Re: Need advice/help about decision

[Guest guest]

Welcome-

My son does not have brachy, he has plagio, but he did start wearing a

DOCBand from CT at age 17 months and has had some definite improvement

so far (it's been 9 weeks). If age is a concern for you, I would say

not to worry, since improvement definitely can still occur and CT has

a great reputation for working with older babies.

To treat brachy, the DOCBand will be snug against his head in the

prominent areas (top and sides) and will have room in the back for the

flat spot to pop out. Did they give you a percentage for the cephalic

index measurement? That is the number that indicates brachy. I can't

remember what " normal " is (it's somwhere in the high 70s I think) but

maybe if someone else can chime in with that number, it will give you

some basis for comparison. The basic idea is that they can't squeeze

his wide sides in, they can only encourage the flat area to pop out,

which will make the overall shape of the head look more balanced.

I'm not sure about the fontinel, although I suspect my son has a

similar issue with one side of his head where he was born with a dent.

It just doesn't seem like it wants to pop out at all. Our therapist

said that he has a prominent midline suture (not sure what the

clinical term is for it but it's the suture that goes up from the

middle of the forehead to the soft spot) and as he gets older, bone

will start growing on top of bone to make the skull thicker and that

this will help that side pop up more. We have a follow up with our

craniofacial surgeon on Tuesday and I plan to ask him about that more

specifically.

After saying all that, I don't think you could go wrong with the

DOCBand, but if you have a STARBand ortho or Hanger ortho in your

area, it might be worth checking them out as well to get a feel for

both and see what you feel most comfortable with. If it's just an

issue of banding or not banding, I would say if you're not happy with

his head shape now, ask yourself how you would feel if it never

corrected on it's own and stayed just the same. If that thought upsets

you, it would be best to band than to regret not doing it later.

Good luck with our decision!

Jake-19m (tort resolved/rt plagio/DOCBand 9 weeks)

Jordan-4

>

> my son is 11.5 months old and we just went to CT for a consultation

> today. They have told me that he has braciocephaly and a band would

> work....now i know they are in the business.

>

> My son's head, they say is wider then normal around the ears and a

> little flat in the back, but they also say his fontinel is flat and

> that probably will not be pushed out

>

> I am struggling at a decision and am just unsure of what the DOC band

> will do to him...can someone offer advice if they have been there?

>

> Thanks

>

[Guest guest]

My daughter had brachy and wore a starband and got very good

correction. Her head is still wider than normal, but looks good. You

can see her pics at Our Plagio Babies S/Sydney M in this group's

photos section. She was always happy in her band, and met all her

milestones on time or early. I do not regret my decision to band her

at all, and would do it again in a heartbeat.

The band directs the growth to the back of the head so the overall

proportion improves. I know my daughter's head would still not look

right if it weren't for her band.

Good luck with your decision.

-christine

sydney 2 yrs starband grad

>

> my son is 11.5 months old and we just went to CT for a consultation

> today. They have told me that he has braciocephaly and a band would

> work....now i know they are in the business.

>

> My son's head, they say is wider then normal around the ears and a

> little flat in the back, but they also say his fontinel is flat and

> that probably will not be pushed out

>

> I am struggling at a decision and am just unsure of what the DOC band

> will do to him...can someone offer advice if they have been there?

>

> Thanks

>