Working on the Melon

Wow. It's hard to believe that my little (or not so little at 18 pounds!!) Trace is already 3 months old! As you might know already, since he was about a month old I have been concerned about his head. I noticed early on that he favored his right side greatly. He would always look toward the right and whenever he was laying down he would sleep toward the right. It wasn't much later that I noticed he might be developing a "flat spot" on the back right side of his head. Of course as his mommy I was concerned and particularly self conscious of my little man. I just want him to be perfect! :-) I brought it up to the pediatrician at his 2 month appointment and he gave me some exercises to do for his neck muscles to limber up. He mentioned that Trace may have something called Tortacolis, which is a tightening of the neck muscles in babies. As for his head shape, we decided to keep an eye on it and re-check it at 3 months.

Well, being the "rule follower" that I am, I did his exercises religiously each day and did notice some improvement. When I would check on him during his naps I would sometimes "catch him" with his head to the left...I wanted to jump up and down and do a cartwheel! haha. When it came time to take him for a check at 3 months, I thought we were sailing free! However that wasn't the case. The doctor did see improvement in his neck muscles, but as for his skull shape it hadn't gotten better, but worse. The flat spot had progressed and he pointed out that Trace's ears were asymmetrical. The right ear is closer to his nose than his left ear. It's funny, whenever I would hold Trace to look straight at me, it always seemed like his head was at an angle and I couldn't figure out what was going on, I just couldn't put my finger on what I was seeing. Now it all made sense, I was seeing one ear closer than the other, so it appeared to be at an angle.

Dr. Hopkins referred us to a place called Cranial Technologies, saying that Trace would be an excellent candidate for a Dynamic Orthotic Cranioplasty (DOC) Band, or what many may refer to as a "Baby Helmet." This would correct Trace's asymmetry of his skull and ears. Of course at first I was crushed. How could I put a big piece of plastic on my baby's precious little head. I went home from the doctor's office that day and just kissed his little head a million times. But after the initial shock wore off, I just started to count my blessings. This is nothing. My baby is happy. My baby is healthy. This will be short lived, fixed and we can move on. I am just thankful there is a remedy to fix it.

So on Tuesday of this week we went for our initial evaluation at Cranial Technologies. It was incredible. The staff couldn't have been better and I learned so much! I was amazed at how many kids were in and out of that office in the short couple of hours that we were there. These DOC bands are EVERYWHERE. Trace is not alone. The visit was super interesting to me as they took multiple pictures of Trace's head from different views and then took many measurements. They were determining the severity of Trace's case. After the "modeling session" we met with a Occupational Therapist who took a look at Trace's neck. She was awesome! She was so good with my little man! She gave us some different exercises to do with him to help increase the flexibility of his neck, which by her account she said wasn't too severe, but we needed to keep working with it.

Then we began discussing Trace's skull. This was so interesting to me. First off, they think that Trace's "condition" of tortacolis (neck muscle tightening) and his flattening of his skull (which is called plagiocephaly if you want to google it!) started in utero. Being Trace was such a big baby and I am not a huge girl and I carried him so low they think that he probably got lodged inside my tummy in utero and this is how it all began. His head was probably turned to the right (causing him to favor that side ever since) and if he was pushed up against my pelvic bone, his misshapen skull probably began before we even met the little guy. I have to tell you, as a momma, it made me feel better to hear this. I blamed myself for Trace's head shape and continued to second guess myself. "What if I had positioned him better during sleep? What if I had worked with his neck more?, etc." This just all meant to me that it wasn't my fault and that it started well before I could have done much to help it.

What was concluded by the end of our appointment was that Trace was indeed going to need a DOC Band. On a scale of Mild, Moderate or Severe: Trace has a heavy moderate to severe case. He has flattening on the back right side and the front left side. This is pretty common for the opposite sides to become flat. This has also caused a little asymmetry in his face. His right jaw has shifted forward a bit causing his right cheek to be more full (come on they are both pretty full to me! haha!) and his right forehead is a little more forward than his left. And of course his ears also have the asymmetry with the right ear being closer to his nose than the left. Whew! That was a lot to take in at that visit, but it was all so very interesting to me.

Trace will probably have to wear his DOC band for 8 weeks, possibly longer but we are keeping our fingers crossed that 8 weeks is it. If we have to go longer than that, he will have to get another DOC Band, because babies grow so fast ( especially mine!) after 8 weeks it will not fit him anymore. I have talked to a friend that has gone through this process with both of her little boys and she has been very encouraging that it's "not that bad." Trace will have to wear it for 23 hours a day, everyday. You can only take it off for an hour to clean it and of course to kiss on your babies head! I will also have to take Trace to Dallas once a week for a visit to Cranial Technologies so they can adjust the band according to the improvement and growth of the skull. Of course the office has to be off of the busiest freeway in Dallas, but we will survive the traffic!

So where do we go from here? Well I have Trace's next visit to Cranial Technologies set for next Tuesday (Aug 10..Happy Birthday Ash!). This will be his "D.S.I" appointment. This means they will make a digital 3-D image of Trace's head (pretty cool!) for his band to be created from. Then we will go on on the 17th (the day before we leave for Arizona) for Trace to receive his band.

It's been a process already and it's only just begun, but I am so thankful for modern medicine that can fix this! DOC bands have only been around since the late 80's and before that the only remedy was surgery...so thankful we don't' have to go that route! I know this is minor in the big scheme of life and I am eternally grateful that my little guy is healthy and happy and this will only be short lived (we hope!) and in a few months it will all be a thought of the past!

A few people have asked me what happens if you don't do the DOC band. Is it just "cosmetic"? The DOC band is not a cosmetic device, but it is fixing something that is abnormal and making it normal. There are not a ton of studies to indicate exactly what can happen if you opt to not put your baby in a DOC band if he/she needs one, but in some cases it can lead to vision and developmental problems. If you are interested to read more about this whole thing check out the Cranial Technology website: http://www.cranialtech.com/

So for the next few months around the Wright house, we will be "Working on Trace's Melon"...it will be the most perfect "Melon" around when all is said and done! :-)

P.S. Oh I forgot to mention that our insurance does not cover "cranial bands".....$$$$. Isn't that nice? It's just another one of those sacrifices you make for your children!

Oh how I love that face! My precious little guy!

Which chin is your favorite?!!