Okay so not the best news ever today. They said Isla is doing well, we're doing all the right things, but we still have another 8 weeks and we'll have another xray and review then. But, we can have 4 hours a day brace-free time now. Realistically we're looking at another 3 months and then we may start weaning off of the brace. Pretty upset still but it's better than no change at all. Hopefully we will be brace free by Isla's first birthday. Feeling a little despondent right now.
Any people with DDH babies, would love to hear how you got through the crappier times. Wanted to thank everyone for all their awesome support to. BB chicks rock
It was so disheartening that every month we went into our check-up and x-ray, positive this was going to be our month, and were told, nope, see you in a month. How did we get through? Focusing on the next month. By the time it came off, I threw it at the wall.
Getting extra hours brace free is a really good sign though. We were only allowed an hour brace free time from when the plaster came off to two weeks before it was removed all together. There was no gradual extension of brace free time, just a sudden 'hey it can come off in two weeks, so go brace free during the day.'
Oh bum PZ Glad she's getting more brace free time tho. Do you save that up for awake time? or do you give her a sleep brace free as well?
I haven't been in that situation, but I guess I would just keep telling myself it's not forever, and once the treatment is over, that should be it. So long term it is well worth it. *big hugs* tho. You're being an awesome mum and doing all the right things
Thanks guys, I'm feeling much better now. 4 hours really is a great amount of time. Although I'm going to be a little sad watching her getting frustrated trying to move, watching other bubs her age strive ahead etc, I have to focus on the positives. I guess a part of me is sad that, even though it will be coming off, I feel like I'm kind of missing out on her being a little baby, cuddling her little body up while I feed her etc. At least now I have more time to do those things I also worry, I read a thread about crawling and developing, I'm worried because her crawling will be delayed her mental development will delay too? I don't know.
DD leaned to commando crawl in the brace. It took her a while to get the knack of normal crawling and she walked just shy of 18 months. All up she was in a brace/plaster for the first 11 months of her life. But I tended to shy away from kids the same age as she was, it was just too hard seeing them develop. I couldn't even join my baby buddies group on here until afterwards.
As far as the link with crawling and speech goes, well DD could say well over 100 words before she turned 1 and now, just shy of 3 she can count to 60. Other than her hair, the way she speaks and the vocab she has is the most commented on thing by people around us. I honestly feel that being immobile for so long forced her to establish her other skills, and because I talked to her all the time, she is very clear in her communication. Try not to worry about that
That's exactly what I needed to hear Pac, thank you I think watching otter bubs her age (or younger!) develop ahead of her is the hardest. That and the feeling of 'missing' my little bub. Have to look at the positives, because it's a real possibility DD will be in her brace at 1 year old. Even in her hour brace free time, she is pushing herself backwards, has rolled a few times and last night pushed herself from tummy to sitting. She wants to move so badly.
It's really hard. For us it was wishing the time was up. Wanting desperately for it to be off for our first Christmas, so she could actually sit in a high chair and sit at the table with all the family. Surgeon said to leave it on (but we took it off over Christmas lunch anyway). We cancelled a QLD holiday in the October, because we didn't want to fly and go somewhere really warm if there was a chance she'd still be in plaster. We put it off until March and then Feb creeped around and she was STILL in the brace. But we got told at that appointment we could start to wean her off. Everything you're feeling is valid. It's so **** and hard but now we still sit back and go, wow, look at her go. Look at her run and walk and jump! It will feel unbelievable now and so far away, but they catch up really quickly and it's all the more amazing because of what they went through
Yeah, and I guess you must appreciate all that running and jumping and climbing even more now, hey? Thanks so much, you've really helped me see the good.
Hugs to you PZ. I hated the lead up to every orthopead appointment and was a nervous wreck. I always hoped it would come off and when they said nope it needs longer, I was always crushed. For me... for my baby. Olivia was in a Pavlik from 5 weeks to 8 months. In the scheme of things its not that long but while I was there it was the longest time ever. I still socialised with my mothers group and I envied them, but they were all supportive. Towards the end she was alowed an hour per day brace free, then for the last appointment it was all night, till it was completely off.
Olivia learnt to crawl by 9 months and was up and running by 12.5 months. She was first in my mothers group to walk. She is very smart, very funny. The only thing she has is a flatish head from laying on her back so much.
I wish you all the best with your journey. I know its tough but what dh and I used to say to each other is that its better fixed now than having to get it fixed much later and have a much harder time of it!
I know how you feel, DS was in his brace for his first birthday and Christmas, I was devastated. I also struggled watching similar age children reach milestones before DS. However he is a total legend, he is one of the most gentle, thoughtful and kind kids and has a wicked sense of humour, I feel like he is wise beyond his years, so I agree with PRM, they just focus on other developmental areas while instead of the mobility ones.
I've almost forgotten about our brace time now (6 long months) and every now and then I see a photo or the actual brace (its in the top of his wardrobe, for some reason I kept it, dunno why, it was a big part of his first year etc etc) and I am amazed, it was so hard at the time, but now it seems sooooooooo long ago. There is definitely light at at the end of the tunnel
Hey PZ, I haven't had child with the plaster and brace, but I just wanted to say that your feeling of "missing out" on her as a little baby is a common one I think... I was talking to a friend's DH who had a child in plaster then brace and he said the exact same thing. Their DD went from being a tiny snugly baby, really quickly to a small, heavy, bulky plastered child, then came out a toddler basically.
Update on DD's hip dysplasia.
Reply With Quote
Glad she's getting more brace free time tho. Do you save that up for awake time? or do you give her a sleep brace free as well? 
Bookmarks