Re: chances of a second child with CF

November 17, 2005

Between us, my husband and I have 4 children. Our " baby " is almost 3,

and he has clubfoot. Perhaps we were blessed by the fact that we had

exposure in our lives to other children with both physical and

developmental problems (including my step-daughter), or the fact that

I had already researched clubfoot when pregnant with him because his

sister was born with positional " clubfoot " (requires no treatment),

but for us, it was no big issue. My terrible delivery was what kept

us from having more children ... and we are now even getting past that

and considering another one

It is hard, when you are in the middle of treatment. It feels like it

will go on forever and that you are missing out on something. I hated

it when Kai went into the shoes, because I could not cuddle him close

at night anymore (the casts never posed any issue in this way, he

still snugged right up against me just perfect. But here we are,

almost 3 years later, and still battling a complex case, and we would

not change our baby for the world. His clubfoot was a part of him,

and it was darn cute, to be honest!

Let time heal you. In a year or two, what you are going thru right

now will seem like nothing, and having another child might seem much

more appealing then

Angel

>

> Does anyone know what the chances of having a second child with

> Clubfoot?

> I'm really not taking it very well and I'm scared if my husband and

I

> have another child it will have the same problem.I've already told

him

> I dont want any more children because of this reason

>

November 17, 2005

>

> > Does anyone know what the chances of having a second child with

> > Clubfoot? I'm really not taking it very well and I'm scared if my

husband and I have another child it will have the same problem.I've

already told him I dont want any more children because of this reason

Dear Lost,

I've read that the risk of having another child with clubfoot (if

neither parent has it) is 3 or 4 percent. It does run in families, but

it also just happens, in families with no history of it.

Here's info from the website of a children's hospital:

" Once a child has been born with clubfoot, the chance for it to happen

again in a male or female child is about 4 percent overall. In other

words, there is a 96 percent chance that another child would not be

born with clubfoot. "

Are you still pregnant? Is this your first?

As a mom of a 5 year old born with clubfoot, I can say that personally

I would never hesitate to have another. Not a moment's pause. My child

is completely healthy and active, with no problems. She does anything

any kid can do. Her foot was crooked when she was born, but it's

straight now. You could hold it in your hand and not be able to tell.

This is not a life threatening condition, and it can be treated very

well.

I know it is devastating at first .. but try not to dwell on the

negatives which seem so overwhleming now. As the time goes by.. and

your child thrives, I promise.. you will wonder why you were so upset..

I know that I do. I regret not enjoying more those early days with my

child, instead of crying, agonizing, and imagining the worst. If you

are still pregnant, for the baby's sake and yours, try to relax and

find a place of peace .. your baby needs you to be strong, and healthy.

Take care.. and please keep posting for support here! We all have been

where you are..

and Claire

November 17, 2005

Clubbed foot is totally fixable! I know that is hard to have a child

that isn't " perfect " , but I thank our lucky stars that is what we are

at Children's hospital for when I see so many other children that are

much more ill or disabled than our little girl.

This pregnancy and my last were not easy. The first because my son was

premature with a NICU stay and 6 weeks of bedrest. This one because

they told us that she might have a fatal chromosonal disorder. When

the amnio came back that her chromosomes were fine and then all it was

clubbed foot and possible a VSD in her heart, we were so estatic. Even

with all of the issues, I want a third child someday.

I am tired of visiting the doctors, but it'll all be worth it. With

only a 5% chance of clubbed foot happening again, it's not that much

of an issue.

I suggest you see a counselor to help you work through your grief. I

needed it after our sons birth and his NICU stay. They could help you

work through all the issues that you have around the clubbed foot.

Good luck!

Joline

>

> Does anyone know what the chances of having a second child with

> Clubfoot?

> I'm really not taking it very well and I'm scared if my husband and

I

> have another child it will have the same problem.I've already told

him

> I dont want any more children because of this reason

>

November 17, 2005

Dear Lost,

When was a newborn nearly 3 years ago, I used to take him for his

weekly checkups at the same clinic where I'd done my pre-natal classes.

There were all the same moms I knew from the classes, but I was the only one

with a baby in plaster casts - these were the short casts, pre-Ponseti

treatment. It was peak summer so I'd take there in just a vest and

nappy otherwise he'd get too hot. Of course his casts were very visible and

at first I felt embarrassed and guilty that there was something 'wrong' with

my baby. I was pretty much an over-achiever and perfectionist with most of

my life and it was difficult for me to deal with.

It was horrible the first time going in with my not 'perfect' baby that I

had dreamed of having. I felt so bad that he wasn't the same as all the

others. I also felt very protective over him and wanted everyone to see my

beautiful child the way I did and not just his feet, but of course everyone

was interested in the plaster casts and I had to answer all the questions.

That day the nursing sister took me one side and talked softly so that

nobody else could hear. She said that my baby had something visible that

everyone could see, but that didn't mean that all the others were perfect,

she pointed them out. One had an undescended testicle, another had asthma,

another had milk allergies, another had colic, another had bad eczema.

I realised then that it wasn't just us - every single baby in the room had

an 'imperfection' - but they were all perfect in their own way, just like

. It made me feel so much better to think about it that way.

If I am lucky to fall pregnant again (it took a few years the first time),

I'd pray for a healthy baby, but not worry too much about another clubfoot

baby, because after you get over the initial shock and feelings associated

with having a child with clubfoot, you realise it is a relatively simple

thing to fix - with the right doctor.

I went through the mourning for that perfect child that I didn't have, but

then it became a positive experience.

's clubfeet have changed my life on many levels. They have made me more

understanding of birth defects...after meeting Dr Ponseti I have helped many

other people through the information on my website...the new charity I have

started in South Africa will bring help to even more people...and best of

all, every day brings me joy and pride when I see how well he is doing.

Your feelings are natural, I went through them too. I hope this helps and

that you find peace of mind soon and wish you and your family well.

and

Born 24 Jan 2003, bilateral clubfoot, treated by Dr Ponseti in April 2003

Moss

Steps Charity

www.steps.org.za

Cell:

>

> Does anyone know what the chances of having a second child with

> Clubfoot?

> I'm really not taking it very well and I'm scared if my husband and

I

> have another child it will have the same problem.I've already told

him

> I dont want any more children because of this reason

>

November 18, 2005

Here Here!

s.

Re: Re: chances of a second child with CF

As I sit here reading all of these beautiful responses. I say I would try again

for another baby even if I had a 100% chance of a third child with clubfoot! Of

course I am sitting here, feeling a bit nauseated and dizzy......hmmm could it

be the morning sickness of a third crooked feet baby?? Heck, I hope so!!!

www.pediatric-orthopedic-foundation.org

Our mission: " To provide support and assistance through education and financial

assistance to families and their children who have orthopedic disabilities or

orthopedic birth defects. "

November 18, 2005

Well OK, if you say so.....haha.......seriously though you know the day I got

the news I really was crushed but to me being sad or angry is just a waste of

energy that I get bored with pretty fast. It's like a sickness and I'm just a

lousy nurse. I don't want to be sad or angry. I wanted this baby with all my

heart and that hasn't changed a bit - he's just coming to open another chapter

of adventure in my otherwise mundane little life. We plan this to be our last

child but not because of club foot, just because I'm getting up there in

Dinosaur Years for this whole pregnancy thing and we do sort of hope to get a

few free years to ourselves eventually to cross America on a motor cycle before

we're too old to stay on one! lol! But all in all, we knew what we were in for,

we knew there was a definite risk of a repeat performance with both Everett and

this new baby and it didn't stop us from wanting to fill our house.

s.

chances of a second child with CF

>

> Does anyone know what the chances of having a second child with

> Clubfoot?

> I'm really not taking it very well and I'm scared if my husband and I

> have another child it will have the same problem.I've already told him

> I dont want any more children because of this reason

>

November 18, 2005

You sure are a sappy bunch of ladies on here! LOL!

s.

Re: chances of a second child with CF

Wow. Thank you, ee, from all of us pondering another child!

Your insight and heartfelt words are priceless. Now if I can get

myself to stop crying!

, Judith (3) & (6 mos, fab 12 hours)

November 18, 2005

Gee, at this rate I'm going to have to start charging you all admission!

HA HA HA HA HAH HAHHAH

s.

chances of a second child with CF

>

> Does anyone know what the chances of having a second child with

> Clubfoot?

> I'm really not taking it very well and I'm scared if my husband and I

> have another child it will have the same problem.I've already told him

> I dont want any more children because of this reason

>

November 18, 2005

,

You said that beautifully. You are so right.

A birth defect is a problem apparent right away.. but there's all of

life ahead. A 'perfect' child at birth is no free pass.

We have good friends whose child became horribly ill as a toddler; it

took months to discover that she had celiac disease, a life-

threatening food allergy that was literally starving her. It will

affect how she eats the rest of her life. (Her mother has much more

to stay on top of day to day dealing with that issue than I ever have

had to do with clubfoot. I just put some shoes on at night.)

I remember when I was first on these boards, there was a wonderful

parent who had a child with clubfoot, which was corrected well.. She

was dealing with treatment, when out of the blue, one of her other

children, born with normal feet, was horribly injured in the legs in

a lawn mower accident.

A good friend was just recently told that her 9 year old daughter has

the beginning signs of scoliosis.. a condition that, in a way, is

similar to clubfoot.. but happens at different point in life.

Clubfoot near birth, scoliosis in preteen years.

We dealt with a psychological issue with one child that absolutely

blindsided us.. after years of not a single health issue. Believe me,

it made me long for the simplicity of a mere 'mechanical' problem,

like straightening a twisted foot.

Something to think about..

November 18, 2005

I knew ee was the best to answer this question...I figured I'd

take a stab at it, but who else can say it better? Well done

> >

> > Oh Goodie is this where I jump out of my seat with my hand in the

> air yelling ME ME ME ME ME ME ME!!!!!!!!

> >

> > Oh dear Lost737370 whomever you are, my heart goes out to you and

> there is a million things I want to say but alas where would I

> begin?

> >

> > Let me begin with Everett Mark, my resident little 2 year old elf

> with yellow hair and a big round pot belly who does clown tricks and

> sings goofy little Bop-Bop songs and tries to ride his car naked like

> a skate board and squints up his little eyes with is toy gun yelling

> Pow Pow and falling over when we shoot back with our fingers and he

> slithers on his belly saying Snake Snake Snake attacking our feet and

> gargles his milk and eats hot sauce with his corn chips and calls

> everything sweet " Cake " ........the little man who keeps us rolling

> with laughter in such ways as we never imagined and fills a void in

> our hearts that we didn't now existed until he arrived !!!!

> >

> > Everett is my 2nd son to be born with Club Foot and I cannot

> imagine life with out him, club footed and all.

> >

> > is my oldest. He is 7 year old. He was born with club foot,

> also, and at the time it did seem like the end of the world, but it

> wasn't. Today is my Brainiac child, as serious in nature as

> Everett is clown-ish.

> >

> > And in March, some where around March 1st, I am expecting my 3rd

> son....and he will be born with his brother's kiss of two crooked

> feet. And already I know this child who hicups and rolls about

> inside of me and who gets excited when I eat and likes me to play Big

> Band music through the little head-set I wear around my every growing

> belly for him to listen to. Already I cannot imagine life with out

> him, either - nor life with out his two clubbed feet.

> >

> > Now this all sounds wonderfully sugar coated, so let me add my

> little disclaimer to all this: When was born, I was very

> upset and hurt and confused but eventually you learn the child is not

> a Case Of Club Foot. He is your child, your flesh and blood, a

> living breathing soul and what the hell is a couple crooked feet in

> the scheme of things?

> >

> > And with Everett - crap I said, another set of club feet but OH

> well....we got it taken care of.

> >

> > And then recently as a few days ago I learned #3 here also has club

> foot and I bawled my eyes out mad at the world for about a day and

> then it was, " OH WELL " again because these are my children and I love

> them because after all, What's not to love? Would I turn ANY of them

> away? Oh God no.

> >

> > Club foot isn't the end of the world, it's not a shame, it's not a

> crime, it's not a death sentense nor even life in prison because

> there is a wonderful old man named Dr. Ponseti who figured out it

> didn't have to be a life-sentence and through his work, our children

> quickly recover and that's just all there is to it. It's one or

> both feet that grew a little funky in the womb then you go get them

> fixed and before they start Kindergarten the whole thing is ancient

> history that you seldome think about anymore.

> >

> > So what if you have another? Chances are greater that you won't.

> Having more than one is sort of a freak accident, but ask yourself

> truely, so what if you do have another one? Would you trade in your

> first child knowing it had club foot? Hardly. So why trade in his

> sibling? What is it exactly you're really afraid of? And do you

> not trust the Good Lord to bless your family through the experience

> of it ? Honey, God doesn't make junk. Your child is perfect, as

> will be any other children you might concieve.

> >

> > s.

> > chances of a second child with CF

> >

> > Does anyone know what the chances of having a second child with

> > Clubfoot?

> > I'm really not taking it very well and I'm scared if my husband and

> I

> > have another child it will have the same problem.I've already told

> him

> > I dont want any more children because of this reason

> >

November 18, 2005

As I sit here reading all of these beautiful responses. I say I would try again

for another baby even if I had a 100% chance of a third child with clubfoot! Of

course I am sitting here, feeling a bit nauseated and dizzy......hmmm could it

be the morning sickness of a third crooked feet baby?? Heck, I hope so!!!

www.pediatric-orthopedic-foundation.org

Our mission: " To provide support and assistance through education and financial

assistance to families and their children who have orthopedic disabilities or

orthopedic birth defects. "

November 18, 2005

karen-

Beautifully written!

Moss wrote: