The world isn't flat, but Dane's head might be.... We had Dane's visit yesterday with the "developmental clinic" at CDH. This involved speaking with the neonatologist and PT people. I was at work so I wasn't able to go, and I was unimpressed with the people at the clinic. We experienced some of this similar problem when Dane was originally born. They talked with us at that time about "worst case scenarios" and made us feel totally overwhelmed, only to have everything turn out fine 24 hours later (example: the little bleed in Dane's brain, the spots in his retinas, etc). The people at the clinic yesterday kept saying how Dane is behind on meeting his milestones (like lifting his head during tummy time) because he is so heavy now.
(Excuse me, but isn't the goal to have him gain weight? This is the so-called "catch-up" preemie weight gain...) They also made a big deal out of the somewhat flat spot on the back of Dane's head, telling Larissa that it might not go back to round or that he might need to wear one of those head re-shaping helmets or go to physical therapy. Seriously? It's not like his head is super flat. And I'm sure as soon as he gets some head control and doesn't spend all day on his back, everything will round out. We are trying to do his tummy time, but he still absolutely hates it.
Two suggestions from the clinic visit that we
are going to use:
1) We switched the side of Dane's crib that we put his head. He has been wanting to look out into the room, so he's always been turning his head to the left. Putting his head at the other end of the crib will force him to look to his right in order to look at the bedroom. We also swung the big lantern lamp that has been over his crib to now be out towards the middle of the room. We hang toys for him to look at off of the lamp, again giving him things to look at off to his right to help him turn to that direction more often.
2) We are trying to do even more tummy time (even though Dane hates it) and to hold him / keep pressure off of the back of his head more often. This is simply because the semi-flat spot is on the back of his head, so less time with pressure to the back of his head should also help to allow it to round out.
PS - Happy 5 months old today, Dane!
I also had the "flat head scare" with Nate from his doctors and I'm happy to report that as an almmost two year old now, it is completely undetectable unless I am really looking for it. I'm sure Dane will be fine:)
ReplyDeleteHis head does not look flat. I work with developmentally delayed children and I have seen my share of head flatness. One thing, that I see you guys already do, to help prevent head flatness, is to let Dane sit in the bumbo chair a little everyday. It is supposed to help build neck strength which helps with lifting his head during tummy time.
ReplyDelete