Long story....at birth the doctor could dislocate her hips, so went to see an orthopedic guy....he couldn't do it and at her 2 week check the doctor couldn't either, so we thought we were good! but they wanted us to come in for a precautionary ultra sound at 6 weeks....so, her hips are not deep enough in the socket and she has to wear this harness for about 2 1/2 to 3 months....24 hours a day. I get to take it off three times a day for 15 minutes...she hates it and has turned from my best baby to a bit of a stinker!! I feel so bad for her that I usually let her keep it off for 30 minutes. The minute I take it off she stretches her legs straight and holds them there for a few seconds and then just keeps kicking them. I also have to go in for weekly appointments to make sure it's holding her hips in the right spot....once they look good she has to wear the harness for another 4-5 weeks...it's called hip dysplasia as a broad term...or for her specifically its bilateral hip subluxation....the prognosis looks good for the harness to work...it works in 90 percent of cases. I just feel so bad for her...not because it hurts her, but I think it makes her uncomfortable and she gets so frustrated right after we put her back in it!
We just went back to the doctor on Friday (2-11) and everything is looking great. Her hips are stabilizing already. She'll have to be in the harness for another 4 weeks full time and then 3ish weeks after that just at nap and bedtime. I think I might ask the doctor, however, if I can keep her in in during the day and be out of it at night! I think I might want to get some sleep at night too:) It really has been the pits because she is so happy when I take her out of it. I usually let her go 30-40 minutes out of it, especially if I need to get something done or if she is super smiley with me...
6 comments:
She's a cutie Leah! That harness looks like no fun, but I have a friend whose hip dysplasia went unnoticed until she was 1 and already walking. By then her bones were already set. She went through multiple surgeries throughout her life and into her teenage years and still today she walks quite awkward. They were never able to fully fix it. I'm sure Kendell will be quite glad that you were able to do something for her right away! (and I'm sure she's looking forward to being done with harness as much as you are!)
Poor baby! And poor mama! It sounds like this is better long term though. Wish I were there to help out! Planning a trip to UT this summer? Matthew and I will be there from July 1-15 ish. Talk to you soon.
Oh man! That does look uncomfortable. Thank heaven for it, though in the long run.
Poor little sausage! Hope you're able to take it off soon so she can kick her little legs. =)
that might be the saddest thing ever!! Poor thing... I would be a bit of a stinker too if you had me in that all day. Hope it works and she gets to be "free" soon!
poor girl. i had no idea you had to do this. i hope she is all better now and HAPPY!!
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