5 month old with plagio

>

> ________________________________

> From: mrsjmgrewe <mrsjmgrewe@...>

> Plagiocephaly

> Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 8:36:35 PM

> Subject: New Mom, New Band, New Nerves!

>

> Hello! I am new to all of this plagio stuff. My 5mos. old

> daughter is getting her DOCBand on Wednesday and I'm

> just so nervous! Mostly, I want her to turn into the

> incredible Hulk and grow out of it in half the time that

> they gave me. I know it's only a short time (8-10wks is

> what we were told), but I can't help but be bummed about

> this whole thing. Dealing with the " what if they think

> she has brain issues " and " why won't they just

> stop staring " ...I' m trying to work through my own

> vanity, but I figured that there has to be at least one

> other mom who has dealt with these mixed emotions. Of

> course, I'm thrilled that it's getting taken care of

> now so she doesn't resent me as a teenager, but it's

> still tough. If any of you experienced plagio mom's

> could check out her " mug shots " and let me know

> what you think, I'd love some expert advice. Our blog

> is thegrewecrew. blogspot. com.

> Thanks everyone. I'm sure I'll be glued to this

> discussion board for the next couple of months.

October 30, 2008

I feel the same way!!! I'm trying to get over it, but am not quite

there. It's only been a week and we haven't went out in public yet.

I'm working up the guts! It's so hard!

~Kristi

>

> Hello! I am new to all of this plagio stuff. My 5mos. old daughter is

> getting her DOCBand on Wednesday and I'm just so nervous! Mostly, I want

> her to turn into the incredible Hulk and grow out of it in half the time

> that they gave me. I know it's only a short time (8-10wks is what we

> were told), but I can't help but be bummed about this whole thing.

> Dealing with the " what if they think she has brain issues " and " why

> won't they just stop staring " ...I'm trying to work through my own

> vanity, but I figured that there has to be at least one other mom who

> has dealt with these mixed emotions. Of course, I'm thrilled that it's

> getting taken care of now so she doesn't resent me as a teenager, but

> it's still tough. If any of you experienced plagio mom's could check out

> her " mug shots " and let me know what you think, I'd love some expert

> advice. Our blog is thegrewecrew.blogspot.com.

>

> Thanks everyone. I'm sure I'll be glued to this discussion board for the

> next couple of months.

>

October 30, 2008

My biggest fear was people assuming that I was either " that mom " that

never picks up her kids or that something was wrong with Elaine that

wasn't. I know before I learned about plagio I assumed kids with

helmets had them so they wouldn't injure themselves.

In practice I've only had a couple people ask me about it and none of

them were negative about it at all. It's been much better going than

I thought it would.

Personally I'm still dealing with all the emotions, but it's gone

better than I thought it would so far.

~

Elaine (Twin A) 5+ months old, 3 weeks in a helmet

> >

> > Hello! I am new to all of this plagio stuff. My 5mos. old

daughter is

> > getting her DOCBand on Wednesday and I'm just so nervous! Mostly,

I want

> > her to turn into the incredible Hulk and grow out of it in half

the time

> > that they gave me. I know it's only a short time (8-10wks is what

we

> > were told), but I can't help but be bummed about this whole thing.

> > Dealing with the " what if they think she has brain issues "

and " why

> > won't they just stop staring " ...I'm trying to work through my own

> > vanity, but I figured that there has to be at least one other mom

who

> > has dealt with these mixed emotions. Of course, I'm thrilled that

it's

> > getting taken care of now so she doesn't resent me as a teenager,

but

> > it's still tough. If any of you experienced plagio mom's could

check out

> > her " mug shots " and let me know what you think, I'd love some

expert

> > advice. Our blog is thegrewecrew.blogspot.com.

> >

> > Thanks everyone. I'm sure I'll be glued to this discussion board

for the

> > next couple of months.

> >

>

October 30, 2008

In the documents section there are fliers that people have handed out before. I found that it was a lot easier to deal with the questions if I had something to give them. Then they just leave it alone. I have gotten a bunch of, I didn't know about that, or I know someone who had to do that or should do that for their baby. People are curious and it's a quick way to end the conversation without having to get to in depth. I have twins also, so people are constantly stopping us and asking us something.

And I did stickers also, and I found it really helped. It was weird at first to get used to how she looked, but now I go shopping for stickers and enjoy changing them up regularly. And I agree with Leah, it looks weird without the decoration. Most people who see it (with all the stickers and such, I also do her name in the middle, then people seem to be less threatened by the helmet because they feel like they know her) think that it's cute. Everyone says how cute she looks in it. And now at 4 weeks we can see a big difference in her head, which definitely makes ya feel good.

But when we got diagnosed my first reaction was I don't want to do any of this, it's just too hard, I just want a normal baby. But once we started down the road and I shifted back into deal with the day to day instead of focusing too hard on the future, it was easier than I thought it would be.

AliceMaggie (twin A) 7 month, 4 weeks in helmet HangerOn Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 10:57 AM, lina.gabriev <lina.gabriev@...> wrote:

My biggest fear was people assuming that I was either " that mom " that

never picks up her kids or that something was wrong with Elaine that

wasn't. I know before I learned about plagio I assumed kids with

helmets had them so they wouldn't injure themselves.

In practice I've only had a couple people ask me about it and none of

them were negative about it at all. It's been much better going than

I thought it would.

Personally I'm still dealing with all the emotions, but it's gone

better than I thought it would so far.

~

Elaine (Twin A) 5+ months old, 3 weeks in a helmet

> >

> > Hello! I am new to all of this plagio stuff. My 5mos. old

daughter is

> > getting her DOCBand on Wednesday and I'm just so nervous! Mostly,

I want

> > her to turn into the incredible Hulk and grow out of it in half

the time

> > that they gave me. I know it's only a short time (8-10wks is what

we

> > were told), but I can't help but be bummed about this whole thing.

> > Dealing with the " what if they think she has brain issues "

and " why

> > won't they just stop staring " ...I'm trying to work through my own

> > vanity, but I figured that there has to be at least one other mom

who

> > has dealt with these mixed emotions. Of course, I'm thrilled that

it's

> > getting taken care of now so she doesn't resent me as a teenager,

but

> > it's still tough. If any of you experienced plagio mom's could

check out

> > her " mug shots " and let me know what you think, I'd love some

expert

> > advice. Our blog is thegrewecrew.blogspot.com.

> >

> > Thanks everyone. I'm sure I'll be glued to this discussion board

for the

> > next couple of months.

> >

>

November 1, 2008

Hi,

She might be out of it really soon. My son was 5 months when he started and has

spent 5

weeks in the band. He only needs 2 more weeks instead of the 3 months they

predicted.

You're daughter's head looks pretty good to begin with. In fact, my son's head

will

probably look only a little better than that after band therapy.

I've never received a negative comment about the band. Strangers still tell me

he's cute.

People do sometimes stare. His misshapen head worried me a lot so the negative

aspects

of helmet wearing seemed worth it.

I know some people think kids have the helmet because they weren't held enough

even

though that's rarely the case. That was the one thing that bothered me because I

did do

the whole sling/baby carrier thing. Bands are expensive and time consuming-- I

think

they are a sign of an attentive, not a neglectful mom.

As for people mistakenly thinking your baby has a brain issue...just do your

best to shrug

it off and remind yourself how lucky you are that it isn't true, that you've got

a happy,

healthy, beautiful baby.

Hang in there!