Re: New to this and need support...

[Guest guest]

Michele -

You are very fortunate that your doctor was on top of this. Many of

our doctors brushed off plagio.

My son is 7 months old and has been in a DOC band for 2 months. It

has really done wonders for his flat spot (right side too!) and

facial and ear asymmetry. We have seen an amazing amount of

correction in a very short timeframe.

You might want to check out the photos section. It will give you a

glimpse of a lot of other plagio babies. Also plagiocephaly.org has

some great info and you can compare the STARBand and the DOC Band.

You can get decorating ideas for the helmet/band. Do you know what

kind you are going to be getting?

We have been working on getting Dane to sleep on his tummy or his

left side since he was 8 weeks old. He has just started doing this

on his own in the past week. It can take a while. I have a 2 year

old daughter and when she sleeps she is like a fish out of water so

I can relate to your difference in sleeping habits with your kids.

Hang in there. This is a great group. Your son is young enough

that he should get really good correction.

I was freaked out at first too, but now I am so comfortable with the

band. When people come up to me and ask " What's that? " I think

they are talking about the sling I carry him in! I forget he has it

on!

Good luck!

Dane's mom (DOC band)

> Hi my name is Michele and my 6 month old son has been referred to

a

> plastic surgeon in regards to a flat spot on the right back side

of

> his head. I took him to the Dr. on Friday to check his ears,

because

> he's had several ear infections. While I was there his Dr. began

> measuring my son's head. We then began talking about this and he

> told me that his right ear is aligned slightly forward. He wants

him

> to be seen by the surgeon to possibly be fitted for a helmet. As

he

> was telling me this my heart dropped. I knew I couldn't cry just

> then because I needed to listen carefully to the Dr. I feel so

sad

> and angry. I feel helpless. I know nothing about this problem

and I

> know of no one who's child has gone through this. I need someone

to

> turn to so I can be educated on this.

>

> It's funny how we as parents want a child that sleeps well. Now

that

> I have that he sleeps too well. You put him down and he's in that

> same position all night. My now 3 year old daughter moved so much

> that we didn't have to worry about her head! :-)

>

> Any info would be greatly appreciated.

>

> Michele

[Guest guest]

HI Michele & welcome to the group!

We're glad you found us all! Let me tell you what you're feeling

right now is what most of us in the group have felt at one time or

another. Plagio is becoming very very common. You will probably be

surprised to see other helmeted babies now that your son might need

one. His symptoms with the one ear being more forward definitely fit

into the plagio category.

Most plagio children always sleep with their head facing the same

direction. We often compare it to a somewhat deflated ball, that if

a ball is flatter on one side than the other, the ball always

automatically rolls to the flatter side. It's so very frustrating.

Try not to get too upset over this. You're not helpless & you're

definitely on the right track to helping your son. Do you have an

appt scheduled yet with the ped. neuro? If not, the wait could be as

long as a month to see him/her. In the mean time you can try

repositioning him while he sleeps. Check out

http://www.plagiocephaly.org/support then click repositioning tips

for good help. Your son is still young enough to get results with

repositioning. IF he will be getting a band or helmet, he's plenty

young enough to get good improvement. There's a ton of very helpful

information on this website.

Good luck with all of this! We all know how overwhelming it can be

at first, but soon you'll be a plagio expert!

Please be sure to keep us updated on his progress. Best of luck!

Welcome again.

Debbie Abby's mom 3/1/00 DOCgrad 6/01

MI

> Hi my name is Michele and my 6 month old son has been referred to a

> plastic surgeon in regards to a flat spot on the right back side of

> his head. I took him to the Dr. on Friday to check his ears,

because

> he's had several ear infections. While I was there his Dr. began

> measuring my son's head. We then began talking about this and he

> told me that his right ear is aligned slightly forward. He wants

him

> to be seen by the surgeon to possibly be fitted for a helmet. As

he

> was telling me this my heart dropped. I knew I couldn't cry just

> then because I needed to listen carefully to the Dr. I feel so sad

> and angry. I feel helpless. I know nothing about this problem and

I

> know of no one who's child has gone through this. I need someone to

> turn to so I can be educated on this.

>

> It's funny how we as parents want a child that sleeps well. Now

that

> I have that he sleeps too well. You put him down and he's in that

> same position all night. My now 3 year old daughter moved so much

> that we didn't have to worry about her head! :-)

>

> Any info would be greatly appreciated.

>

> Michele

[Guest guest]

Hi Michele, and welcome to the group! It sounds like you are working

with a really proactive doctor, and that is wonderful!! Its only

natural to feel upset over this. I cried so much over this too. I

felt like I had failed my kids somehow, and that it was my fault they

needed to wear bands. But it wasn't my fault, and its not your fault

either. The parents here are wonderfully supportive and have all

been in your shoes at one point or another, so we can all relate on

some level. Definitely check out the website that Debbie gave you,

it is very informative. Good luck Michele, and please keep us updated!

Niki

Kaylie & Danny (STAR grads)

Phila., PA

> Hi my name is Michele and my 6 month old son has been referred to a

> plastic surgeon in regards to a flat spot on the right back side of

> his head. I took him to the Dr. on Friday to check his ears,

because

> he's had several ear infections. While I was there his Dr. began

> measuring my son's head. We then began talking about this and he

> told me that his right ear is aligned slightly forward. He wants

him

> to be seen by the surgeon to possibly be fitted for a helmet. As

he

> was telling me this my heart dropped. I knew I couldn't cry just

> then because I needed to listen carefully to the Dr. I feel so sad

> and angry. I feel helpless. I know nothing about this problem and

I

> know of no one who's child has gone through this. I need someone to

> turn to so I can be educated on this.

>

> It's funny how we as parents want a child that sleeps well. Now

that

> I have that he sleeps too well. You put him down and he's in that

> same position all night. My now 3 year old daughter moved so much

> that we didn't have to worry about her head! :-)

>

> Any info would be greatly appreciated.

>

> Michele