I don't know whether to band or not (sorry, it got long!)

[Guest guest]

Hi,

My name is and I have a 9 month old daughter, Mackenzie and we

live in Phoenix. I have a dilemma and I don't know what to do. When

Mackenzie was about 3 months old, my husband & I noticed that she had

a flat spot behind her right ear that was pretty prominent and took

her into her pediatrician for a check on it. We were told that it

would round out on its own and that we needed to try repositioning.

We tried repositioning but Mackenzie had already begun to move around

in her crib and would definitely not stay in one position or to any

position into which we moved her. When we went back for her 4 month

check up in November, I again brought it up to her pediatrician who

once again said not to worry, it would round out. Well, I pushed and

finally got a referral to a pediatric neurosurgeon but was unable to

get in until February. At that appt in which we saw the nurse

practioner and not the neurosurgeon, she also emphasized a wait & see

approach and to follow up in 8 weeks. She had also told us that

Mackenzie didn't turn as well to her left side and gave us neck

stretching exercises. However, when we got Mackenzie home, we noticed

no problem with her turning to the left and thought it was just

stranger anxiety in the np's office. So, unfortunately, we didn't

proceed with the exercises.

When my husband took Mackenzie in for her follow up on the 12th of

April, the np said that she did not think that Mackenzie needed a

band and that if she was her daughter, she wouldn't do it. My husband

agreed with her at that point but after this appt my husband was

given Cranial Tech's DOCband brochure. When we looked thru it at

home, we immediately noticed that the picture showing a

plagiocephalic head was Mackenzie's head. It was no longer that

severe but it was definitely the shape of her head. So we took her

into Cranial Tech here in Phoenix for their free consultation.

Margie, one of their therapists, definitely recommended getting the

band. She said that as she observed Mackenzie, she could see the

bossing of the right forehead, the flat spot on the back right, the

assymetry of her ears, Mackenzie's inability to turn left as well as

she does to the right, and other symptoms that I can't recall at the

moment. She stated that she couldn't understand how the NP would say

that Mackenzie did not need the DOCband. So we decided to go ahead

with it and are waiting for the NP's office to fax over the

transcriptions of Mac's visits so that the insurance process can

begin. Well, today the NP called me back after talking with Mac's

pediatrician and reemphasized that they both thought that Mac didn't

need the band and that she has a very mild case of plagiocephaly.

When I stated that CT had definitely recommended the band, she said

that it's just because they want to sell one to us. I didn't get that

feeling from CT and am now wondering if we're making the right

decision. My husband is definitely in favor of the band and I'm the

one waffling on it.

So, after that long story, here is my question - Has anybody ever

thought that CT would recommend getting a band if the baby didn't

truly need it? I was very impressed with our visit to CT and didn't

get that impression myself. But that dang NP has put doubts in my

head. She wrote the prescription for the band as she said that she

would do whatever we wanted to do.

I wish that we had been able to get a picture of the top of Mac's

head so that I could show you but she won't sit still long enough for

it to be done! She's only 9 months old and started walking this week.

We can't keep her down anymore!

If anyone can help addess my doubts, I'd really appreciate it!

Thanks,

& Mackenzie (7/19)

Here is a link to her latest pictures - password - sweetpea

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999 & gid=772071 & uid=427285

[Guest guest]

Hi & welcome to the group!

You are faced with a difficult decision! We've all been there. Do

we band or do we wait and see if it rounds out on it's own?

Unfortunately, if you do wait & see & the head shape has not

improved, it's usually too late to band. Let me first say Cranial

Technologies does NOT try to " sell " their product. I have heard of

cases where the parent wanted to band but they would NOT becuz they

felt the child's case was too mild. I have been in this group for

1.5 yrs now & they are a wonderful organization!

Ultimately, go with your gut instincts in deciding whether or not to

go ahead with the band. Remember, the band will not hurt your

daughter at all! It will be handy as she is learning to walk & will

most likely protect her from bumps & bruises!

So many of us in the group have gotten the " don't worry, the head

will round on it's own " story for their ped. and/or specialist. A

lot of specialists are not in favor of banding, but from my personal

experience, it does help!

Did Cranial Tech. recommend you take Mackenzie to physical therapy

for her torticollis (tight neck muscles)? I am sure - our tort

expert - will give you helpful stretching tips!

Please, be sure you let us know whatever you decide! Go with those

mommy instincts! Welcome again.

Debbie Abby's mom DOCgrad

MI

> Hi,

>

> My name is and I have a 9 month old daughter, Mackenzie and we

> live in Phoenix. I have a dilemma and I don't know what to do. When

> Mackenzie was about 3 months old, my husband & I noticed that she

had

> a flat spot behind her right ear that was pretty prominent and took

> her into her pediatrician for a check on it. We were told that it

> would round out on its own and that we needed to try repositioning.

> We tried repositioning but Mackenzie had already begun to move

around

> in her crib and would definitely not stay in one position or to any

> position into which we moved her. When we went back for her 4 month

> check up in November, I again brought it up to her pediatrician who

> once again said not to worry, it would round out. Well, I pushed

and

> finally got a referral to a pediatric neurosurgeon but was unable

to

> get in until February. At that appt in which we saw the nurse

> practioner and not the neurosurgeon, she also emphasized a wait &

see

> approach and to follow up in 8 weeks. She had also told us that

> Mackenzie didn't turn as well to her left side and gave us neck

> stretching exercises. However, when we got Mackenzie home, we

noticed

> no problem with her turning to the left and thought it was just

> stranger anxiety in the np's office. So, unfortunately, we didn't

> proceed with the exercises.

>

> When my husband took Mackenzie in for her follow up on the 12th of

> April, the np said that she did not think that Mackenzie needed a

> band and that if she was her daughter, she wouldn't do it. My

husband

> agreed with her at that point but after this appt my husband was

> given Cranial Tech's DOCband brochure. When we looked thru it at

> home, we immediately noticed that the picture showing a

> plagiocephalic head was Mackenzie's head. It was no longer that

> severe but it was definitely the shape of her head. So we took her

> into Cranial Tech here in Phoenix for their free consultation.

> Margie, one of their therapists, definitely recommended getting the

> band. She said that as she observed Mackenzie, she could see the

> bossing of the right forehead, the flat spot on the back right, the

> assymetry of her ears, Mackenzie's inability to turn left as well

as

> she does to the right, and other symptoms that I can't recall at

the

> moment. She stated that she couldn't understand how the NP would

say

> that Mackenzie did not need the DOCband. So we decided to go ahead

> with it and are waiting for the NP's office to fax over the

> transcriptions of Mac's visits so that the insurance process can

> begin. Well, today the NP called me back after talking with Mac's

> pediatrician and reemphasized that they both thought that Mac

didn't

> need the band and that she has a very mild case of plagiocephaly.

> When I stated that CT had definitely recommended the band, she said

> that it's just because they want to sell one to us. I didn't get

that

> feeling from CT and am now wondering if we're making the right

> decision. My husband is definitely in favor of the band and I'm the

> one waffling on it.

>

> So, after that long story, here is my question - Has anybody ever

> thought that CT would recommend getting a band if the baby didn't

> truly need it? I was very impressed with our visit to CT and didn't

> get that impression myself. But that dang NP has put doubts in my

> head. She wrote the prescription for the band as she said that she

> would do whatever we wanted to do.

>

> I wish that we had been able to get a picture of the top of Mac's

> head so that I could show you but she won't sit still long enough

for

> it to be done! She's only 9 months old and started walking this

week.

> We can't keep her down anymore!

>

> If anyone can help addess my doubts, I'd really appreciate it!

>

> Thanks,

> & Mackenzie (7/19)

>

>

> Here is a link to her latest pictures - password - sweetpea

> http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999 & gid=772071 & uid=427285

[Guest guest]

-

MacKenzie is a doll. I love those pictures.

Like Debbie said, most of us got the " it'll round out " approach from

the peds. The ped who dx our son at 8 weeks told us the same thing

about them trying to sell us a band. We waited a couple of months

and decided to go ahead with it. Did your dr. and np measure

MacKenzie's face and asymmetry or just decided from looking at it?

Ours did no measurements. I find the measurements to be hard

evidence and that sealed the deal for us. We figured we weren't

going to gamble. I know it is a super hard decision. Good luck!

Dane's mom (DOC Band 2/14)

> Hi,

>

> My name is and I have a 9 month old daughter, Mackenzie and

we

> live in Phoenix. I have a dilemma and I don't know what to do.

When

> Mackenzie was about 3 months old, my husband & I noticed that she

had

> a flat spot behind her right ear that was pretty prominent and

took

> her into her pediatrician for a check on it. We were told that it

> would round out on its own and that we needed to try

repositioning.

> We tried repositioning but Mackenzie had already begun to move

around

> in her crib and would definitely not stay in one position or to

any

> position into which we moved her. When we went back for her 4

month

> check up in November, I again brought it up to her pediatrician

who

> once again said not to worry, it would round out. Well, I pushed

and

> finally got a referral to a pediatric neurosurgeon but was unable

to

> get in until February. At that appt in which we saw the nurse

> practioner and not the neurosurgeon, she also emphasized a wait &

see

> approach and to follow up in 8 weeks. She had also told us that

> Mackenzie didn't turn as well to her left side and gave us neck

> stretching exercises. However, when we got Mackenzie home, we

noticed

> no problem with her turning to the left and thought it was just

> stranger anxiety in the np's office. So, unfortunately, we didn't

> proceed with the exercises.

>

> When my husband took Mackenzie in for her follow up on the 12th of

> April, the np said that she did not think that Mackenzie needed a

> band and that if she was her daughter, she wouldn't do it. My

husband

> agreed with her at that point but after this appt my husband was

> given Cranial Tech's DOCband brochure. When we looked thru it at

> home, we immediately noticed that the picture showing a

> plagiocephalic head was Mackenzie's head. It was no longer that

> severe but it was definitely the shape of her head. So we took her

> into Cranial Tech here in Phoenix for their free consultation.

> Margie, one of their therapists, definitely recommended getting

the

> band. She said that as she observed Mackenzie, she could see the

> bossing of the right forehead, the flat spot on the back right,

the

> assymetry of her ears, Mackenzie's inability to turn left as well

as

> she does to the right, and other symptoms that I can't recall at

the

> moment. She stated that she couldn't understand how the NP would

say

> that Mackenzie did not need the DOCband. So we decided to go ahead

> with it and are waiting for the NP's office to fax over the

> transcriptions of Mac's visits so that the insurance process can

> begin. Well, today the NP called me back after talking with Mac's

> pediatrician and reemphasized that they both thought that Mac

didn't

> need the band and that she has a very mild case of plagiocephaly.

> When I stated that CT had definitely recommended the band, she

said

> that it's just because they want to sell one to us. I didn't get

that

> feeling from CT and am now wondering if we're making the right

> decision. My husband is definitely in favor of the band and I'm

the

> one waffling on it.

>

> So, after that long story, here is my question - Has anybody ever

> thought that CT would recommend getting a band if the baby didn't

> truly need it? I was very impressed with our visit to CT and

didn't

> get that impression myself. But that dang NP has put doubts in my

> head. She wrote the prescription for the band as she said that she

> would do whatever we wanted to do.

>

> I wish that we had been able to get a picture of the top of Mac's

> head so that I could show you but she won't sit still long enough

for

> it to be done! She's only 9 months old and started walking this

week.

> We can't keep her down anymore!

>

> If anyone can help addess my doubts, I'd really appreciate it!

>

> Thanks,

> & Mackenzie (7/19)

>

>

> Here is a link to her latest pictures - password - sweetpea

> http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?

p=999 & gid=772071 & uid=427285