Re: Sids Alliance Media Advisory Article 07/31/2000

[Guest guest]

I just read that article...thanks for the link. While I agree with the Back to Sleep campaign, I do feel that if parents of newborns are urged to put baby to sleep on his/her back then also STRESS the importance of tummy time and limit time in bouncy seats and car seats. And MOST importantly of all, tell the parents why it is important!! That is the problem as I see it. I guarantee you that if my daughter had been made aware of the importance of tummy time and the reasons why, then 's chances of getting Plagiochephaly would have been greatly decreased. You see when they were telling us that "it will round out" we were listening so if they told us how to help prevent it we would have listened to that as well. That is my frustration. I realize that I am repeating myself but I guess its still new to me and my anger and frustration with the doctors is still there, I just can't help that.

Thanks for listening!

Cheryl....s Mom-Mom

[Guest guest]

I am sorry but I would not call a flat head a badge of honor for positioning your child correctly in the crib-what the heck kind of statement is that? Now I am going to have to write a letter and have a word with this guy!! We all wish they would round out on their own after 6 months but how many testimonies do we have to support that is not the majority of the cases but the lucky minority!! UGH! Beck

[Guest guest]

Janet-it is confusing everything medical is and as a nurse I am sure that you have seen that yourself. Being clinical yourself you need to weigh the pro's and con's of the whole picture. You are SO lucky that your child is only 2 months-you still have a great window of opportunity to try aggressive repositioning tummy time out of the swing or car seat for any extended periods, etc., and with all that you could see improvement in a month- (or two) but if you don't see them in a month (or two) then you may want to pursue treatment options. The bonus to having a child so young is that their little heads are growing so quick that they get a round noggin in no time and are out and done with the band/helmet before you can blink an eye-the older the child the slower the head growth and the longer it takes. So you can figure that-your son will have no clue that what is on his head does not belong there and he will be out of it before he really starts any major socialization less stares and questions for you:-) As a mommy you need to follow your heart and it will lead you in the right direction and to make the right decision. Either way- continue to get the Neuro consult the Ortho consult and whatever else it takes and have the prescription (if banding him is what is rec.) and then if you decide on helmet therapy you are ready to go and there is no waiting for referrals appointments with busy DR's etc. (that can be quite the frustration when you decide you want to move forward) and if you decide not to treat-file 13 it.

What you should do is take pictures from the top of his head from his forehead the back of his head the side, etc., and then in a month do them all again and in two months again and compare-it will be quite obvious to you what his head is doing. Okay that was quite long winded-my personal email is bbbhand@... and I have a 3 month old son- would be happy to share my story. Beck

[Guest guest]

This article really irritates me!!!!!!!!

I am so tired of medical professionals saying that "it will round out by 6 months when the child gets more active". That is just NOT TRUE! My son was banded at 8 1/2 months because it did not round out on its own. He spends NO time on his back anymore and his head is still flat (he rolls onto his stomach to sleep and sits up or is on his tummy all day). I think when doctors say this they are referring to babies' heads that are mis-shaped during delivery (cone-head, etc). I think those cases do round out, but flat heads just get worse by spending so much time on their backs.

Also, the article states that it has not been documented that back sleeping causes head flattening. Uh....HELLO??? My son came home from the hospital with a perfectly round head and 2 weeks later at his check-up, his head was pushed in on one side and his forehead bulged out. What else could have caused it???? It was only then that we noticed that he favored his left side due to tightening in his neck muscle.

And to say that a flat head is a "mark of a healthy baby"....what planet is this lady living on???

Sorry to vent, but I am just so tired of the same old commentary from the so-called medical professionals.

(mommy to DOC band 3-9-01)

----- Original Message -----

From: janethill66@...

Plagiocephaly

Sent: Saturday, April 07, 2001 3:15 PM

Subject: Sids Alliance Media Advisory Article 07/31/2000

I'm new to the group with a 2 month old son with a mild/moderate case of Plagiocephaly. My husband has been helping me with research, and brought this article to my attention.I am exhausted, tired, hormonal, and now Keens, MD out of LA is telling me, This is an over-reation to what is largely a temporary problem that tends to resolve itself by 6 months to one year. I am so confused!http://www.sidsalliance.org/media Media Advisory07/31/00 - Increased Incidence of Positional Molding or "Flat Heads" in Infants. After I finish marathon nursing, I am going to compose a letter to this Keens!! gurr!Thank you for listening~ Janet

[Guest guest]

I am new here and I want to say, way to go , I am with you 100 %. My son was diagnosed at 8 wks. For 3 1/2 months we did AGGRESSIVE repositioning. His head did get bigger alot, however the 18 mm it was off, remained the same. My first two children ( now 6 and 3) sleep on their stomachs and are still living. My third child, was the first to sleep on his back and we now have the star band. If I have anymore children, they will NOT sleep on the backs.

Cherie

-----Original Message-----From: Lemmons [mailto:j.lemmons@...]Sent: Saturday, April 07, 2001 9:29 PMPlagiocephaly Subject: Re: Sids Alliance Media Advisory Article 07/31/2000

This article really irritates me!!!!!!!!

I am so tired of medical professionals saying that "it will round out by 6 months when the child gets more active". That is just NOT TRUE! My son was banded at 8 1/2 months because it did not round out on its own. He spends NO time on his back anymore and his head is still flat (he rolls onto his stomach to sleep and sits up or is on his tummy all day). I think when doctors say this they are referring to babies' heads that are mis-shaped during delivery (cone-head, etc). I think those cases do round out, but flat heads just get worse by spending so much time on their backs.

Also, the article states that it has not been documented that back sleeping causes head flattening. Uh....HELLO??? My son came home from the hospital with a perfectly round head and 2 weeks later at his check-up, his head was pushed in on one side and his forehead bulged out. What else could have caused it???? It was only then that we noticed that he favored his left side due to tightening in his neck muscle.

And to say that a flat head is a "mark of a healthy baby"....what planet is this lady living on???

Sorry to vent, but I am just so tired of the same old commentary from the so-called medical professionals.

(mommy to DOC band 3-9-01)

----- Original Message -----

From: janethill66@...

Plagiocephaly

Sent: Saturday, April 07, 2001 3:15 PM

Subject: Sids Alliance Media Advisory Article 07/31/2000

I'm new to the group with a 2 month old son with a mild/moderate case of Plagiocephaly. My husband has been helping me with research, and brought this article to my attention.I am exhausted, tired, hormonal, and now Keens, MD out of LA is telling me, This is an over-reation to what is largely a temporary problem that tends to resolve itself by 6 months to one year. I am so confused!http://www.sidsalliance.org/media Media Advisory07/31/00 - Increased Incidence of Positional Molding or "Flat Heads" in Infants. After I finish marathon nursing, I am going to compose a letter to this Keens!! gurr!Thank you for listening~ Janet

[Guest guest]

.. If I have anymore children, they will NOT sleep on the backs.

ALL of my babies will sleep on their backs. I would pay for 100 helmets before accepting my child's death to SIDS.

Kendra in CanadaFor more plagio info, go towww.plagiocephaly.org/support

----- Original Message -----

From: Cherie baber

Plagiocephaly

Sent: Saturday, April 07, 2001 7:59 PM

Subject: RE: Sids Alliance Media Advisory Article 07/31/2000

I am new here and I want to say, way to go , I am with you 100 %. My son was diagnosed at 8 wks. For 3 1/2 months we did AGGRESSIVE repositioning. His head did get bigger alot, however the 18 mm it was off, remained the same. My first two children ( now 6 and 3) sleep on their stomachs and are still living. My third child, was the first to sleep on his back and we now have the star band. If I have anymore children, they will NOT sleep on the backs.

Cherie

-----Original Message-----From: Lemmons [mailto:j.lemmons@...]Sent: Saturday, April 07, 2001 9:29 PMPlagiocephaly Subject: Re: Sids Alliance Media Advisory Article 07/31/2000

This article really irritates me!!!!!!!!

I am so tired of medical professionals saying that "it will round out by 6 months when the child gets more active". That is just NOT TRUE! My son was banded at 8 1/2 months because it did not round out on its own. He spends NO time on his back anymore and his head is still flat (he rolls onto his stomach to sleep and sits up or is on his tummy all day). I think when doctors say this they are referring to babies' heads that are mis-shaped during delivery (cone-head, etc). I think those cases do round out, but flat heads just get worse by spending so much time on their backs.

Also, the article states that it has not been documented that back sleeping causes head flattening. Uh....HELLO??? My son came home from the hospital with a perfectly round head and 2 weeks later at his check-up, his head was pushed in on one side and his forehead bulged out. What else could have caused it???? It was only then that we noticed that he favored his left side due to tightening in his neck muscle.

And to say that a flat head is a "mark of a healthy baby"....what planet is this lady living on???

Sorry to vent, but I am just so tired of the same old commentary from the so-called medical professionals.

(mommy to DOC band 3-9-01)

----- Original Message -----

From: janethill66@...

Plagiocephaly

Sent: Saturday, April 07, 2001 3:15 PM

Subject: Sids Alliance Media Advisory Article 07/31/2000

I'm new to the group with a 2 month old son with a mild/moderate case of Plagiocephaly. My husband has been helping me with research, and brought this article to my attention.I am exhausted, tired, hormonal, and now Keens, MD out of LA is telling me, This is an over-reation to what is largely a temporary problem that tends to resolve itself by 6 months to one year. I am so confused!http://www.sidsalliance.org/media Media Advisory07/31/00 - Increased Incidence of Positional Molding or "Flat Heads" in Infants. After I finish marathon nursing, I am going to compose a letter to this Keens!! gurr!Thank you for listening~ Janet