Club Feet, Ponseti Casts & Immunizations

[MonicaP]

Hi Kim,
Hayley was very bothered by her cast at first but she adapted to it after a few days. However she also had bad reflux problems with her when she was very young and we found that when the cast went on she developed it again because she could no longer move (she was 4 months when her cast went on and she was already rolling over prior to that).
The cast did affect her sleeping which our orthopaedic surgeon told us to expect. She got very distressed when we put her down at night and would wake up alot through the night. She has had the cast on now for nearly 3 months and although her night sleeping is better it is not as good as it was before it went on.
We are also having trouble with Hayley feeding since we started her on solids (she is now 7 months) to the point where she now just clamps up and often just gets upset when I try to feed her (only solids, she will still take milk but even then sometimes not alot). I have had her at the clinic nurse twice about it and she is not worried because although she is under the average for weight she is still following the curve. She said that she probably doesn't have as big an appetite as a normal 7 month old because she is unable to move around. However I am still a bit worried and if it doesn't improve in the next couple of weeks I think I might take her to my GP or the paediatrician and get their opinion. Every time she has a new cast put on I weigh her the day before (although they usually do it at the hospital) and then the day after so I know how much the cast weighs and I can keep track of her actual weight.
Sorry I can't help you with the surgery question. Hayley has gone under anestheic when they put the original cast on and then when they replaced it with a new one, but not for any other surgery while the cast was on. Both times however the surgeon and the anasethist came and spoke to us prior to her going into theatre so you could ask them then.
I hope this has been of some help and feel free to ask more questions if you need. I know how you feel it, took me along time to stop my head from swimming when Hayley was first diagnosed. I wish all the best!
Monica