Re: So upset with daughter's pediatrician

[Guest guest]

Yes, peds take it very lightly it really bugs me too! I think most of

us have a story about how our ped failed us, either a little or a lot.

CT may be a little more aggressive about banding than some

professionals, but they certainly don't tell babies with round heads

that they need a band. Just as a point of reference our specialist

(cranio facial plastic surgeon) recommends banding at 10 mm of

asymmetry, or at 90% cephalic index. I know people who have banded at

lower numbers, and been quite happy that they did, so this is not

something that is completely fixed.

I hope your baby will do well in her docband. My daughter was referred

to a specialist at 4 mo, and got her band at 5 mo. She did great. She

didn't sleep great in it, but she has never been a good sleeper (even

now). I'm so glad we were able to get a lot of correction for her. I

hope you'll be please with your decision too.

-christine

sydney 2.5 yrs starband grad

>

> So I took my daughter to her 5 month well baby visit...yes our office

> is weird usually most dr's omit this month....anyways we are going

> through everything and he feels her head and says oh her head is so

> much better. At this point im a little confused because we just went

> for the dsi scan for the DOCband Friday. They didnt seem to think her

> flat spot had changed since last month. I said to him well you

> referred me to cranial technologies and they suggested that we get the

> band, so we went a head with it. He said to me really? They tell

> everyone we send over there that they need one. now im really pissed

> i didnt even know what to say. y put me through all of this if you

> dont even think we need it. who do i trust? y do pediatricians take

> this so lightly? i am so annoyed!

>

[Guest guest]

I would trust your gut. A LOT of pediatricians say babies don't need

helmets, 2 out of 3 told me I shouldn't worry about it. But I

couldn't stand the idea of not doing anything to correct my son's

head shape, so we did end up banding and it was really worth it.

Banding can help with facial asym if you start early enough and are

patient, sometimes it's the last thing to correct. I would also

trust CT's opinion, plagio that is too mild is hard to correct (if

at all) because the band won't have the appropriate holding points

it needs to work, so they wouldn't have said it would benefit her if

it wouldn't (they can't build a good reputation on banding babies

that don't need it). So what matters is if you feel good about the

decision. I hope you do!

Good luck!

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

Jordan-4.5

>

> So I took my daughter to her 5 month well baby visit...yes our

office

> is weird usually most dr's omit this month....anyways we are going

> through everything and he feels her head and says oh her head is

so

> much better. At this point im a little confused because we just

went

> for the dsi scan for the DOCband Friday. They didnt seem to think

her

> flat spot had changed since last month. I said to him well you

> referred me to cranial technologies and they suggested that we get

the

> band, so we went a head with it. He said to me really? They tell

> everyone we send over there that they need one. now im really

pissed

> i didnt even know what to say. y put me through all of this if

you

> dont even think we need it. who do i trust? y do pediatricians

take

> this so lightly? i am so annoyed!

>

[Guest guest]

Our first doctor never picked up on our son's head shape or neck issue.

The second doctor picked up on the head shape but not the neck issue. I

pursued this one. In other words doctors are not perfect and it is our

responsibility to pursue something if we do not feel comtfortable with

it. I find myself educating them. (Yes I work at a University) I was

told my son's head wasn't really bad but it could get worse over time

and then it would be too late to do anything about it. So we got the

cranial cap through Cranial Technologies in Dallas. He is only going to

wear it for four months and we are into the second month and can see a

difference. Our baby has a round head instead of a flat back and two

points on either side! It was worth the cost to us. Although I am

pursuing an appeal with my health insurance. After a few days of

adjusting to the band he doesn't notice it. So it is not painful

to children! So do what you feel you must do! Remember you can not

correct the head later since it will already be formed and hard.

Perhaps whereever you go to get the cap can refer you to doctor's who

support it. Hang in there!

Good luck and God bless.

Trish Quinones

Mother to 9 month

[Guest guest]

Hello All,I understand the confusion that is created here by Pediatricians and Helmet Providers opinions. My 2 cents... I think taking multiple Helmet Providers opinions can also help. In my case CT's diagnosis of my daughter's plagiocephaly was moderate to severe and they recommended her a band. They didnt tell me any numbers till I pushed them and then they said she measures at 15mm asymmetry. They said the band will bring it down to 7mm.We weren't convinced with CT's evaluation so we took her to another helmet provider. Their diagnosis of my daughter's plagiocephaly was mild to moderate. They recommended physical therapy for her tort and after three months reevaluated her to be very mild. They measured her at 11mm asymmetry at her first visit and at 7mm asymmetry at her second measurement. CT wasnt too off with the asymmetry

number but they didnt give us the option of therapy at all. In my personal experience I found CT a little too pushy about banding my daughter. I didnt know she had tort till the other helmet provider told me about it. Physical therapy with repositioning is what we did from 6 months to 9 months. She is now 13 months. Her head is not completely perfect but we are happy with it.I know not everyone is lucky to have multiple providers in their area. But if you have the option its worth a try. In my case it was really really worth it.Thanks,