Hip Dysplaysia Support Group

[Miss.September]

Hi everyone,

Hera's Dad - what another idiot of a doctor. The quicker they do mandatory ultrasounds at 6 weeks old, the better all our babies will be. You'll get a lot of advice here and ideas of what to do. The best bit I found was to get a beanbag for bub once the spica goes on and to look at loads of photos online of babies in spicas so that you're not so shocked when your baby comes out of surgery. Good luck.

Monday was our 12 week appointment, "After Spica". Originally we were told that the rhino cruiser brace could come off then, but da dum. Not this visit. DD's hips are growing and starting to shape correctly but not enough for her to come out of the brace.

She's really starting to feel this horrid Melbourne heat, even in a fully airconditioned house. I asked the surgeon if swimming was an option, and he said that was fine, and even to leave the brace off for a couple of hours if we do put her in a pool, but I feel so bad for her- after a b/f her head is soaked because she is just so hot, poor darling. We've got another appointment in four weeks so I've got every finger and toe crossed that the brace can come off, even if it is just during the day. She cries if I put shorts on her under the brace, she hates the feeling of the foam inserts on her legs and I know I'm not supposed to do it anyway, but had to try something.

I really feel for you guys out there at the moment with bubs in spicas when we're struggling in the brace, which I'm sure isn't half as bad.

Hope everyone is coping with all of this. I can loudly say that I CAN'T WAIT FOR ALL OF THIS TO BE OVER!!!!

Corelly

[Hera's Dad]

Hi everyone,

Hera's Dad - what another idiot of a doctor. The quicker they do mandatory ultrasounds at 6 weeks old, the better all our babies will be. You'll get a lot of advice here and ideas of what to do. The best bit I found was to get a beanbag for bub once the spica goes on and to look at loads of photos online of babies in spicas so that you're not so shocked when your baby comes out of surgery. Good luck.

Monday was our 12 week appointment, "After Spica". Originally we were told that the rhino cruiser brace could come off then, but da dum. Not this visit. DD's hips are growing and starting to shape correctly but not enough for her to come out of the brace.

She's really starting to feel this horrid Melbourne heat, even in a fully airconditioned house. I asked the surgeon if swimming was an option, and he said that was fine, and even to leave the brace off for a couple of hours if we do put her in a pool, but I feel so bad for her- after a b/f her head is soaked because she is just so hot, poor darling. We've got another appointment in four weeks so I've got every finger and toe crossed that the brace can come off, even if it is just during the day. She cries if I put shorts on her under the brace, she hates the feeling of the foam inserts on her legs and I know I'm not supposed to do it anyway, but had to try something.

I really feel for you guys out there at the moment with bubs in spicas when we're struggling in the brace, which I'm sure isn't half as bad.

Hope everyone is coping with all of this. I can loudly say that I CAN'T WAIT FOR ALL OF THIS TO BE OVER!!!!

Corelly

Thank you , I am going to do the bean bag, but how long does this help a baby that wants to roam around like nobody's buisenesss.

[Jesska]

bridee - thanks for all the info on the ultrasounds, means a lot. I don't really like going into things not knowing what to expect kinda thing, haha, strange I know. I'd rather know that she may scream her lungs out than going in there thinking she will be a perfect Little Angel.
I have made sure my hubby's boss lets him have the morning off, and my mother in law is going to look after the boys for us, thank god. I am really nervous of what the results are going to be though... Im just hoping for good news... obviously - well aren't we all. Just a quick question, does anyone know why babies get hip dysplaysia?? or is it something that just happens???

wiggs - sorry i dont really have any advice for you - as i am only new to this myself... but i hope everything works out for you and you DD at your appointment.

Hera's Dad - Omg if i were you i would be majorly ****ed off, i cant believe your doctor didn't take you seriously!!!! some doctors these days really annoy me!! they get paid to do a job, so they should bloody well do it properly. Sorry I don't have any advice for you either, as I haven't been through it. I hope your little girl adjusts to the Spica quickly and she isn't too uncomfortable.

Corelly - That sucks that your DD couldnt get taken out of the brace yet, how annoying for you. How old is your DD and how old was she when she was diagnosed with HD? Oh I know what you mean about bubs feeling the hot weather... my lil one is deff feeling it, so when we are home she is only in the pavlik harness and a nappy... I am also constantly putting wet face washes on her face and body to try to keep her cool. Oh how I wish i could just strip her off and give her a bath. But this is the best thing for her, and I shall do what my doctor has told me and not take her harness off, as hard as it is somedays. She is a very good baby though so I cant really complain.
What is the rhino brace?? is that the brace they go in after the pavlik?? My little girl has been in the pavlik since she was 2 weeks old, then at our 3rd appointment our doctor also put her in a brace, that went over her clothes. its plastic and looks like a nappy sorta.... I just cant for the lfe of me remember what he called the brace.
I hope at your appointment in 4 weeks time the brace can come off for good!!

Anyway Lahni is back to sleep should go before the boys wake up, Cya's.

PS Does anyone have facebook?

[Miss.September]

Hi!

Hera's Dad - We found an adult sized beanbag to be better than a baby/child one - it's bigger so it fits better around bub. I don't know how you'll go with it because my DD still isn't mobile - has never been, so she's happy to sit in it for quite a while.

Jesska - DD went into the first brace when she was 7wks, in that for four weeks, one week brace free and then into surgery for the open reduction. It was then the spica for five weeks and now the rhino brace. She's now seven months old. The rhino cruiser wraps around her thighs and around her waist, it's plastic and foam, with velcro to hold it on and is so easy to work with. It goes on over clothes and comes off for every nappy change, baths and for an hour morning and afternoon. It's pretty flexible and kids that have already been walking or crawling can do both in it. From what you're describing, I think your bub must be in the rhino. I was watching DD this morning, trying to roll over in it - she got right up on her side and stayed there!

Corelly

[Razzberry]

Hi, my DD Ella is 6 weeks old and had an ultrasound last week to check her hips as the paed said she may have hip dysplasia when she was a day old also when we saw him again at 3 weeks.
We go back tomorrow to discuss results, though I picked up the scans and reports yesterday.

It says on the report: bilateral grade 2 acetabular dysplasia. it also says the right and left acetabular roof is shallow.
The left femoral head coverage measures 48% at rest and reduces to 38% when stressed.
The rightfemoral head coverage measures 44% at rest and reduces to 38% when stressed.

Does anyone know what this means? how bad is it? If she is gade 2 how many grades are there? will she need to be in a harness? etc.

I guess I will get some answers tomorrow at the paed, just so scared and sad for my little bub!

[nicoli]

Hi all

Just popped in to say hi as I haven't been on here for a while. Xavier had his second ultrasound (14 weeks old) this week and even though I haven't spoken to the paed yet the sonographer said it all looks good. He has 60% coverage in one hip and 'well above 60%' in the other. Good news for us.

To all the new forum member - welcome. I am sure that all of you will find great comfort in talking to the other parents going through similar situations as you on here. When my daughter was diagnosed at 3.5 months (now 2.5 years) I got so much support on here.

Erybery - I'm sure you will find out all about this tomorrow, but I think grade 2 is the second best grade if they have hip dysplasia. Grade 1 is the least severe. My daughter's 'bad' hip was only 17% coverage when she was first diagnosed and I believe that full coverage is somewhere around 70%. Good luck with her treatment. Since she is so young and it is not extreme, hopefully her it will be short and sweet!

Hera's dad - so sorry to hear your story. I hear it all the time. I am so lucky to have had a wonderful GP and community nurses who have always listened to my concerns. Hopefully Hera's treatment will be successful and the time will fly by. Once they come out of casts/braces they pick up where they left off and catch up so quickly. Hopefully Hera copes with not being mobile for that long. You might have to try to find other activities to amuse her and take her mind off things.

Take care everyone

Nicole

[bridee]

Erybery - my DD2 had coverage that was about 50% in both hips. Initially at the 6wks scan they said it could still correct itself and to rescan at 12weeks. Nothing had changed at 12wks so she went into a DB bar. After 6wks her coverage was 70% so with only mild dysplacia babies respond quickly to treatment.