Re: Dennis Brown Bar

[Guest guest]

Welcome; we're glad you joined and are here to help!

I'm sorry you had a rough first day/night. I know how hard it is to

see your baby unhappy.

He is probably most frustrated by the feeling of having his feet

connected. Try helping him learn to move his legs

together/simultaneously.. move his legs for him, so he figures out

how to do it. Does he roll over yet? Help him do that with the brace

on too. Once he figures out how to move, he'll be comfortable again.

Some babies take only a few hours to adjust, most a day or so, a few

a week or so.

Try to not give in and take the brace off.. it'll only prolong the

adjustment.

Don't feel bad or guilty.. you are doing what is best for your little

one. There's nothing that is harming him.. it's not cruel.. it's just

something that takes adjustment. You'd be amazed how much a part of

normal life the brace will become, to you and the baby after a short

while. You will hear of how babies won't settle down to sleep until

they're wearing their brace.. and who crawl and sit up alone more

easily wearing it than without, because it's so much a part of their

routine.

I remember Dr. Ponseti telling me.. don't worry; the babies adjust.

It will be OK. and it was. Keep your mind on the goal.. of your son

having straight beautiful feet on which he will one day run and

play..

All that being said, one caveat: There shouldn't be inconsolable

crying that continues on and on. If babies are persistently

miserable, it's a sign that something is wrong.. that the brace has

been set up wrong, or the feet aren't totally corrected. Is the brace

set so that his heels are shoulder width apart? No narrower? Do his

feet look great, and totally corrected?

But if everything has been done right, it should just be a matter of

a little bit of time.. Hang in there.

and Claire

>

>

> Good morning. I just joined this group today and I'm hoping

someone

> can help out.

>

> My son, Aleksander, is three months old. He was born with

bilateral

> clubfeet, and they are being corrected using Dr. Ponsetti's

method.

>

> Yesterday, he had his final set of casts removed and was fitted for

> the Dennis Brown bar. He slept straight through having the shoes

put

> on, but once we got about halfway home from the clinic, he started

> screaming and has only taken a few breaks since then. That was

> around 1:00 yesterday afternoon. It is now 9:00 in the morning.

>

> My husband and I know he's not in any pain because if we hold him

and

> comfort him, he's fine. It is only when he relaxes and moves his

> feet that he screams. We know it is just an adjustment for him,

but

> wanted to find out if anyone had any tips on how to console our

son.

> We feel so horrible because we can't really do anything to help

him.

>

> We've called the clinic already to make sure there wasn't a

problem,

> and were assured that he is just adjusting. They weren't able to

> help give us any comforting techniques. If you have any

suggestions,

> we are desperate! It is horrible to see out little guy so

miserable

> when he's usually such a happy baby.

[Guest guest]

While he's laying down, hold the bar and move it up and down, forcing (but not

being mean, you know) his legs to move together, his knees to bend together. Do

this often, quickly he should learn he can kick and move as long as his legs

cooperate with each other. I think my boy learned with our help in about a day.

Also, try to swaddle him tightly in a blanket so he's less tempted to move them

and sort of forgets for a while that the brace is on there. Keep him

distracted, occupied, wrapped up, and help him learn to use the DBB in his

favor.

Good luck!

s.

Dennis Brown Bar

Good morning. I just joined this group today and I'm hoping someone

can help out.

My son, Aleksander, is three months old. He was born with bilateral

clubfeet, and they are being corrected using Dr. Ponsetti's method.

Yesterday, he had his final set of casts removed and was fitted for

the Dennis Brown bar. He slept straight through having the shoes put

on, but once we got about halfway home from the clinic, he started

screaming and has only taken a few breaks since then. That was

around 1:00 yesterday afternoon. It is now 9:00 in the morning.

My husband and I know he's not in any pain because if we hold him and

comfort him, he's fine. It is only when he relaxes and moves his

feet that he screams. We know it is just an adjustment for him, but

wanted to find out if anyone had any tips on how to console our son.

We feel so horrible because we can't really do anything to help him.

We've called the clinic already to make sure there wasn't a problem,

and were assured that he is just adjusting. They weren't able to

help give us any comforting techniques. If you have any suggestions,

we are desperate! It is horrible to see out little guy so miserable

when he's usually such a happy baby.

[Guest guest]

Thank you for replying so quickly! My husband and I have spent

considerable time looking for stories from other parents and haven't

found much about the first few days of the DBB so we thought maybe

there wasn't anything we could do.

We had been warned about how Aleksander would react to the bars so we

had been moving his legs for him at the same time, teaching him to

kick both at the same time. We've also continued to move his legs

for him now that he has the bar on, and that helps a bit, but once he

gets mad, he kicks and hasn't figured out how to move his legs

simultaneously yet on his own. So, he kicks, gets even more

frustrated, kicks some more and it goes on and on.

Usually, Aleksander is such a great baby. Very good natured and

happy. He just takes everything in stride. But we had this type of

problem after he was circumsized too. For the first day, he'd get

upset about something and kick himself (which was made worse because

of the club feet), and then get even more upset. It was

heartbreaking, but eventually, he figured out that kicking made

things worse and it got much better for him.

I'm sure the bars are the correct width, and that his feet are in

good position. His feet look so great compared to how they were when

he was born and we are so pleased with everything so far. I know it

is just a matter of time, but boy is it tough to watch your child

scream and know that your decisions are making that happen. We know

it is the best thing, but that only goes so far in easing the guilt!

I think because we have such a good baby who doesn't cry a whole lot,

now that he is crying more it seems much worse for us. But, he is

better when I hold him and rock him and talk to him. I held him all

last night so we could get a little bit of sleep, but this morning

when we woke up, he got so mad he kicked his shoe off of one of his

feet. I tightened the laces and the straps more and that seemed to

help.

Have you heard anything about other parents having problems getting

their baby to eat? He's been eating less than usual, although that

is picking up. We were told after he was circumsized that he may not

want to eat for a day or so and I was curious of this may have a

similar effect.

> >

> >

> > Good morning. I just joined this group today and I'm hoping

> someone

> > can help out.

> >

> > My son, Aleksander, is three months old. He was born with

> bilateral

> > clubfeet, and they are being corrected using Dr. Ponsetti's

> method.

> >

> > Yesterday, he had his final set of casts removed and was fitted

for

> > the Dennis Brown bar. He slept straight through having the shoes

> put

> > on, but once we got about halfway home from the clinic, he

started

> > screaming and has only taken a few breaks since then. That was

> > around 1:00 yesterday afternoon. It is now 9:00 in the morning.

> >

> > My husband and I know he's not in any pain because if we hold him

> and

> > comfort him, he's fine. It is only when he relaxes and moves his

> > feet that he screams. We know it is just an adjustment for him,

> but

> > wanted to find out if anyone had any tips on how to console our

> son.

> > We feel so horrible because we can't really do anything to help

> him.

> >

> > We've called the clinic already to make sure there wasn't a

> problem,

> > and were assured that he is just adjusting. They weren't able to

> > help give us any comforting techniques. If you have any

> suggestions,

> > we are desperate! It is horrible to see out little guy so

> miserable

> > when he's usually such a happy baby.

[Guest guest]

Hi there,

Welcome to the group! I hope Aleksander is doing better. He will

adjust, promise. I know it is really hard now. If holding him, etc.

helps that is great. It won't take him long! I can't comment on the

eating. Zoe was always more interested in EVERYTHING else. She is

just almost 18 lbs at 12 months old. If he is already picking back

up then I am sure he will be fine. If he sleeps on his back I found

it helpful to prop Zoe's legs up when I layed her down. I try not

to, but I would wait until she fell asleep in my arms and then put

her down with her legs propped by a folded blanket.

Have you checked his tootsies for blisters? If he kicked his shoe

off maybe it is a little loose (or he is just really strong). You

want to try to avoid slipping because that can cause blisters. Just

do them up very tight. It doesn't hurt.

Hang in there, like said, giving in doesn't help either of

you. Your 23 hours/day will be done before you know it.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Louisa

Rachael 6-27-99

Zoe 2-22-04 RCF FAB 16/7

> > >

> > >

> > > Good morning. I just joined this group today and I'm hoping

> > someone

> > > can help out.

> > >

> > > My son, Aleksander, is three months old. He was born with

> > bilateral

> > > clubfeet, and they are being corrected using Dr. Ponsetti's

> > method.

> > >

> > > Yesterday, he had his final set of casts removed and was fitted

> for

> > > the Dennis Brown bar. He slept straight through having the

shoes

> > put

> > > on, but once we got about halfway home from the clinic, he

> started

> > > screaming and has only taken a few breaks since then. That was

> > > around 1:00 yesterday afternoon. It is now 9:00 in the

morning.

> > >

> > > My husband and I know he's not in any pain because if we hold

him

> > and

> > > comfort him, he's fine. It is only when he relaxes and moves

his

> > > feet that he screams. We know it is just an adjustment for

him,

> > but

> > > wanted to find out if anyone had any tips on how to console our

> > son.

> > > We feel so horrible because we can't really do anything to help

> > him.

> > >

> > > We've called the clinic already to make sure there wasn't a

> > problem,

> > > and were assured that he is just adjusting. They weren't able

to

> > > help give us any comforting techniques. If you have any

> > suggestions,

> > > we are desperate! It is horrible to see out little guy so

> > miserable

> > > when he's usually such a happy baby.

[Guest guest]

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Good morning. I just joined this group today and I'm hoping

> > > someone

> > > > can help out.

> > > >

> > > > My son, Aleksander, is three months old. He was born with

> > > bilateral

> > > > clubfeet, and they are being corrected using Dr. Ponsetti's

> > > method.

> > > >

> > > > Yesterday, he had his final set of casts removed and was

fitted

> > for

> > > > the Dennis Brown bar. He slept straight through having the

> shoes

> > > put

> > > > on, but once we got about halfway home from the clinic, he

> > started

> > > > screaming and has only taken a few breaks since then. That

was

> > > > around 1:00 yesterday afternoon. It is now 9:00 in the

> morning.

> > > >

> > > > My husband and I know he's not in any pain because if we hold

> him

> > > and

> > > > comfort him, he's fine. It is only when he relaxes and moves

> his

> > > > feet that he screams. We know it is just an adjustment for

> him,

> > > but

> > > > wanted to find out if anyone had any tips on how to console

our

> > > son.

> > > > We feel so horrible because we can't really do anything to

help

> > > him.

> > > >

> > > > We've called the clinic already to make sure there wasn't a

> > > problem,

> > > > and were assured that he is just adjusting. They weren't

able

> to

> > > > help give us any comforting techniques. If you have any

> > > suggestions,

> > > > we are desperate! It is horrible to see out little guy so

> > > miserable

> > > > when he's usually such a happy baby.