Re: Lop ear and plagio? and response to 's recent scan

[Guest guest]

Actually they are related, but you still shouldn't feel guilty. Tort, plagio,

and many ear deformities all can come from uterine constriction. Unless you want

to beat yourself up about your uterus and pelvis not expanding enough, don't

feel guilty. Besides feeling guilty won't help and may make things worse for all

of you.

The problem is that OB/gyns don't watch for this. As long as the kid's not in

distress and is still growing they don't get concerned about positioning. They

don't live with the consequences.

Eli

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> Kathy,

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> Given the recent measurements that you've posted and the length of time in the

band, this makes total sense. If his ears are still sticking out, then I'm

guessing that it is not related to the plagio.

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> And, you've been here nearly as long as I have and I don't think that we've

seen any other posts about this loop ear. It also sounds like it is more related

to the upper part of the ear than the skull.

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> So, no need to feel guilty. The two are probably not related.

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> For a while, I felt bad at how 's ears looked, but over time, and I

believe with the chiro that she has had, her ears now look totally typical to

me. They stick out only the very slightest bit, but less than some kids who have

completed normal heads. So, I've let the ears go as well.

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> You should feel really good about 's progress now that his numbers are in

the normal range for both level 3 and level 5 (I meant to reply to your post,

but it got lost in my other emails). You have done so much to help his head and

I'm guessing that you will have helped so many other things for him by doing all

of the alternative treatments that you have. We are so grateful that we tried

chiro for and the most obvious side effect was the cure of her reflux.

We also saw visual improvement in her head as well, even if we don't have

numbers to back that up. Neither of my kids have had any ear infections since

they started getting adjusted and we all have been healthier this season than

any season since the first child was born.

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> I know the desire to seek for perfection - or in 's case, I just wanted

what others would call " normal " by the measurements. (focusing too much on the

numbers is an unfortunate side effect of my job). But, it has been a process for

me to learn to start accepting her head shape. I don't believe that her head

stands out these days (even though her numbers say that she is very much not

normal) and I'm guessing that 's probably doesn't either, although I have

never seen pictures. It just seems that with his numbers, it is hard to imagine

that it could not look normal.

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> For a while, I considered more treatments for her and I'm still not 100

percent sure, but I'm beginning to feel that enough is enough and it is time to

spend my time, finances, and efforts on other things. My kids are starting to

grow up and I'd love to put that money towards a gymnastics day camp for both

kids this summer rather than more treatments that may or may not work due to her

rising age. And, as gets older, her personality stands out more and I

can start focusing more on that than on her head. is a little younger than

and I was still struggling when she was approaching 2, but I'm hoping

that as his personality and talents begin to shine, you can relax about what is

probably a pretty typical head shape. With his numbers, I sincerely doubt that

he will have any medical effects. It will probably never be noticeable to anyone

but you.

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> But that's the way it works - we spend so much time analyzing the head that it

is hard not to see those little things that are not perfect. Or, it least this

is the way it works for some of us (me included). And for those of us that

banded late, there is extra guilt for not doing anything earlier. I believe that

there is a kind of understanding between us mom's of older banded babies (no

offense to moms of younger babies intended here). There is guilt for the head

being flat, but then add on the guilt for not doing anything until late, and

this is really hard to let go of. I speak from experience. It becomes more

difficult as the toddlers approach their helmet graduation and we had wanted

more improvement than we got. Yes, we had been cautioned that we wouldn't get

all the way there, but we had secretly hoped that our toddlers could be an

exception or at least would have gone further than they did. At least that was

the way it was for me.

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> In 's case, you did get further than some of us since his numbers are in

the normal range. Think about it - do you really think that his numbers could

have been better if banded at 6 months? It's possible, but many babies graduate

with those numbers. It's hard to get a perfect 0 mm. I really think that you can

let go of your guilt just because of how far he has come. Continue with the PT

for the recent issue that you discovered. Of course, many children can benefit

from chiro, CST, and osteopathy, even for other concerns (in my opinion). That

is why we are continuing with the chiro.

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> Having said all of that, I am still having trouble completely letting go -

so I do understand the struggle.

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> , mom to , 2 2/3 years

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> STARBand grad May 2009

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> Chiro and CST

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> land

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> Lop ear and plagio?

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> Hi,

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> Does anyone know whether there is a connection between lop ear and plagio? 

This is where the tip of the ear bends over and it can be corrected by

surgery.  After some research on the internet, we believe 's right ear has

this.  Our understanding is it is usually congenital.  Looking at pictures we

see it for sure by 6 weeks, and possibly sooner.  's plagio developed late

and is amazingly not visible in top and side head pictures even past 3 months. 

We are almost sure the lop ear came before the plagio.  Although maybe they are

both caused by the preference to turn right.

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> 's right ear is also very slightly pushed forward from the plagio and

barely sticks out below.  However, the lop ear seems to be more the upper

cartilage.  If you have followed my emails, you may recall we tried taping

's right ear with a splint for a few months, but gave up since it didn't

seem to do any good and the skin started becoming a bit irritated.

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> Honestly, the bend in the ear is not that bad and looks kind of cute, at least

on a toddler.  I'm hoping it is not caused from the plagio, since then I won't

feel guilty and just accept it as something he was born with that can be

fixed.  We would probably decide not to fix it unless he complains about it. 

Does anyone know whether or not there is a connection between lop ear and

plagio? 

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> Thanks,

> Kathy

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