All Pregnant Women - READ HERE! Your child's head.

Also putting a non sticky info reminder for women here who may be expecting, but don't check the Bringing Up Baby thread yet.

When you guys have your children, there's some important things to be aware of. Even more than you've already educated yourselves on ;) Yes, there's a lottttt to learn hey? Long, but important. And something that doctors and nurses don't spend the proper time educating new mothers about. My son has to wear a corrective device, but most new mothers who read up on this, will prevent it so that their kids won't have a problem with it.

This post is about proper positioning once your child comes into this world, to prevent cranial deformities.

It can happen in utero too, so if you see these once your child is born, alert the doctor about it to see if anything can be done to correct it. Your general doctor is not qualified to diagnose this, you'd have to ask for a referral to a pediatrician who specializes in orthotics, a neurosurgeon or a neurologist. You can find these online at [url]www.plagiocephaly.org[/url] , on the left side under find a practitioner.

When your child first comes out, it's head's going to be kind of unrounded because it gets squished in the birth canal, it's if that head shape stays in the first few months that you should start asking questions. If your child seems to favor one side of their neck, always looking to one side or if their head seems to tilt to one side all the time, they may have a condition called torticollis. Torticollis is the shortened or weakened neck muscles on one side of their neck. Torticollis, or unproper positioning, can cause the following conditions over time. Torticollis needs physical therapy to correct.

1. Plagiocephaly. Plagiocephaly is when the head has a flat spot on one side and a bump on the other. The ears may be uneven, one higher then the other or further forward then the other, the forehead may be stick out further on one side, or the facial features may not be symmetric. In more severe cases, you can tell facial asymmetry if the eyes/cheeks are bigger on one side then the other.
[img]http://img16.photobucket.com/albums/v48/naivetedoll/headshape_plagio.jpg...

2. Brachycephaly. Brachycephaly is the uniform flattening across the entire back of the head. The head would appear wider then usual.
[img]http://img16.photobucket.com/albums/v48/naivetedoll/headshape_brachy.jpg...

3. Scaphocephaly. Scaphocephaly is when looking at your child front on, the head appears very thin in width, and is very long from back to front.
[img]http://img16.photobucket.com/albums/v48/naivetedoll/headshape_scapho.jpg...

These conditions can be caused by cramping or off positioning in utero, having torticollis and leaving it untreated, or most commonly, by improper variety in positioning. In most cases, this can be prevented if the mother is aware of it in the beginning and works on varying up positions.

Your new child has a very soft skull, and can be molded into a different shape in the first year. After the first year or so the skull will start to harden, and this head shape will be permanent. The above conditions have been linked to delayed development, TMJ, Migraines and poor eyesight.

[b]Your child may start to develop flat spots and cranial deformities if:[/b]
- they spend a lot of time every day in carseats, swings and strollers.
- their positions in their crib aren't rotated from side to side.
- they always lay in one spot looking in one direction
- they have weaker neck muscles on one side which cause them to look in the same direction all the time.
- they are always cradled in the same position during feedings or being held.
- the over use of 'boppy' pillows or nursing pillows during the days.

[b]These can be usually be prevented, by doing the following:[/b]
- start them as early as you can with 'tummy time'. Strengthening their arms so that they start laying on their tummy earlier, creates less overtime pressure on their skulls.
- rotate their positions in their cribs or basinettes so that each night the pressure on their heads is on a different side. Most babies if in a crib or bassinette look towards one direction, to the middle of the room. Hang a mobile on one side of the crib or basinette that they'll always look at. Lay them on one side of the crib one night, so that the pressure is on the right side of their head while looking at the mobile, then the next night, lay them on the other side so that the pressure is on the left side of their head looking at the mobile. Changing the side of the head that they're resting on will keep one side from flattening.
- rotate the side of the arms they're laying in while they're nursing or while you're holding them and they're sleeping. If for one feeding you hold them in your right arm, next time hold them in your left arm. Same with while they are sleeping and your holding them.
- limit use of carseats, strollers and swings. Don't let them sleep in these, as the surface is hard and will mold their little skulls easily. During the times they have to be in these items, attach bright toys to one side so that they tend to look more in that direction, then next time attach a bright toy to the other side.

Prevention and proper positioning are KEY. If you are interested more, please visit my Positional Plagiocephaly thread in Bringing Up Baby, or visit:

[url]www.cranialtech.com[/url] for general information, how to prevent, how to diagnose. Cranial Tech is the manufacturer of the corrective devices used to treat severe cases, but are very much involved in spreading awareness and helping prevention.

[url]http://www.cappskids.org/CAPPSPlagioPreventionHandout.PDF[/url] to learn what you can do to prevent these from occurring.

[url]www.plagiocephaly.org[/url] for general information and a search program to find neurologists/neurosurgeons/qualified orthotic pediatricians in your area.

If you are expecting a new child in your life, please keep the prevention information handy, as prevention is key. If you are not, please pass along the information to anyone you know who may be expecting or have a child under 1-2 years of age.

Thanks!
Cristi