Hip Dysplaysia Support Group #2

Chanzanlow - Try not to beat yourself up too much, what is done is done. Good idea to get GP to call as that might hurry things along. In terms of going privately, I know you don't have private health insurance but you could still go private if you had the money to pay for it. I have private health insurance but unless she needs an operation private health insurance is of no assistance, you just have to pay yourself anyway. The costs involved are seeing the Orthopaedic Surgeon, there costs vary depending on who you see but each visit could cost between $200(generally only the 1st visit is expensive) - $80 for follow up app (these were roughly what our Orth Surg charged) and then number of them depends on how long treatment is needed but app are often every 6 wks. In terms of the brace the costs vary depending on brace needed. Since your DD is 16wks she won't go into the pavlik harness. Could be DB bar - at RCh that is $250 which includes are follow app with them. Anyway hope that helps. Just something to think about.

There really isn't anything you should/could be doing until you have your app's but when changing nappies don't lift her bum up by the ankles as alot of people do as that puts pressure on her hips.

Crosswig - Congrat's it is a wonderful feeling being brace free.

Crosswig - congratulation that is wonderful news :dance: Very, very excited for you. i can't wait for that day for our DD. Must be beautiful giving nice close cuddles and thinking of it, just about everything must be better. We've only been in our brace 10 days but already miss the brace free time so much.

Mummy Naomi - well done that is very inventive. Sounds like a great idea. Our DD is quite big for her age 70 percentile for height and weight so forward facing is OK for her.

Chanzalow - going to the dr. sounds like a great idea see if you can hurry them along a little. I actually rang the RCH orthapeadic dpt myself and spoke to Pru (she is our clinician) this did wonders. I explained my situation to her, the age of my DD and all that had been going on. We had had our ultrasound there the day before and she was able to look at the report on her screen. It was amazing, she got us in the following Monday (I rang on friday) and our journey began from there. I found the orthapeadic dpt number on the RCH website and then explained to the receptionist that I was quite concerned and anxious about how long the wait would be. She then put me through to Pru's message bank and she called me back a couple of hours later.
Anyway see what you think but in the meantime it sounds like you need to stop beating yourself up. What matters is that you are getting your LO help now, not what has happened in the past.
I also second that nappy changing thing, they were quite clear to us at the childrens that we shouldn't put her legs together, especially when nappy changing. During Chloe's hour off she is allowed to do what she likes with her legs but we are not to push them together at all. Hope that helps

Thanks for the advice! I will definately give the hospital and my GP a call tomorrow and try and speed things up! I will also look into going privately as well.

wiggs How old is your DD?

Hello All!
I came across this forum searching for pregnant mothers with past hip dysplasia and wanted to offer some comfort to each of you struggeling with this issue with your children. I am 29 years old and was diagnosed with hip dysplasia in both hips at age 2. I had several surgeries from age 2 - 11. I am fortunate that to date I've never needed a replacement and although I do have scars on both sides I have no difficulties now =) as a child I was able to play sports run, jump and even dare to ice skate (I was terrible at it but that's just because I'm clumsy haha!) I've had a wonderful life thus far and thank God that my previous disabilities made me the strong woman I am today.... and I am a mother of a fantastic 5 year old who was born perfectly. Be strong, pray and always tell your children as my parents did even when I was in a full body cast that they can do anything any other children can! It will all work out! I'm living proof =) may God bless each and every one of your families!

Hi everyone,

I'm starting to really struggle with all of this now. I'm so tired and pushing my own limits and I just want this rotten time to be over. The quick run down on us - DD was diagnosed with hip dysplacia at 7 weeks old, left hip almost non-existant, right hip shallow. Into a Dennis Browne brace for four weeks 24/7, didn't work, off for one week, open reduction a week before she turned four months old, plaster for five weeks and been in the rhino cruiser ever since. She is now almost nine months old.

We've managed just fine until now, kept really positive and managed. We're allowed to have the brace off for an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon, and for baths. In the free leg time, DD has learned to roll over, she can sit up for long lengths of time and she is an extremely happy baby. I'm blessed with all of it. BUT I WANT IT TO BE OVER NOW!!!!!!!!!

I have a surgeon's appointment on Monday, yet another x-ray to see how she's growing. The last one, her hips were only just beginning to curve. I dread these appointments now. So I'm just sitting here now, sad and frustrated and wonder how much longer is this going to go on for. She's just so beautiful, family, friends and even all her doctors remark on how happy she is and I know she won't remember any of it. But when I'm watching her roll around on the floor like she is now, rolling from front to back in the rotten brace - she's determined - I just want her to be free. I'm sick of people staring at me in the supermarket. I'm sick of people thinking that I can't hear the whispers "What's wrong with her legs", "Oh look at that, poor thing".

I'm sorry to bring such doom to what tries to be a positive group and I do take what's said on board. I'm just so so tired and all I want for Christmas is for my baby to sit with us at the dinner table brace free.

Corelly.

Oh Correly I cry with you. Your words echo what I so often feel yet am too afraid to say and I've only been doing this a couple of weeks. Big hugs coming your way

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......all I want for Christmas is for my baby to sit with us at the dinner table brace free.

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Oh sweetheart, that bought a tear to my eye, I hear ya..... I wish you could have your christmas wish.... I know exactly how you feel, I am devastated that Bailey will spend his first christmas and birthday in the brace....

Its so wrong that this is how our children start their lives, I don't think any of us imagined this is how our babies first year would be (or second, third for those with older kids). It a cruel twist of fate and it just plain sucks. I hope your DD time in her brace ends soon xx

Corelly Big hugs from me too! I've only discovered this group and my baby has yet to begin her journey but I can relate, dont ever feel sorry for letting your feelings out! I hope you get some good news on Monday.

I've spoken to Prue at RCH, she actually rang me first thing this morning. She looked at DD's file and said more than likely she will be going into the brace (I'm assuming this will be the DDB?!) Her appointment is Tuesday morning so I guess we will know then.

Thanks for all your support! I was very lost until I found this group.

chanzanlow - that is fantastic. Prue is great, although talks fairly quietly so make sure you hear her well. I would suggest bringing a support person with you if possible and allowing yourself most of the day as I found it took us the whole day as we had to go to prue, x-ray, back to prue, then to orthotics. There was lots of waiting around but we were just relieved to finally be getting treatment for our little one. The people in orthotics were also great, we see Liam. They tell you heaps about the brace and have great posters of what hip dysplaysia is all about, we found them to give us the clearest explanation of the whole thing.
Will be thinking of you on Tuesday it is quite an emotional thing once your bub does go into the brace. I kept thinking I was coping great at the hospital, I think because I was surrounded by a lot of sicker kids. But once I walked in my door it really hit home. Allow yourself time to grieve. And in the meantime give your bub heaps of baths and floor time ;)

Corelly,

I'm so sad to hear that you are having a hard time at the moment. I commend what others have said and to let your feelings out. It IS sad when our babies are in treatment for special events like Christmas and Birthdays. As mothers I think we try and be so strong for everyone else that when our own feeling hit us, they come down like a ton of bricks. We'll all be thinking of you on Monday. Best of luck.

Has anyone got experience of putting a VERY young baby (who is in a pavlik harness) into a sling? I was always too scared but someone has asked me about this.

Crosswig

wiggs - Thanks for the advice! Unfortunately I have to go on my own as my DH will have to look after our other 2 children who are 2 and 4, we don't really have anyone that can look after them. I was wondering how long it would take actually so I will allow the whole day! Did you have to buy a new car seat or pram etc? What clothing do you recommend?

crosswig - I am sure that I read somewhere about a baby born being ok to use?! But it was when I was doing my many google searches that it came up so no idea where to find out now, The best thing to do would probably be to ask a specialist, I can ask Prue on Tuesday if you need me to....

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for the support..AGAIN!! This site is just so valuable and I don't know what I'd do without it.

We've all got our fingers, toes, eyes, everythings crossed that DD will be brace free as of Monday. I'll even accept it if she has to still sleep in it. But just let it come off during the day!!

Hope everyone is going okay on this journey and that these brave bubs of ours are still managing some smiles.

Corelly

Crosswig - how young is very young? - we had DD in hug a bub sling at 7 weeks (when she got brace on) but she was in Denis Brown brace, hug a bub keeps the legs apart in a similar position to the brace anyway so that worked quite well - assume would be similar with the pavlik. The DB has a bar across the back, but because bub faces in that was no problem and the leg cuffs didn't cause any issues digging into me at all. We didn't have a pram so used the hug a bub all the time till about 10 weeks when decided she was too heavy to only use the sling. Now DD is bigger she goes in an Ergo great because she is used to having her legs splayed!!

All those at the RCH MEl - we see Prue too and have found her to be lovely, did see someone else while she was away who was also good. Used to see Rod in Orthotics but he is now on long service leave.

Corelly good luck for Monday. We are back on 22nd for an X-Ray after having the brace off totally since mid Nov - we were warned chance could go back on but am hoping not, would be really weird to have to get back used to it again even if just at night. We kept the old one to show CJ when older, she actually used to smile when we put it on because we used to sing a song "Good day Mr Brace how are you" something along those lines.

Hi all, sorry I have been MIA the past weeks... just been a bit busy with christmas coming up ever so fast, and so many doctors appointments with my 3 kids. i tell ya what, boys are a handful... yesterday my oldest boy jack put our cat in the washing machine and turned it on! luckily i walked in just after and saw the cat going round and round (the water didnt go in for some unknown reason but lucky it didnt!!) then today my youngest boy ben, hit his brother in the face for using his pillow and blanket, and gave his big brother a big black eye) was fun walking down the street today with Jack having a black eye. A few of my friends stopped me and asked what happened, and they had a big of a giggle when i told them that his little brother did it to him eek...

Lahni is doing so well in her new brace, she is so happy (she always has been) but she is a lot happier now... esp at nappy chances and bath times!! she kicks her little legs with delight, and she laughed a few times :) we go for her next ultrasound on the 6th of Jan, and then we see her doctor straight after, I am so hoping she gets out of the brace then. Because if things haven't improved for her left hip (it only had 47.6% coverage) she'll have to go back into the pavlik harness... i know it will be for the best but i just dont like the pavlik harness.. i got so many stares, and whispers when she was in it.. even got asked how i broke her legs.... im enjoying this brace cos people usually know its because of her hips.. not that i broke her legs like the pavlik harness does.

crosswig - i had DD in a snugly when i think she was 3 weeks old (i asked her doctor before i got it) and he said its fine to have her in it... as long as her legs are apart it doesn't matter, and she was in the pavlik harness.

Corelly - sorry you went through a hard time... heres hoping for fantastic news on Monday, I'll be thinking about you... just like everyone else in the awesome group :)

chazanlow - goodluck for your appointment on tuesday... i agree with what wiggs suggested and bring a support person with you... its really hard seeing your lil one go into the brace/harness (which ever), i cried my eyes out when my DD was getting put into it... but it gets easier, and you don't seem to notice it after a while. It took my a good 24 hours to come to terms with it. But will be thinking of you, let us know how you go :)

MummyNaomi - Good work with your handy work with your DS's carseat hehe, i had a lil bit of a giggle when i read about the saw to the carseat hehehe. thanks for that.

Dee99 - Thankyou for sharing your journey with us, its good to know that after treatment as a bub everything works out for them :)

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I've just discovered that we need a new car seat - although Bailey (just) fits in ours, after yesterdays 'adjustment' he has been upset in the car and today I discovered why, as it is now too narrow it is pushing his calves in which is pinching his skin near the knee where the cuff is...

Wiggs - what car seat did you buy? I am not ready to turn Bailey around to front facing yet, he is too little imo - but I doubt I am going to find a rear facing seat wide enough. I'll go out tomrrow and see what I can find but any experiences/experience with wider car seats would be appreciated

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MummyNaomi - we had to have a different car seat for our DS, although I can't give any advice about the type of rear facing seat to buy I can say that we actually never brought a car seat. The hospital (PMH) set up an appt with Kids Safe and they rented us one for the entire time... only cost about $50 or so dollars plus about the same for deposit. It was part of the hospitals duty of care to not let us leave the hospital without a secure an safe method of travel for DS. A much better solution for us than buying a car seat that would only be used for a short time.

I'm not sure what state you are in but it might be worth investigating :)

Hi girls,

DD is having her second ultrasound tomorrow at Westmead Children's Hospital. I am praying that her hips have improved (was 44% and 48% at 6 week ultrasound) otherwise was told she will be referred to an ortho and will be in a harness or brace. She will be 11 weeks on Wednesday. Hoping we will be able to get results and treatment quickly if need be! Will post tomorrow arvo on how we get on.

Goodluck with the ultrasound tomorrow!! i hope her hips have improved. :)

hi new to this site,
Have a little girl just gone into spica cast. Usual six week deal hopefully and then braces. Think I have my head around it. She is 9 months old and diagnosed late. Had just started to commando crawl and was told she would not do this in the cast but after one week she is getting around. just wondering if this is normal and can it do any damage? she is getting great upper body strength already. Anyone had any dealings with this. Thanks Rarni:)

hi rarni, welcome to the forum.
hows your lil girl going in the spica?

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hi new to this site,
Have a little girl just gone into spica cast. Usual six week deal hopefully and then braces. Think I have my head around it. She is 9 months old and diagnosed late. Had just started to commando crawl and was told she would not do this in the cast but after one week she is getting around. just wondering if this is normal and can it do any damage? she is getting great upper body strength already. Anyone had any dealings with this. Thanks Rarni:)

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Hi Rarni

Welcome:D

My DS was diagnosed at 20mths - he commando crawled as soon as he was out of bed after the first cast went on.. the Dr's said that this wasn't a problem and not to be concerned because how can you stop them really??!!
DS had 3 casts and crawled in all of them.. the only thing you need to watch out for is wearing through to the knees.. DS wore through 2 of his casts... the third they re-inforsed but this then created a problem when removing it as it was too thick to get the saw through. I would suggest that if you notice this happening to use duck tape or something to re-inforce the knees.

The last brace we has DS even learnt to walk in it!!!! I think there just isn't stopping some kids... we never stressed about it.. he was happy and that was the main thing in our opinion.

Her hips have improved - we still have to wait a few days for results so we can talk to the paediatrician but the ultrasound lady said she is not grade 2 anymore and that they have improved. She said she doesnt think she will need to go into a brace or harness. Sooooo happy to hear.

erybery that is wonderful news! Hoping for improvement at our mid Jan x-ray too.
It's so great to hear good news and that our bubs do improve over time. Good luck with your follow up aptmt.

Can't believe it but Chloe is crawling backwards brace and all, is absoloutly obsessed with it. All the people at the RCH told me it doesn't slow their development but I didn't really believe them. Makes me feel better about the whole thing.

Oh wow, Wiggs!!! Crawling in the brace! Fantastic :D

Well, we had our appointment today with the surgeon and we are not yet brace free. Her bad hip is developing well, but still not enough to be out of the brace. The better hip is perfect now, so that's something. Our next appointment is in seven weeks, so through Christmas and New Year for us :wall:

The challange for us now is that we have a holiday booked for nine weeks time. We've postponed it once already, used a heap of frequent flyer points to change the flights, and changed it to March, thinking "For sure, she'll be out of the brace". Now I'm not so sure.

Just trying to stay positive and hope it doesn't get too hot over the next few weeks. The surgeon said that if we wanted to take her out of the brace for a bit longer if we were going to the beach or the pool, we can. So I'm thinking that I'll take her high chair to my mum's for lunch on Christmas day and damn it, DD will sit with us for our first Christmas together, instead of lying on the floor while we eat.

Hope everyone has a lovely Christmas

Corelly x

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Hi Rarni

Welcome:D

My DS was diagnosed at 20mths - he commando crawled as soon as he was out of bed after the first cast went on.. the Dr's said that this wasn't a problem and not to be concerned because how can you stop them really??!!
DS had 3 casts and crawled in all of them.. the only thing you need to watch out for is wearing through to the knees.. DS wore through 2 of his casts... the third they re-inforsed but this then created a problem when removing it as it was too thick to get the saw through. I would suggest that if you notice this happening to use duck tape or something to re-inforce the knees.

The last brace we has DS even learnt to walk in it!!!! I think there just isn't stopping some kids... we never stressed about it.. he was happy and that was the main thing in our opinion.

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Hey Lizy 79, Jesska,
Thanks for your replies. Great to hear that they crawl in the cast no problem. She is getting so fast now that she has a rocking action up. Had a shocking day yesterday. Had to go for MRI to check hips had not redislocated in cast. Gave DS liquid sedation which she promptly spewed up and then they couldn't give her more as they didnt know how much she had spewed. When she finally slept after 20 minutes there was a hold up on the machine and after 45 minutes of waiting she woke up when they went to put her in. Then they tried to pin her down with no success and ended up having to do ct scan instead. So more radiation. It scares the life out of me. Very emotional day. Does anyone know the effects of so many xrays. I am really frustrated that they dont cover her ovaries for xrays when I know she has many ahead of her.

Lizy79 your DS sounds like a little trooper crawling in all casts and wearing out the knees. We have put a sheep skin under her cut out in body shape and that works great to protect the polished floor boards and is slippery for her to get around. Carpet areas and no worries. hey least this way she can help with the cleaning. ha ha Rarni

Chanzanlow - just wondering how things went with your DD on Tuesday, have been thinking about you. Hope all is going OK and you are adjusting. The first week is not fun but it does get better. :hug:

Hi Everyone - I'm having a bit of a tough time emotionally so sorry for a selfish post - I just cant shake this sadness I feel of Bailey's situation in the brace. It's really silly as I think he is coping fine most of the time, but I just have alot of anger, resentment and sadness about the situation that I just cant seem to get past. I get panicky every time a baby around us hits a milestone - eg crawling, rolling, pulling themselves up etc and it just reminds me how behind and immobile my little guy is. Don't get me wrong, I am enjoying him, but I just worry ALOT and having the clock tick down as I am returning to work in March, this isn't helping either. I keep telling myself logical things like "Just enjoy this time", "He'll catch up", "Don't waste this precious baby time" etc, but then something happens to drag me back down again (eg simple things like a bath used to relax him before bed, now as I have to flip him over so many times to get the brace back on him after a bath and then dress him he is cranky and it just drags out bed time etc). The biggest issue I have is cuddles, and its making me cry typing this out but I just want to be able to hold my baby close in a proper cuddle - are these feelings normal? I just cant shake them, I think I cry at least once a day over something brace related............ :( I feel like no-one IRL understands, or they think that as I am coping with the practicalities that I am coping emotionally, and in fairness I have been hiding most of my feelings as I dont want to burden people and when I have let my feelings out I am not finding the support or understanding that I am looking for (and am sooooooooooooo over people telling me that he'll be out of the brace before I know it, and he'll grow up to be healthy, wont remember it etc etc - I KNOW all that, it doesn't help me!). I know he doesn't have cancer and is healthy etc etc, and I know there are always people worse off, but this is our 'worst' situation and I am struggling to accept it, I dont think I will ever accept that this is how my babies first year is supposed to be........I feel robbed of this special time - rolling, crawling, learning to stand, by the time these all happen I will be back at work and I will miss it all, its not fair. I scrimped and saved like a mad woman to have almost 12 months off as these things were important to me. Unfortunately I cannot extend my maternity leave. Bailey was already behind in these things anyway (his delayed gross motor issues led us to the DDH and there seems no sign that he will do these things in the brace unlike other babies)

I just dont know what to do..... Maybe I just need to find a way to accept that there is nothing I CAN do, and this is they key - it all seems logical in my mind, but overwhelmingly the emotion keeps over-riding everything :(

Naomi

HI MummyNaomi,

I know its hard - I think we all know and can relate.... at sometime even if you weren't going through this with your little man it would be something else. I think we can all agree that at some stage being a mum we have second guessed ourselves, felt bad that we missed something, got angry at our babies for something silly like lack of sleep... the list goes on. What you are feeling is normal but you are not alone.... My DS was dignosed after I had gone back to work fulltime.... he has gone thru all the braces, casts etc with me at work.... my partner took 7 wks off in the beginning but then DS had to go to daycare... I have had to take time off for appointments so am torn between feeling guilty that I'm taking time off work and feeling guilty that I can't dedicate more time at home when my DS is going through such a big life event - double edged sword really:wall:

Find other things that he may enjoy - maybe a walk outside in the pram or leave the house work for a little while and lay down and just watch him play... I'm sure he's not too fussed... so why should you be... Try and be happy :D BUT if it seems never ending and you are always feeling sad then I would talk to your Dr about it in case its more than that.

Hi Mummy Naomi,

Big hugs to you. I had a meltdown on here a week or so ago and your words sing loudly in my ears. I know our bubs don't have any horrible disease, but it's still so hard to see them. My DD is almost nine months old, and up until now, I haven't really noticed that she is behind because the gap hasn't been too great. But I made the mistake the other day of going onto the page of "babies born march etc" and it just about killed me to see what these "normal" babies are up to.

Our babies are so precious, so special, even though they are in braces or spicas. I know I don't have to say that, but they just are. And the day that my DD walks, I will be so proud. Proud to see her take those steps and proud that we've gotten through this hard time. Hang in there, Naomi. I know how you feel about hiding how you feel from everyone - it's easier to do that then get the standard "oh, she'll be fine" and "stay positive", when you don't have any positive thing left in your body. Let it all out here, in this forum.

Corelly x

Ahhh, thanks guys. I just needed to get it out before I my brain exploded. Lizy - with regard to your last comment, I am certain I'm not suffering from depression etc, (I checked and did the quiz on the beyond blue website to be sure !!) but I think its REALLY hard to take the emotion out when its about your child. I spend ALOT of quality time with Bailey and make sure he and I have plenty of fun activity time as well as lots of simple cuddles and tickles and kisses constantly - so I do enjoy him dont get me wrong (its just that the whole brace hip thing is always there at the back of my mind IYKWIM)

Corelly - your message REALLY helped, how wonderful it is to be understood, I think your kind words are what I needed, and I felt a bit of peace about it all when I read your message, thankyou :) And you are right, it will be a VERY special day when we see our precious kids walk for the first time, I really look forward to that (I'll take crawling for now though when it happens hehehe :) )

Naomi - hope getting it out helped a bit. Just 1 idea if you are missing the cuddles with out the brace. Could you sometimes do a sponge bath with him in the brace and the time he would normally be out of the brace for the bath spend having brace free cuddles. Just an idea.

Hi everyone, good news from us had our follow up x-ray after stopping using the brace mid-November and all is good, just want to see DD in six months for another x-ray. On the x-ray the angle on left hip looked not so good but measured fine and they were happy that cartlidge there is fine just not showing on x-ray. Was madness at RCH MEL today, to park there you had to leave keys in car as had run out of spaces so were parking cars everywhere and then moving them!

Naomi - we used to bath CJ only every few days (and still do to be honest) and she has the best skin ever - so if you did want to spend your brace free time on cuddles etc - skipping the bath is a great idea in my opinion.

Hope Christmas and the New Year brings good progress for everyone's bubs.

Awesome news, Wysiwyg! Hope you can continue along with great bone growth! I've been to RCH on a busy day, had to leave my keys too. It's pure madness in that carpark!!

Mummy Naomi, I'm so glad I could help. I feel like I take a lot from these posts, and then feel guilty, like I'm not helping anyone else. Gotta love guilt. Such an awesome emotion ;) . I hope you have a nice Christmas and I'm sure Bailey will be a spoilt boy - lucky little man!

And for me this Christmas - well we're pretty broke after bills, bills, bills. But we put DDs presents on layby in July so she'll be spoilt too. And I've decided to not stress on Christmas Day about how long she's out of the brace. We're allowed two free hours a day, but I'm not going to watch the clock religiously. I want our first Christmas as a family to be special and yes, I'm going to be naughty (well, until my rotten subconscious starts complaining, anyway).

Have a great Christmas everyone and for those of you experiencing their first Christmas as a parent like me, I hope you have lots of special memories at the end of it.

Corelly x

Whoops - Happy New Year too!!

Corelly :lol:

Thanks Guys - I definately get lots of hugs in during our brace free time, but its more when DS is upset and I want to hug him close and sooth him, thats when I wish the most for those brace free cuddles .....

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas with your precious babies and children. I wish that 2010 brings us all to the end of our DDH journeys and we get to see our babies crawling, walking and running freely x x x

Happy Christmas and NY to all. For anyone that goes to the RCh Melb regularly a parking tip for you, instead of parking in the offical RCH carpark, Chapman St runs parallel with Flem. Rd towards Nth Melbourne, always has 2 hrs free street parking and there is always parking (well whenever I've been never had an issue) and the bonus is its free. Our Orth Surg had his offices in the street so that is how we found it and used it ever since.

Hi Everyone!!
Sorry I have been MIA lately, just been soooo busy with Christmas and looking for a new car! To fit everyone in, lol. We found a new car though and DH will be picking it up Monday sometime, so cannot wait, we have a Nissian X-trail atm and it's just not big enough for all the kids, it's fine atm cos Lahni is in the capsule but as soon as she is out of it no room will be left haha. So we have brought a Holden Commodore Wagon 05 VZ with 80,000ks on it. Sooooooooooo much more room!!
As for Lahni she enjoyed her first Christmas and got oh so spoilt by everyone, slept like an angel through meal times hehehe. and just really enjoyed herself... well she looked like she did anyways :) Everyone calls her "The lil' hip angel" hehe I think its pretty cute. all the family learnt how to hold her and they all think she is just beautiful :) It really ment a lot to me that they didn't see Lahni as different to the other kids and babies. They were blinded by the brace and didnt even notice until I changed her nappy (although they all knew she was in a brace) hard to explain.
We go for her next ultrasound on the 6th of January. And we see her peds straight after. At her last ultrasound her left hip was 47.7% and her right hip was 57.7% with shallow sockets... I so hope everything has improved because her doctor said if this brace doesn't work for this 6 weeks then she'll have to go back into the pavlik and to no baths again... so fingers crossed this brace has done the job!!!

erybery - thats awesome that the US lady said it has improved. Have you seen your pediatrician yet?

wiggs - that is awesome news that Chloe is crawling backwards in the brace!!!! Go Chloe!! It's amazing how babies adjust to things hey :)

MummyNaomi - I'm glad you are feeling a lil better about the brace, I know its hard seeing your lil' one in it. I keep telling myself, Its only for a short time, but then I see a pretty dress and I cant put Lahni in it without putting leggings on.. I cant wait to dress her in things I want to dress her in without the worry about the brace rubbing on her. But I do agree with the other girls we all have our days.

wysiwyg - thats fantastic news about your x-ray! yay for no brace!! whoohoo

Well I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas and I hope 2010 brings the best news for us all.

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I've just discovered that we need a new car seat - although Bailey (just) fits in ours, after yesterdays 'adjustment' he has been upset in the car and today I discovered why, as it is now too narrow it is pushing his calves in which is pinching his skin near the knee where the cuff is...

Wiggs - what car seat did you buy? I am not ready to turn Bailey around to front facing yet, he is too little imo - but I doubt I am going to find a rear facing seat wide enough. I'll go out tomrrow and see what I can find but any experiences/experience with wider car seats would be appreciated

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Hey mummy naomi,
Its a bit of an issue now with rear ward facing seats. Royal childrens in melb are still using the maxi rider which is forward facing but an issue now with new laws. We are told that the safe and sound meridian fits babies in spicas and braces. Currently we have hired a seat which is an amercian seat and can be forward and rear ward facing and made for kids in spicas. Hope this helps.

Thanks Rarni - I solved the car seat issue - with a saw!! LOL - we cut out the plastic moulding on ours where Baileys legs were pressing up against, worked really well, so we can keep him rear facing until he is big enough to move as we would have normally :)

Hi everyone,

Hope everyone had a nice Christmas and New Year. I spent it at home with DH and DD. We seem to be going into a new benchmark - DD is trying to crawl in the brace. She's lifting her body up, and starting to rock, like she would if she didn't even have the brace on. She's managing to scoot around the lounge room, by rolling over and over, or by pushing herself backwards. I can't wait to see what she can do once the brace is gone!

Mummy Naomi - how's Bailey going and how are you? I was thinking that maybe to combat being able to hold him in lieu of bathtime - have you had a bath with him? I jumped in the bath with DD just before she had surgery and she thought it was the best thing ever. She loves being in the bath and it allowed for plenty of bonding time too.

Hope everyone is well and all the bubs are smiling and spoilt with their new toys!

Corelly ;)

Hi all, we have our second ultrasound tomorrow morning at 9.20am.
then we see Lahni's doctor at 10.45 the same day..... kinda nervous about the whole thing.
i just want her out of the brace but trying not to get my hopes up...
she has now been in some sort of harness/brace for 3 months 4 days (no im not counting hahahha)