My Baby Has plagiocephaly (misshapen head)...:( need hope it will get better...

I have just been at my 8 week MCHN check up and Bella is in the 97th percentile for her weight, height and head so doing all the right things..

BUT

From birth she has has a misshapen head as she was jammed in to my pelvis at an angle and was also transverse - so her head is on a slight angle and has a bump at the back - no big deal as my Dr told me that it will right its self.
Well my MCHN was making a big deal about it and then told me some excecises to do and things to help - great I will do them ALL -but then went on to tell me if it gets worse then she would have a helmet on for 23 hrs a day...

Well I cant stop crying! I feel like the worst mum ever and like I have failed my beautiful baby girl - she is perfect to me and she always will be but what happens of it doesnt get better and she has that head shapr for ever?? She will eventually hate me..

Has anyone else bub had this and gotten better?? I need hope right now..

Thanks for reading,

Kate xox

Ahhh babe - your MCHN (no disrespect) is not a doctor.

I would go see a professional trained in that area - I was worried about DD's head too cos its really mishapen, but she's just got a lumpy bumpy head, the chiro checked her out (as that is what he is TRAINED in) and said its not severe enough to do anything about.

If anything - take her to a paed, GP, or chiro to get a second opinion - don't stress about what the MCHN said.

JMO of course.

Kate, sweetie, massive hugs to you and your DD :hug:

I second what Arimeh said, definitely go and get a second opinion from a GP or pediatrician.

:hug: I hate it when MCHN's scare us like that!

I highly recommend taking her to a paediatric chiropractor, they have great success in treating things like this.

Kate, Our paed told us at our DS's check up at 7.5 weeks, that he had a mild case of plagiocephaly, and if we layed him on his belly when he was down during the day (sleeps, laying on the floor etc) it would sort itself out. His head does look much better now.

I agree with the other girls, go to a GP,and tell them what the MCHN said, they will check her over and let you know if you should see a paed, or even ask for a referral to see one just to put your mind at ease.

I'm sure your DD won't hate you, and you must be a great mummy if you are worrying about her wellbeing..Yes?? Try not to beat yourself up too much.. :hug:

Nic

Thanks ladies,

As we live in a country town we dont have a pead chiro. I might e-mail the phsyio dept at the hospital and see if they can recomend one - can a normal chiro help out or better to see a specialist one.
I tried to get in to see my GP today but she is away will try to get in tomorrow = the sooner I get it sorted the better I will feel.

Just wish I could stop crying now..

Chin up lovey - stop those tears right now!!!!!! Please stay positive - it may not be anything but a stupid old woman expressing an opinion about something they have no real experience in.

You can ring around normal chiro's - I know the chiro we take Miss M to also sees adults - but promotes himself as a paed one.

:hug:

Ain't none of this your fault babe.

A lot of normal chiros can treat babies, maybe give them a call to find out.

Good luck :hug:.

Baby wearing is great for helping prevent further shaping issues. There is no pressure on the head to cause shape alteration and it can allow remoulding to occur without the need for extra tummy time.

Kate - i noticed that our bubba has a slight flat spot on her right side of head - showed the nurse at the chemist and she noticed it too, but said it wasnt too bad, and to give her more tummy time - she has sooo much tummy time during the day its not funny - its trying to fix it of a night time that im more worried about cause she always turns her head to the right, ihave tried placing her down the other end of the bed but that dosent seem to help!
im too at my wits end and hope that it dosent get worse - the nurse said cause she can turn her head both ways and dosent have a tilt than it might not be a problem, but because its there im still worried!
i know what u are going thru! :hug:

Thanks every one for your words.
I have pulled myself together a bit - well for the time being anyway.
I will make an appoint for my GP for tomorrow and I will ask to get refered to a paed. Even if my GP says her head will be fine I want to see a Paed anyway for my peace of mind.
I guess wearing a helmet for a while this young would not be the worst thing in the world and if It means she is better then so be it.

I have given myself a HUGE headache now so thats super!
Again thanks for all your words.. keep your fingers crossed for me.
Kate

Fingers crossed to you to HJ!!

My health nurse said the same thing about Sara and yes I panicked big time. I took her to the helmet guy and thankfully she was a boarder line case. I did not go ahead with the helmet and Sara turned out ok. BTW my doctor did not see any need for this at all. Seek some opinions. Remember the earilier this problem is address the less time your bub will have to wear a helmet if it is required.

Same thing happened to me hun, she was wedged in my pelvis plus they stretched one side of her neck muscles when they tried to do the vaccum thing and she only turned to one side and her other neck muscles (on the other side) shortened because she never turned to that side (omg did that even make sense...? I'm so friggen tired!).

We noticed Jazzy's head was funny looking, she had a massive bulge in the front and then on the opposite side in the back, and was completely out of whack. She was our little lumpy bumpy babe. We got the diagnosis of left torticollis and plagiocephaly.

At 4 months our CHN told us to make sure she had lots of tummy time (which she wasn't getting as she'd scream the house down) and turn her head while she slept so she slept on the other side, then we saw a physio at about 5 months who said she'd need the helmet BUT after 2 months of actively keeping her off her head (limited back laying and supervised back laying so she wasn't worsening the flatened area) it is correcting itself.

It is NOT your fault. It CAN be treated without a helmet. You've caught it so early that it seems unlikely that they'd do anything but positional therapy until at least 4-5 months (I think my physio said they like to make sure bub has good neck strength before they do a helmet). We bought a BUmbo at 4 months, I think Bella is a bit early for that but when she is ready a Bumbo is great as it keeps them up (Jazz loved her rocker but would lat her flat spot in a groove so obviously wasn't any good for her head). We started doing tummy time in front of a mirror or near the glass doors in our house (so she could see outside) and she tolerated it much better.

If you have a q's let me know xxxxx

Oh, I almost forgot. We also started co-sleeping full-time, as I lay on the left side and Jazz would turn to the left to snuggle (or feed) which I think has had a huge impact on her head and neck.

First of all Kate...OMG isnt she beautiful, you must be so proud!

Second of all- some of those health nurses have no tact and scare the absolute living daylights out of you and get you in hysterics... shame on her!!!! She could have suggested that you go see your gp for a paed referal coz her head is a little out of shape. Not slam it down your throat the worst case senario.

Go and see your GP, also ring around chiros in your area or even osteopaths and see if they will see her to do an assessment.

While you are waiting for that, like leasha said, plenty of tummy time, sit her up as much as you can. I know shes only 2 months, but prop her on pillows, supervise her on a bean bag, baby wearing, sleep her on her tummy during the day (so you can supervise her) or if youre not confident with that make sure you turn her head when shes sleeping. Also a rolled up towel or blanket along one side of her can encourage her to have her head to one particular side.

Hope that helps you. Youre a great mum, dont ever doubt that for one second. There are going to be plenty of times that people make comments that will make you think youve done something wrong, but you are her mother and you are doing the best you can.

Melissa x o

Oh there are also sleeping things you can buy, check out the babies galore website I think the sleepers are called positioners or something like that? We were going to buy one then decided to co-sleep instead. They have these head things, they position the head away from the flat spot? And a body positioner so bub lies towards one side. Not sure how effective they are but worth a look into if you're interested.

One of our MG friends had a bub with a similar problem, now at nearly 6 months it is starting to get a lot better. Talk to your doc but it will probably resolve with time. Big :hug: honey.

Thanks eveyone.
Bekz - thanks for sharing your storey and Im so glad it worked out for your bub.
Leash - THANK YOU SO MUCH - you really have given me hope - thanks so much for going into such detail I really appreciate it all.
Melissa - I think she is just perfect and beautiful also - but I am going to work hard on her head and neck and see how we go - I will also see my GP and get a referal even if she doesnt think I need one.
Pixie - thanks for sharing - im glad to know that in time it can get better.

Thanks ladies.
Kate xox

And you should never Google...

Thats right Kate.....dont google

**UPDATE**

Went to my GP yesterday and she was not to concerned but I have a referal to the best paed in our area on 10th March - fingers crossed!!

That's great Kate! Pretty good to get an appointment so soon too hey?

Yeah Nic - very lucky they had a spare spot - the othe pead here has a year long waiting list!
The receptionist was great and I got my GP to call which always helps!!

woohoo thats great news Kate

We have just brought our little girl a seat thingy to keep her off her head a bit more, during the night i just turn her head when i get up.
and during the day when she is in her bouncer as thats the only place she will sleep during the day we just put her in it on her side with a towel rolled up to prevent her from going on her "bad" side - hopefully that will work - does anyone else see a prob with that at all? will it help?
we also have HEAPS of tummy time - as much as she can stand anyway!

Its all so stressful tho isnt it!
but encouraging to hear the success stories without helmets!

There's a thread on here called "Ned's Deformational Plagiocephaly" which is about my son's journey. He too nearly had to have a helmet, but with a paed chiro (a normal chiro with a particular interest/experience in paed, not necessarily trained as such but with that interest/experience) made a HUGE difference to my son.

Best wishes - and DON'T GOOGLE! Those on Google are the worst-case scenarios, which you are not!

Hugs honey!

I would strongly urge you to take your baby to a good chiropractor. This is a common issue with newborns and they should be able to correct the problem without using helmets, which may harm your baby's skull and brain development. My niece had a flat head, mainly from not turning to one side while sleeping, and her chiro sorted it out pretty quickly.

How did your appointment go? Hope you received some good news

Nic

Hey Kate...I was wondering too how your appointment went.

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...d-appoint.html

Thanks Missy... xox