Sounds like a pub.
I'm willing to negotiate terms if someone wants to buy that name.
I'm actually talking about Cameron's head. We've been doing physical therapy on both of the boys for left side torticollis. Basically some muscles on the left side of their necks are stiff and/or shortened and possibly stronger than the right side of their necks. Wyatt is very mild. Cameron is classified as mild to moderate.
So the past few weeks I've been wrenching on them pretty good, thirty seconds at a time, three times a session and three times a day. The therapist calls it 3-3-30. I've learned how to work in a stretch as I carry them to the changing table. Or to hold them so they work on strengthening the other side of their neck.
All of this came to my attention because I was concerned about flat spots on their heads. Torticollis hadn't crossed my mind because they could turn their heads both ways just fine. And I'd been doing all of the things the NICU said to prevent it.
They got it anyway.
Well, the good news is that today, during their appointment, the therapist could find absolutely no signs of torticollis! Their neck strength was fairly even. They turned their heads far enough and equally. Nobody is tilting their head towards their shoulder. They're reaching for things like they should. In fact, my boys who are 5 months adjusted age are acting like 6-7 month olds, minus sitting. I have such smart strong boys!
Their flat spots are improved as well. And I learned how much their reflux has played a part in this. Both of them have flat spots on the back right of their heads. The physical therapist told me that a baby's stomach isn't shaped like an adult which is a reason babies will get reflux. When they get pain from reflux, they'll arch their back so they can elongate their stomach and esophagus which helps the reflux. If they're unable to arch their back, they'll turn their head to the right and tip their chin up in order to elongate things. This has been how Cameron has slept for a while.
By the way he moves and rolls, the therapist can tell he still has trouble with his reflux. It also explains the latest struggle.
Both can roll from their backs to their stomachs. Cameron is quick to roll to his stomach. Then he gets tired, turns his face red and screams. But he refuses to roll to his back. If I roll him to his back, he gets upset at me and soon rolls back to his stomach. Where he gets mad again and it starts all over.
The physical therapist explained to me that him being on his stomach also elongates his esophagus and stomach and is another way for him to help his reflux. Ah!
Interesting, right?
Cameron has always had the more sour tummy. While in the NICU, it took them much longer to get him to tolerate his food. Wyatt was fed by gravity through his feeding tube and didn't have a problem. He'd take it as fast as they could give it. In fact, when he did have a problem with a feeding, I knew something was wrong and we found out he was so anemic that his GI tract was shutting down.
Cameron had to be on a timed pump for a while and they had to set it for as long as it was possible. It took 90 minutes to feed him so he wouldn't throw up. And sometimes he'd still throw up.
It would not surprise me at all if his reflux is worse than Wyatt's. Which could explain why his flat spot is worse than Wyatt's.
Anyway, the therapist was incredibly happy with their improvement. In two weeks I've managed to get them to the point that they thought would take four or five weeks. Yippee! With all the repositioning I've been doing (seriously it's annoying because I'm constantly turning their heads a direction they don't want), both of their head shapes have moved closer to round. Two millimeters closer, in fact.
But...
Cameron needs a helmet.
He has a ridge on top of his head that only a helmet could put pressure on and help "pop" the bone back out. His ears are also out of alignment, which I've known about and why I've been obsessed with his head shape. We discussed waiting a week or two but I'm of the opinion that I'd rather go ahead and get him in a helmet. The sooner we do, then the shorter amount of time he'd have to wear it and the more effective it'll be. Once the sutures of his skull close, it's really hard to correct the flat spots. He has enough strength to handle the weight of the helmet and his motor control is good enough. With the asymmetry of his head, it could put his jaw out of alignment so it's more than cosmetic. Lets just get it done, I say.
This afternoon I put in a call to his pediatrician who'll need to write a prescription for it. Then we'll see an orthotist about the helmet. Poor guy but hopefully it'll be short and sweet. And he could headbutt Wyatt to get back at him for all the times he's been pinched!
They go to the physical therapist again next week to make sure their improvement isn't a fluke. And I'll continue to stretch them and reposition their heads (Cameron fights me turning his head so much!). I think Wyatt will be fine without a helmet.
So again, mommies and future mommies- you are your child's advocate! Their pediatrician is fantastic but even still, he and his staff only get little snapshots into their lives whereas I'm with them every day. Be reasonable but don't be afraid to speak up. I certainly wanted to take an aggressive approach to the flatspot I've been watching on Cameron. I had this nagging feeling that I needed to and I'm glad I have. And their pediatrician is so good at listening to parents' concerns. That's truly important. Parents and the doctor are a team!
In other news, they had surgery three days ago for hypospadias.
All dressed and ready to go for surgery!
It was mild and an easy repair which requires circumcision. They should go on to have normal function and lives. No other surgeries should be necessary. This is common in babies born as early as they were.
The post anesthesia rage was pretty impressive.
Look at post surgical anger. We were waiting for the pharmacist to fill their pain prescription. I can just see the hate in his eyes.
"You are so getting it when we get home". And boy did I!
They got their pain medicine. Wyatt just stared out the window with a blank look for a while. Probably trying to forget about his day. Here is Wyatt on drugs-
In about 24 hours they were back to their normal happy, smiling, giggly selves. And Wyatt, the little punk, has peed on me just about every time I change his diaper.
One reason is that it takes longer to change his diaper. I'm having to do the post circumcision care with vasoline and a neosporin type medicine.
Another reason is that I can't deflect him with haste. I have to be careful with what I choose to block his aim with. I don't want it to stick to him. Also I don't want to touch his wounds to avoid risking infection.
And lastly, it's all new plumbing and I think his urologist turbo charged his bladder. I've been hit in the face even. Wyatt giggles nearly every time.
It's a good thing he's cute.
