Brachycephaly

Brock was born with a flat spot on the back of his head.  I learned about everything I could do to help correct the problem.  Literally the only time the back of his head touched anything from 3-6 months old, was when I changed his diaper. Even though he had a flat spot, it was minor enough that every Doctor I spoke to told me I was crazy and that I wouldn't be able to get a helmet and the flat spot would correct itself over time. Wrong. 

His case started out as plagiocephaly (flat spot on one side of the back of his head) and eventually changed to brachycephaly (flat spot across the entire back of his head). When babies heads are flat in the back as the brain grows it pushes the skull in any direction that has no resistance. So if a baby sleeps on his back, the back of his head will be flat and the forehead will extend out further. 

I was so frustrated that I demanded a referral to a specialist.  I knew that they have a small window of time to treat brachycephaly. During those 3 months where I didn't let his head touch anything, I did see a big improvement, but it wasn't perfect.  

Here are a couple facts: 

1.  Since babies have been sleeping on their backs, SIDS has decreased by 95%.

  2.   Since babies have been sleeping on their backs, head shape problems have increased by 60%.

The problem is most Doctors won't acknowledge the problem until it's too late.  Babies skulls are soft and can be easily moved and shaped with slight pressure until they are 18 months old.  In the last 6 months it's tough to make major changes, so the diagnosis needs to happen by about 3-6 months old to see the best results. The earlier, the better. 

I am so lucky to have a great father in law who does bracing at Lethbridge Orthotics and Prosthetics.  When I asked him about Brock's head he told me that he could definitely see a flat spot. 

On January 5th Brock was able to go visit his Grandpa at work and get his head scanned for a helmet.  They initially did it to see how his head shape measured in comparison to what a "normal head shape" would be for a baby his age.  His head was 3.5 standard deviations off the norm. Enough a problem that is was worth getting a helmet to re-shape it.

The scan involved having Brock sit in a Bumbo chair, wearing this little sock over his head with stickers all around it.  Then they used the scanner and waved it around his head and it projected an image onto the computer that they were able to work with.

 

 

On January 12th Brock was able to go back to see his Grandpa and get his new custom helmet. It amazed me how easily he adapted to it. The helmet puts slight pressure on the areas that are shaped out further than they should be and leaves open area in the places where his head is supposed to grow.

After wearing it for about 1 minute the first couple days he didn't care about it at all. From day 3 on, it was like the helmet was just a part of him.

 He wears it for about 23.5 hours a day.  We only take it off when we give him a bath.  I actually like him wearing it for quite a few other reasons.  While he has been learning to sit on his own or roll around the room, it has come in quite handy whenever he hits something or falls over.

It has also provided me with endless entertainment whenever we go out.  Twice, people have run into doors while staring at him.

I get it.  I'd look too if I saw a baby wearing a helmet and didn't know what it was.  Kids are my favorite though because they will march straight up to me and ask why he is wearing it. I just tell them it's so his head will be nice and round like theirs someday. They are usually pleased with the answer. 

He still has to wear the helmet for about 2 weeks and then he's finished. I couldn't resist taking a quick picture after his bath before the helmet went back on.  I am amazed at the improvement we have seen in the last 8 weeks.

I love my happy little Brock and I love my Father in law for making a helmet to fix his head. Thanks Tracy.