For those of you who aren't aware, Ned has had issues with not turning his head to the left. I first noticed it when he was six weeks old, and raised it with the doctor at my six week checkup. The GP said it was common and would clear itself up. Ned essentially would only sleep on one side of his head and turn his head to the right, not to the left at all.

Two weeks later, it was still a problem, despite putting him the other way up in his cot, as well as putting all his toys on the left. He would prefer to look at a blank wall rather than his toys, as the blank wall was on the right, and the toys on the left. I asked my GP for a referral to the Royal Children's Hospital, as I couldn't afford to pay for a private paediatrician.

Unfortunately, it took ten weeks to obtain an appointment at the RCH. The appointment was today.

Between the GP visit and the RCH appointment, I continually tried to make him turn to the left. He now turns to the left when he is on his tummy or sitting up, but not when he is on his back. At the appointment (with a very well known paediatrician, who was absolutely fabulous!) I was told that Ned has plagiocephaly.

The following information is taken from the RCH information that we were given.

"Plagiocephaly is the most common craniofacial problem today. Deformational plagiocephaly means a mis-shapen or uneven (asymmetrical) head shape. Plagiocephaly does not affect the development of an infant's brain, but if not treated it may change an infant's physical appearance by causing uneven growth of their face and head.

The two most common forms of treatment are counter positioning and/or helmet therapy."

We are off to the Plastic Surgery Plagiocephaly Clinic on 6 March 2006, when we will learn how bad Ned's plagiocephaly is (I think it's pretty bad looking at pictures of other kids with the same condition), and whether or not he will require helmet therapy. Apparently helmets work best between 4 and 8 months of age, and Ned will be five and a half months at that appointment, so we really have to get a wriggle on.

The paed said that we really should have brought Ned in earlier, which gave me the irrits because I had to wait so long for the appointment!

Anyway, I will keep you all updated.