Re: Need some feedback - stressing out - son gets banded this Friday

[Guest guest]

Hi Tammy-

It's hard not to feel guilty, I do almost every day for one reason

or another! But try not to blame yourself, you're doing something

about it now so that's all that matters. My son is in a DOCBand from

CT and will be wearing it for the full 16 weeks. DOCBands only last

4 months because of the thickness of the foam. Of course, that's on

a slow-growing baby like my son (he started at 17 months old). I

think if they say 12 weeks, then that probably is pretty accurate,

based on his age and growth rate and their experiences. Some babies

do require a second band but I'm thinking that's in more severe

cases, although it just depends (I know of one baby who grew out of

her helmet in less than a month and had to get a second one to

finish the job). Some babies do wear bands for 5-6 months, but those

are typically StarBands and Hanger bands (and posssibly some

others), which have a thicker foam, so they last longer. What are

your son's measurements from CT? My son started at 15 mm, which was

borderline moderate-severe. We are only going to do one band, since

his age will not really warrant a second one, so hopefully we'll be

happy with the results. I know of another mom whose son was 9 months

old when he started and he graduated within 11 weeks I believe, from

the StarBand, so it's definitely possible to be done and happy with

the results in 12 weeks at your son's age.

Good luck with everything!

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

Jordan-4

>

> OK, so I'm new here. I've only posted a few times but read almost

all

> of the posts as they come in to try and learn from other people's

> experiences. I have a questions for the veteran mommies and dads

who

> have had their babies banded. My son is 8.5 months old, has been

> diagnosed with moderate to slightly severe plagio and tort on his

> right side and is getting banded this Friday with CT in Dallas,

TX.

> They told me he would have to wear the band for approximately

12wks.

> I have heard that most babies who are as old as him will generally

> have to wear the band for longer than this..much longer..as in 5

to 6

> months. Is this true? Being my son is 8.5 months old are his

chances

> good for being out of the band in 12wks? Has anyone had a baby who

> has been banded at 8.5 months and been out in 12wks with moderate-

> severe plagio? I've even read about some babies who need a 2nd

band

> after the 12 wks because they have grown so much but there hasn't

> been enough correction. I've been conflicted about my decision

since

> the start but I am adamant that I have to protect my son from

> anything that could negatively affect him now and in the future

(ie.

> ridicule from other children for a mishapen head and/or health

> problems). I'm so nervous and scared about how he may react to the

> band when he first gets it. As a new mommy I feel like I've failed

> him somehow. I wish I would have noticed this sooner or done

> something to prevent it. My doctor wasn't big on sending me to CT

but

> at the same time he wasn't against it either. He wanted me to wait

> for his 9month appt to see if his head would round out more but I

> went with my gut and decided to get the ball rolling much sooner.

Any

> advice would be appreciated.

>

> Thanks,

> Tammy (mom to Christian 8.5 months old)

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much for your kind words. Christian is at 16mm right now. For some reason the thought of him being in the band for longer than the prescribed 12wks is driving me crazy. As I'm sure you can understand, I get so ansy when I think about him having to go through something out of his norm. I just want him to adapt well to the change. I pray that he doesn't have a hard time. Either way I know I'll have to put on a brave face for him and cry like a baby about it to my husband. Thanks, Tammy (Christian 8.5months) <nwilkens2275@...> wrote: Hi Tammy-It's hard not to feel guilty, I do almost every day for one reason or another! But try not to blame yourself, you're doing something about it now so that's all that matters. My son is in a DOCBand from CT and will be wearing it for the full 16 weeks. DOCBands only last 4 months because of the thickness of the foam. Of course, that's on a slow-growing baby like my son (he started at 17 months old). I think if they say 12 weeks, then that probably is pretty accurate, based on his age and growth rate and their experiences. Some babies do require a second band but I'm thinking that's in more severe cases, although it just depends (I know of one baby who grew out of her helmet in less than a month and had to get a second one to finish the job). Some babies do wear bands for 5-6 months, but those are typically StarBands and Hanger bands (and

posssibly some others), which have a thicker foam, so they last longer. What are your son's measurements from CT? My son started at 15 mm, which was borderline moderate-severe. We are only going to do one band, since his age will not really warrant a second one, so hopefully we'll be happy with the results. I know of another mom whose son was 9 months old when he started and he graduated within 11 weeks I believe, from the StarBand, so it's definitely possible to be done and happy with the results in 12 weeks at your son's age. Good luck with everything!Jake-19m (tort resolved/rt plagio/DOCBand 9 weeks)Jordan-4>> OK, so I'm new here. I've only posted a few times but read almost all > of the posts as they come in to try and learn

from other people's > experiences. I have a questions for the veteran mommies and dads who > have had their babies banded. My son is 8.5 months old, has been > diagnosed with moderate to slightly severe plagio and tort on his > right side and is getting banded this Friday with CT in Dallas, TX. > They told me he would have to wear the band for approximately 12wks. > I have heard that most babies who are as old as him will generally > have to wear the band for longer than this..much longer..as in 5 to 6 > months. Is this true? Being my son is 8.5 months old are his chances > good for being out of the band in 12wks? Has anyone had a baby who > has been banded at 8.5 months and been out in 12wks with moderate-> severe plagio? I've even read about some babies who need a 2nd band > after the 12 wks because they have grown so much but there hasn't > been enough

correction. I've been conflicted about my decision since > the start but I am adamant that I have to protect my son from > anything that could negatively affect him now and in the future (ie. > ridicule from other children for a mishapen head and/or health > problems). I'm so nervous and scared about how he may react to the > band when he first gets it. As a new mommy I feel like I've failed > him somehow. I wish I would have noticed this sooner or done > something to prevent it. My doctor wasn't big on sending me to CT but > at the same time he wasn't against it either. He wanted me to wait > for his 9month appt to see if his head would round out more but I > went with my gut and decided to get the ball rolling much sooner. Any > advice would be appreciated. > > Thanks,> Tammy (mom to Christian 8.5 months

old)>

[Guest guest]

It sounds like you are definitely on the right track. CT limits time

in a band to 16 weeks max. After that they don't feel it is effective

- also most babies outgrow it before that. At 8.5 mo you should still

have decent growth, and 12 weeks may be all you need. It is just an

estimate and we all have to wait and see. But the time goes quickly,

even if the estimate is wrong. My daughter wore a starband for 5 mo,

but I remember during that time it seemed EVERYONE graduated before

her, now it hardly matters. I think 5 mo is on the longer side. She

had severe brachy (flat in back) which tends to take longer to correct

than plagio.

-christine

sydney 2 yrs starband grad

>

> OK, so I'm new here. I've only posted a few times but read almost all

> of the posts as they come in to try and learn from other people's

> experiences. I have a questions for the veteran mommies and dads who

> have had their babies banded. My son is 8.5 months old, has been

> diagnosed with moderate to slightly severe plagio and tort on his

> right side and is getting banded this Friday with CT in Dallas, TX.

> They told me he would have to wear the band for approximately 12wks.

> I have heard that most babies who are as old as him will generally

> have to wear the band for longer than this..much longer..as in 5 to 6

> months. Is this true? Being my son is 8.5 months old are his chances

> good for being out of the band in 12wks? Has anyone had a baby who

> has been banded at 8.5 months and been out in 12wks with moderate-

> severe plagio? I've even read about some babies who need a 2nd band

> after the 12 wks because they have grown so much but there hasn't

> been enough correction. I've been conflicted about my decision since

> the start but I am adamant that I have to protect my son from

> anything that could negatively affect him now and in the future (ie.

> ridicule from other children for a mishapen head and/or health

> problems). I'm so nervous and scared about how he may react to the

> band when he first gets it. As a new mommy I feel like I've failed

> him somehow. I wish I would have noticed this sooner or done

> something to prevent it. My doctor wasn't big on sending me to CT but

> at the same time he wasn't against it either. He wanted me to wait

> for his 9month appt to see if his head would round out more but I

> went with my gut and decided to get the ball rolling much sooner. Any

> advice would be appreciated.

>

> Thanks,

> Tammy (mom to Christian 8.5 months old)

>

[Guest guest]

Tammy,

Don't feel guilty. My second son has severe plagio and it was caused

from in utero. It can happen to any baby. All we can do is try to

correct and prevent it from getting worse. It is good that you went

to CT to get your son banded and started early. Hopefully you will

get quick result and get a good growth spurt in there. I keep

telling my 7 month old to have good growth spurts, he was just banded

last week. Don't worry about the band. Babies are amazing and adapt

easily. My son is doing great with it and doesn't even seem to

notice it on. The first day we brought him home with it on, he went

straight down for a nap. It was more scary in my head, thinking of

what it could be like than what it was really like to have it on.

The band really just becomes a new way of life. It is just another

ritual to add in the day. Our therapist told us we may need two

bands, since it is severe. Of course, we are hopeful with stretching

and wanting growth to occur. I guess we will see in 3 months how he

is doing.

Good luck to you. It will be ok and hopefully easier than you

thought.

Jenn

>

> OK, so I'm new here. I've only posted a few times but read almost

all

> of the posts as they come in to try and learn from other people's

> experiences. I have a questions for the veteran mommies and dads

who

> have had their babies banded. My son is 8.5 months old, has been

> diagnosed with moderate to slightly severe plagio and tort on his

> right side and is getting banded this Friday with CT in Dallas, TX.

> They told me he would have to wear the band for approximately

12wks.

> I have heard that most babies who are as old as him will generally

> have to wear the band for longer than this..much longer..as in 5 to

6

> months. Is this true? Being my son is 8.5 months old are his

chances

> good for being out of the band in 12wks? Has anyone had a baby who

> has been banded at 8.5 months and been out in 12wks with moderate-

> severe plagio? I've even read about some babies who need a 2nd band

> after the 12 wks because they have grown so much but there hasn't

> been enough correction. I've been conflicted about my decision

since

> the start but I am adamant that I have to protect my son from

> anything that could negatively affect him now and in the future

(ie.

> ridicule from other children for a mishapen head and/or health

> problems). I'm so nervous and scared about how he may react to the

> band when he first gets it. As a new mommy I feel like I've failed

> him somehow. I wish I would have noticed this sooner or done

> something to prevent it. My doctor wasn't big on sending me to CT

but

> at the same time he wasn't against it either. He wanted me to wait

> for his 9month appt to see if his head would round out more but I

> went with my gut and decided to get the ball rolling much sooner.

Any

> advice would be appreciated.

>

> Thanks,

> Tammy (mom to Christian 8.5 months old)

>