Friday, 29 October 2010
7th October 2010
Well Ben was discharged today! So happy! He's got his Brachcephaly down to 89% which is fantastic considering he started at 103%. Thanks for reading x
Saturday, 11 September 2010
Sunday, 15 August 2010
5th August 2010
Ben is now down to 92% and the width has reduced by another 2mm. Dont think he'll have the helmet for much longer now, maybe another couple of months or so. Can't wait to buy him a nice hat set for winter :)
You can see from the pic how well it has worked.
Thursday, 8 July 2010
Monday, 14 June 2010
11th June 2010
Another appointment for Ben today, the width of his head is down by 4mm and his Brachy is down to 93%. Only another 8% to go and his head will be within the normal bracket.
Even better, Sandie has said he can be discharged after another 2 appointments, which will just be after my birthday. What a great present for me, and more so, him :)
Even better, Sandie has said he can be discharged after another 2 appointments, which will just be after my birthday. What a great present for me, and more so, him :)
Wednesday, 2 June 2010
Holiday blues :(
Had a great time on hol, weather was lush all week and the boys loved it. Gutted to be back home. Didn't get to take Ben swimming because he had a bad chest but hoping to take him next week. I want to move to the seaside!
Friday, 21 May 2010
Christening Day 16th May 2010
It was the day of Liam and Ben's Christening and everything turned out great in the end. (Not without some major stress in the morning lol)The priest was lovely, really friendly.
Ben had his helmet off for the day, it was great to see my gorgeous little boy's hair for once! They both looked so cute and everyone commented on how rounded Ben's head was becoming :)
Off on our hols on 22nd, going to take Ben swimming for the first time. More helmet free time :)
Ben had his helmet off for the day, it was great to see my gorgeous little boy's hair for once! They both looked so cute and everyone commented on how rounded Ben's head was becoming :)
Off on our hols on 22nd, going to take Ben swimming for the first time. More helmet free time :)
12th May 2010
Took Ben for his appointment today, the width of Ben's head has reduced by another 5mm. So its now 1cm longer than wide!
His brachycephaly has gone down to 96%. And he's allowed the have the helmet off for his christening on Sunday, so pleased!
Still a way to go but he's doing great!
His brachycephaly has gone down to 96%. And he's allowed the have the helmet off for his christening on Sunday, so pleased!
Still a way to go but he's doing great!
Sunday, 9 May 2010
Some info about Brachy and Plagio
About plagiocephaly
Plagiocephaly is defined as the oblique deformity of the skull, consisting in the greater development of the anterior part on one side and of the posterior part on the other.
In other words, it relates to a partial flattening of the back of the head which gives a slightly distorted look to the head shape and which can cause a misalignment of the ears and eyes. While it has not been identified as the specific cause of any medical problems in later life, any misalignment of the skull resulting from plagiocephaly may in severe cases contribute to jaw and dental problems and the negative psychological effects of teasing and bullying in the child's formative years.
Brachycephaly
Brachycephaly is similar to plagiocephaly, but is indicated by a flatness across the full extent of the back of the head, and occasionally by a corresponding flatness across the forehead.
Both conditions are more prevalent in boys than girls, and are caused by a variety of factors. These include:
1 Craniosynotosis
Plagiocephaly can be caused by craniosynostosis, which occurs when the cranial sutures ossify prematurely and prevent further growth in the affected area while the skull continues to grow elsewhere. Plagiocephaly caused by craniosynostosis cannot be treated with a helmet, and surgery is the only option for correction.
2 Back-sleeping
Recent recommendations for back-sleeping to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (cot death) are believed to be a major contributor to the flattening of babies' skulls. With young babies spending most, if not all, of their time either asleep on their backs, in a car seat, being carried in a baby carrier or lying in someone' s arms, the backs of their heads are under constant external pressure.
3 Pregnancy
It is believed that a lack of amniotic fluid in the womb may also make babies more prone to plagiocephaly, as may the journey through the birth canal and the eventual method of delivery. Breech babies can also become wedged beneath the mother' s ribs, which may also be a contributory factor.
4 Prematurity
Premature babies are more prone to plagiocephaly because their skulls are softer and more malleable than full-term babies.
5 Torticollis
A tightness or shortening of the muscles on one side of the neck, called Congenital Muscular Torticollis, can cause babies to look only in one direction and therefore to sleep with their head in one position. This causes continual external pressure to one side of the back of the head, which can again result in plagiocephaly.
Plagiocephaly is defined as the oblique deformity of the skull, consisting in the greater development of the anterior part on one side and of the posterior part on the other.
In other words, it relates to a partial flattening of the back of the head which gives a slightly distorted look to the head shape and which can cause a misalignment of the ears and eyes. While it has not been identified as the specific cause of any medical problems in later life, any misalignment of the skull resulting from plagiocephaly may in severe cases contribute to jaw and dental problems and the negative psychological effects of teasing and bullying in the child's formative years.
Brachycephaly
Brachycephaly is similar to plagiocephaly, but is indicated by a flatness across the full extent of the back of the head, and occasionally by a corresponding flatness across the forehead.
Both conditions are more prevalent in boys than girls, and are caused by a variety of factors. These include:
1 Craniosynotosis
Plagiocephaly can be caused by craniosynostosis, which occurs when the cranial sutures ossify prematurely and prevent further growth in the affected area while the skull continues to grow elsewhere. Plagiocephaly caused by craniosynostosis cannot be treated with a helmet, and surgery is the only option for correction.
2 Back-sleeping
Recent recommendations for back-sleeping to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (cot death) are believed to be a major contributor to the flattening of babies' skulls. With young babies spending most, if not all, of their time either asleep on their backs, in a car seat, being carried in a baby carrier or lying in someone' s arms, the backs of their heads are under constant external pressure.
3 Pregnancy
It is believed that a lack of amniotic fluid in the womb may also make babies more prone to plagiocephaly, as may the journey through the birth canal and the eventual method of delivery. Breech babies can also become wedged beneath the mother' s ribs, which may also be a contributory factor.
4 Prematurity
Premature babies are more prone to plagiocephaly because their skulls are softer and more malleable than full-term babies.
5 Torticollis
A tightness or shortening of the muscles on one side of the neck, called Congenital Muscular Torticollis, can cause babies to look only in one direction and therefore to sleep with their head in one position. This causes continual external pressure to one side of the back of the head, which can again result in plagiocephaly.
Ben's first check up 21st April 2010
We took Ben to Leeds today to see his clinician Sandie and the width of his head has reduced by 5mm already. It doesn't sound much but considering he's only had the helmet on for just under two weeks, its a great start. I'm so pleased! Sandie was really pleased too and told us it was an excellent start.
His brachycephaly has gone from 103% to 99% so his head is now longer than it is wide :) so happy!
Next appointment 12th May 2010, MIL's birthday!
His brachycephaly has gone from 103% to 99% so his head is now longer than it is wide :) so happy!
Next appointment 12th May 2010, MIL's birthday!
15th April 2010
Yesterday was Ben's first full day in the helmet. He doesn't even know he's got it on!
Went out shopping yesterday, can't believe the amount of people that where rubber necking to have a look at him. Anyone would think he had a TV on his head the way they were looking at him! I just stared back at them. I hope they felt uncomfortable.
Went out shopping yesterday, can't believe the amount of people that where rubber necking to have a look at him. Anyone would think he had a TV on his head the way they were looking at him! I just stared back at them. I hope they felt uncomfortable.
11th April 2010
Its my nephew Joshua's 5th Birthday, we went to the Wacky Warehouse and then for a meal. Had a few stares but nothing too bad. He's been fine in his helmet so far apart from him getting a bit sweaty bless him.
Ben's helmet fitting 9th April 2010
Well Ben had his helmet fitted today. It was really fiddly to put on at first but I think I've got the hang of it!
Today he has to have it on for an hour then off for an hour.
The day has finally arrived! 25th March 2010
We took Ben for his assessment today, his cranial index is 103% and the normal range is 78-85%, which means he has severe Brachycephaly. Basically, his head is 103% wider than its is long and the width should be 78-85% of its length. His asymmetry is 3mm, which is within the normal range. I was pleased about that as its easier to treat brachy or plagio on its own compared to a combination of the two.
We decided to go ahead with the helmet treatment and had the scans done so a mould could be created and sent off so Ben's helment could be produced. Luckily, Glyn had some compensation money come through from a car accident last year so this has covered most of the bill.
The date for the fitting is 9th April. Ben will be 5 months exactly. The optimum age to start helmet treatment is 4-6 months so hopefully it will work!
We decided to go ahead with the helmet treatment and had the scans done so a mould could be created and sent off so Ben's helment could be produced. Luckily, Glyn had some compensation money come through from a car accident last year so this has covered most of the bill.
The date for the fitting is 9th April. Ben will be 5 months exactly. The optimum age to start helmet treatment is 4-6 months so hopefully it will work!
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
Journey so far (Hang in there, its long!)
I first noticed Ben's head looking quite flat when he was around 2 months old. At the time I wasn't really concerned as its quite common for young babies to have flat heads until they start to become more mobile.
A few weeks went by and is head didn't look any better. In fact, it looked worse. At this point I decided to have a look on the internet for some advice and things I could do to prevent Ben's head getting any flatter.
I started repositioning, (basically, just keeping Ben off the back of his head as much as possible) and bought a Babymoov pillow. The pillow is like a love heart shape with a little hole cut out if the middle so there is less pressure on the back of the head when babies are lay in there cot etc.
I was hoping that I would start to see an improvement but looking back I think I was just fooling myself that it wasn't that bad and that his head would get better. It doesn't help that other people were telling me that they couldn't notice it and that I was worrying over nothing!
Anyway, at the beginning of March I started looking at other options to help improve Ben's flatness. I came across a Sleepcurve mattress topper and found a few parents that had said they had worked wonders for their babies. (Some with Brachy and some with Plagio) The mattress topper sounded like the perfect thing to help Ben's head on it's way to a normal shape, so I decided that this would be my next purchase.
I had a look on the Sleepcurve website and for a brand new topper with sheets it was going to set me back around £100. I was gutted that they were so expensive, especially for just a mattress topper! Anyway, I decided to have a nosey on Ebay to see if I could find one any cheaper.
After a couple of days of umming and aaring, I bidded on a used topper with two sheets. I ended up getting it for £51, not bad really, half the price of a brand new one!
The topper arrived a couple of days later and put it on Ben's cot for him to sleep on that night. I was still using the Babymoov when he was in his car seat and out in his buggy, along with the repositioning and felt quite positive that I would start to see an improvement.
A couple of weeks went by (yawn!) and I was trying to convince myself that it was looking better, until I got him out of the bath. With his hair wet his head looked flat as a board. I was gutted. I felt so guilty and felt that I had caused it somehow. Surely there must be something I could do to fix it?
This is when I discovered helmet treatment. The helmet basically works by restricting growth to normal shaped areas of the head to allow the flattened area of the head to grow into a more rounded shape. I found three companies in the UK that specialise in this treatment and after looking into the treatment I found out that it was going to cost around £2000.
I decided to send a few photos of Ben's head to the three companies, Ossur, London Orthotics and Ahead4Babies. All three of them agreed that it looked like Ben had quite severe Brachycephaly, and it was unlikely to correct itself without treatment. I was a bit gutted really, but I suppose they were confirmed what I'd already guessed.
After discussing it with my OH Glyn, we decided to go ahead with getting Ben assessed at the Ossur PlagioCare centre in Leeds. As the assessment was free, we didn't have anything to loose really. I got Glyn to phone them, for some reason I didn't have the balls to phone them!
We were given an appointment for 25th March, a whole week of waiting. Argh!
A few weeks went by and is head didn't look any better. In fact, it looked worse. At this point I decided to have a look on the internet for some advice and things I could do to prevent Ben's head getting any flatter.
I started repositioning, (basically, just keeping Ben off the back of his head as much as possible) and bought a Babymoov pillow. The pillow is like a love heart shape with a little hole cut out if the middle so there is less pressure on the back of the head when babies are lay in there cot etc.
I was hoping that I would start to see an improvement but looking back I think I was just fooling myself that it wasn't that bad and that his head would get better. It doesn't help that other people were telling me that they couldn't notice it and that I was worrying over nothing!
Anyway, at the beginning of March I started looking at other options to help improve Ben's flatness. I came across a Sleepcurve mattress topper and found a few parents that had said they had worked wonders for their babies. (Some with Brachy and some with Plagio) The mattress topper sounded like the perfect thing to help Ben's head on it's way to a normal shape, so I decided that this would be my next purchase.
I had a look on the Sleepcurve website and for a brand new topper with sheets it was going to set me back around £100. I was gutted that they were so expensive, especially for just a mattress topper! Anyway, I decided to have a nosey on Ebay to see if I could find one any cheaper.
After a couple of days of umming and aaring, I bidded on a used topper with two sheets. I ended up getting it for £51, not bad really, half the price of a brand new one!
The topper arrived a couple of days later and put it on Ben's cot for him to sleep on that night. I was still using the Babymoov when he was in his car seat and out in his buggy, along with the repositioning and felt quite positive that I would start to see an improvement.
A couple of weeks went by (yawn!) and I was trying to convince myself that it was looking better, until I got him out of the bath. With his hair wet his head looked flat as a board. I was gutted. I felt so guilty and felt that I had caused it somehow. Surely there must be something I could do to fix it?
This is when I discovered helmet treatment. The helmet basically works by restricting growth to normal shaped areas of the head to allow the flattened area of the head to grow into a more rounded shape. I found three companies in the UK that specialise in this treatment and after looking into the treatment I found out that it was going to cost around £2000.
I decided to send a few photos of Ben's head to the three companies, Ossur, London Orthotics and Ahead4Babies. All three of them agreed that it looked like Ben had quite severe Brachycephaly, and it was unlikely to correct itself without treatment. I was a bit gutted really, but I suppose they were confirmed what I'd already guessed.
After discussing it with my OH Glyn, we decided to go ahead with getting Ben assessed at the Ossur PlagioCare centre in Leeds. As the assessment was free, we didn't have anything to loose really. I got Glyn to phone them, for some reason I didn't have the balls to phone them!
We were given an appointment for 25th March, a whole week of waiting. Argh!
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