Hazel's head is ever so slightly crooked. It's common now that parents are encouraged to place babies on their backs to sleep. It's also common with multiples. Hazel was always lower in the womb (Baby A), with her head scrunched at the bottom. Chances are she was born with a flat spot, and favored it while sleeping over the first few months. I didn't notice it until she was about 3 months. The doctor suggested I try to reposition her every time I laid her down, and to give her lots of tummy time to help the muscles in her neck. I did my best. I didn't get a referral to see a neurosurgeon until much later, and here we are at 11 months. He recommended that we use helmet therapy. Ideally we would have put her in a helmet around 4 or 5 months, because that's when her head was growing the most and it would have taken less time to reshape it.
 |
| (Example) |
Her forehead bulges slightly out on her right side, and her ears are off center. The difference in the oblong measurements of her skull is 13mm. We won't be able to get it to a perfect 0 (no one is perfect anyway; asymmetry is the rule of the human body, after all) but the hope is to get down to a 4.
It's emotional, and I am questioning everything. Is this vain? Will she be uncomfortable and hot and stinky for nothing? What if it's too late? Is her head really misshapen enough to warrant months of head gear 23 hours a day? If we didn't do it, would she wish we had later in life?
The decision has been made, though. Now I just have to stick to it for the next few months. She gets a half hour break in the morning, and a half hour break at night, during which we bathe her, wash the helmet, dry them both, and then put it back on for bed. She doesn't mind it, and one time even tried to put it back on after I took it off. She sleeps as soundly as ever, too.
Hazel, honey, the good thing is you won't remember this. I hope you'll agree it was the right thing to do. For now, all of us, especially your big brother Lincoln, are supporting you!
I completely understand how you feel. Jack might be getting a helmet too, and I feel like I am trying my hardest to get him off his head as much as possible. It is extremely hard to do, especially since he hates tummy time. Don't be hard on yourself Em! She is perfect with or without the helmet. At the end of the day she is loved and healthy, that's what matters the most. You do a fantastic job at being a Mama!
ReplyDeleteI knew a family who had the same thing with their son. Those little helmets are so cute, and she is adorable in it! I am sure that you are making the right decision for your baby!
ReplyDeleteMiss you, Em!
Dear EM, it's so hard as parents not to second guess ourselves. Everyone does... I still do! But the bottom line is that you are doing what you feel is best for her right now, with the information you have been given at this time. That is all we can do! Both of you are doing such a wonderful job raising lovely happy and healthy kids! And you know that we all love and support you!
ReplyDeleteShe looks so sweet in her helmet! Don't be hard on yourself, all parents second guess themselves. I still do! But I am sure everything will work out!
ReplyDelete