Guest guest Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 Hello, Im only just beginning to read plagio sites as it looks as if my 14 week only grandaughter has a flat area, probably caused by torticollis on the right side. Repositioning and stretching exercises have been suggested by the Physio . Standard ones for Tort, given out on a sheet by the hospital, to address the 'side to side' and the reluctance to tilt 'the other way' My daughter started to do these exercises gently with the baby, but the baby screams relentlessly as soon as you position your hands on her shoulder and head and start applying even the lightest pressure. After just one day, the baby now cries and looks frightened when you approach her, and she stopped looking at her Mummy . My daughter rang the physio and the physio said carry on its for her own good. Two days later and my daughter is torn as to how to proceed for fear of causing the baby psychological damage. Do other peoples babies have the same reaction to the exercises? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 Hi, I just started doing these stretches with my son. He is 5.5 months old. He seems to know when I'm going to do the stretches now. He does cry, but I try to do whatever makes him smile as we do the stretches. It definitely helps. It distracts him and he even smiles or laughs! My goofiness helps the stretch because it seems to make his whole body relax. He still doesn't like them, though. He will cry and then I'll try to make him laugh and he may or may not stop crying. It's worth a shot. Also, right after the stretches are done I make sure I hold him and comfort him for a while. Another tip is to try and give her many positive experiences while she's touching her shoulders, etc. My son was in the NICU for four weeks and I don't even remember how many times they poked him to draw blood or to try to start in IV. The OT there gave us some advice. She told us to make sure we rubbed his little feet and hands a lot so he wouldn't be traumatized. This way he wouldn't think that every time someone touched his hands or feet he would get poked. They are smart. So we have to counteract the pain with tons of loving. In this case it's in the shoulders and neck area. Hope this helps! I know it's hard, but we are in the same boat. The stretches get easier to do the more you do them. They'll let you do more and more. Hang in there! You're a great grandma for looking for help for your baby girls! > > Hello, Im only just beginning to read plagio sites as it looks as if my 14 week only grandaughter has a flat area, probably caused by torticollis on the right side. Repositioning and stretching exercises have been suggested by the Physio . Standard ones for Tort, given out on a sheet by the hospital, to address the 'side to side' and the reluctance to tilt 'the other way' My daughter started to do these exercises gently with the baby, but the baby screams relentlessly as soon as you position your hands on her shoulder and head and start applying even the lightest pressure. After just one day, the baby now cries and looks frightened when you approach her, and she stopped looking at her Mummy . My daughter rang the physio and the physio said carry on its for her own good. Two days later and my daughter is torn as to how to proceed for fear of causing the baby psychological damage. Do other peoples babies have the same reaction to the exercises? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 My son was 2 months when he started pt for torticollis and I hated the side stretch that you are talking about - it seemed to be a bit too invasive fo me. In fairness, it didn't bother my son at all. As a compromise, when my son napped I held him so that his neck received the same stretch. I held him like I would if he were breastfeeding and then I tilted his head. This might be a lot less stressful for your daughter and grandaughter. Good Luck From: pamclayton15 <green.pamela@...>Plagiocephaly Sent: Saturday, May 16, 2009 8:32:17 PMSubject: Exercises painful Hello, Im only just beginning to read plagio sites as it looks as if my 14 week only grandaughter has a flat area, probably caused by torticollis on the right side. Repositioning and stretching exercises have been suggested by the Physio . Standard ones for Tort, given out on a sheet by the hospital, to address the 'side to side' and the reluctance to tilt 'the other way' My daughter started to do these exercises gently with the baby, but the baby screams relentlessly as soon as you position your hands on her shoulder and head and start applying even the lightest pressure. After just one day, the baby now cries and looks frightened when you approach her, and she stopped looking at her Mummy . My daughter rang the physio and the physio said carry on its for her own good. Two days later and my daughter is torn as to how to proceed for fear of causing the baby psychological damage. Do other peoples babies have the same reaction to the exercises? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 Hi Treesheart, hi Audra . Thanks for the replies . My daughter tries now to do both stretches in similar ways to what you describe with breastfeeding , and having the baby lying on uneven knees whilst napping so the head hangs to a helpful angle. Its certainly better than specific excercises . Honestly the screaming was high pitched monotone and scary. My daughter was already doing the extra loving and stuff to try and compensate- I agree with you, thats a must, but we are all just hoping that these new more 'imaginative' excercises will do the job just as well till she goes to be further assessed. Are there others reading this whos baby also screamed more persistently and as if in terrible pain ? Does anyone think the PT is right about carrying on regardless of the screaming? On Sun, May 17, 2009 at 6:32 PM, Audra <audracox@...> wrote: My son was 2 months when he started pt for torticollis and I hated the side stretch that you are talking about - it seemed to be a bit too invasive fo me. In fairness, it didn't bother my son at all. As a compromise, when my son napped I held him so that his neck received the same stretch. I held him like I would if he were breastfeeding and then I tilted his head. This might be a lot less stressful for your daughter and grandaughter. Good Luck From: pamclayton15 <green.pamela@...>Plagiocephaly Sent: Saturday, May 16, 2009 8:32:17 PMSubject: Exercises painful Hello, Im only just beginning to read plagio sites as it looks as if my 14 week only grandaughter has a flat area, probably caused by torticollis on the right side. Repositioning and stretching exercises have been suggested by the Physio . Standard ones for Tort, given out on a sheet by the hospital, to address the 'side to side' and the reluctance to tilt 'the other way' My daughter started to do these exercises gently with the baby, but the baby screams relentlessly as soon as you position your hands on her shoulder and head and start applying even the lightest pressure. After just one day, the baby now cries and looks frightened when you approach her, and she stopped looking at her Mummy . My daughter rang the physio and the physio said carry on its for her own good. Two days later and my daughter is torn as to how to proceed for fear of causing the baby psychological damage. Do other peoples babies have the same reaction to the exercises? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 Hi Pamela, I started doing stretches on my son because I thought he had tort. Turns out he didn't, but even though he didn't, he screamed and fussed when I did the stretches. What helped was me singing some crazy made up songs about the stretches. I think it distracted him. For me, when the crying became hysterical, I stopped, distracted him with some toys and more singing and then started up again. Good luck! > > > > > > > My son was 2 months when he started pt for torticollis and I hated the > > side stretch that you are talking about - it seemed to be a bit too invasive > > fo me. In fairness, it didn't bother my son at all. As a compromise, when > > my son napped I held him so that his neck received the same stretch. I held > > him like I would if he were breastfeeding and then I tilted his head. This > > might be a lot less stressful for your daughter and grandaughter. > > > > Good Luck > > > > ------------------------------ > > *From:* pamclayton15 <green.pamela@...> > > *To:* Plagiocephaly > > *Sent:* Saturday, May 16, 2009 8:32:17 PM > > *Subject:* Exercises painful > > > > Hello, Im only just beginning to read plagio sites as it looks as if my > > 14 week only grandaughter has a flat area, probably caused by torticollis on > > the right side. Repositioning and stretching exercises have been suggested > > by the Physio . Standard ones for Tort, given out on a sheet by the > > hospital, to address the 'side to side' and the reluctance to tilt 'the > > other way' My daughter started to do these exercises gently with the baby, > > but the baby screams relentlessly as soon as you position your hands on her > > shoulder and head and start applying even the lightest pressure. After just > > one day, the baby now cries and looks frightened when you approach her, and > > she stopped looking at her Mummy . My daughter rang the physio and the > > physio said carry on its for her own good. Two days later and my daughter is > > torn as to how to proceed for fear of causing the baby psychological damage. > > Do other peoples babies have the same reaction to the exercises? > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 Besides the playing and relaxing the baby, which really helps with the stretches, the more your daughter gently stretches your granddaughter's neck, the easier (less screaming) the stretches will become, just like stretching your own muscles. The crying never completely goes away, but lots and lots and lots of gentle stretching will make the stretches less terrible. Hope that helps, it sounds like they are already on the right road. Annie > > > > > > > My son was 2 months when he started pt for torticollis and I hated the > > side stretch that you are talking about - it seemed to be a bit too invasive > > fo me. In fairness, it didn't bother my son at all. As a compromise, when > > my son napped I held him so that his neck received the same stretch. I held > > him like I would if he were breastfeeding and then I tilted his head. This > > might be a lot less stressful for your daughter and grandaughter. > > > > Good Luck > > > > ------------------------------ > > *From:* pamclayton15 <green.pamela@...> > > *To:* Plagiocephaly > > *Sent:* Saturday, May 16, 2009 8:32:17 PM > > *Subject:* Exercises painful > > > > Hello, Im only just beginning to read plagio sites as it looks as if my > > 14 week only grandaughter has a flat area, probably caused by torticollis on > > the right side. Repositioning and stretching exercises have been suggested > > by the Physio . Standard ones for Tort, given out on a sheet by the > > hospital, to address the 'side to side' and the reluctance to tilt 'the > > other way' My daughter started to do these exercises gently with the baby, > > but the baby screams relentlessly as soon as you position your hands on her > > shoulder and head and start applying even the lightest pressure. After just > > one day, the baby now cries and looks frightened when you approach her, and > > she stopped looking at her Mummy . My daughter rang the physio and the > > physio said carry on its for her own good. Two days later and my daughter is > > torn as to how to proceed for fear of causing the baby psychological damage. > > Do other peoples babies have the same reaction to the exercises? > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 18, 2009 Report Share Posted May 18, 2009 I haven't had a chance to read every response, so pardon me if I repeat something someone else has said. I don't think she will cause any psychological damage. No baby likes to have neck stretches done. I know my son didn't. He would scream his head off too and he's now 2.5 and doing just fine. One thing I would suggest is warming her muscles up with some massaging first. Put a dab of baby lotion on your fingers and sing and coo to her as you massage her neck muscle up and down (i.e. holding her head in your left hand and massaging with the right, then switch). Loosening it up first should make the stretches easier on her. That's what we were told to do and it seemed to help, much better than doing just a cold stretch out of nowhere. Also, I was shown to do the stretches sitting down propped up against the wall, my knees bent and the baby propped up on my thighs in front of me. It might help to do them that way because she might feel comforted more to be held during the stretches, rather than mom leaning over her on a changing table or floor, forcing her head down. It might make a difference. Definitely do keep them up though. I know it's hard but my son did eventually get used to them, plus as the muscle is stretched and they get more range of motion, it's easier on them. Hope that helps! Good luck! Jake-2.5 (DOCBand Grad 9/08) Jordan-5 > > Hello, Im only just beginning to read plagio sites as it looks as if my 14 week only grandaughter has a flat area, probably caused by torticollis on the right side. Repositioning and stretching exercises have been suggested by the Physio . Standard ones for Tort, given out on a sheet by the hospital, to address the 'side to side' and the reluctance to tilt 'the other way' My daughter started to do these exercises gently with the baby, but the baby screams relentlessly as soon as you position your hands on her shoulder and head and start applying even the lightest pressure. After just one day, the baby now cries and looks frightened when you approach her, and she stopped looking at her Mummy . My daughter rang the physio and the physio said carry on its for her own good. Two days later and my daughter is torn as to how to proceed for fear of causing the baby psychological damage. Do other peoples babies have the same reaction to the exercises? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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