MY EXPERIENCE WITH PLAGIOCEPHALY OR BRACHIOCEPHALY                                    

Pronounced Play-gee-o-kef-a-lee  

What is this – Misshapen head. 

Ok we all know that our little cherubs when they are born

have very scrunched up faces and heads…Everything should smooth out within 6 weeks of age and the head should take on a normal appearance. 

My littlest Cherub is the most perfect angel – SERIOUSLY – (I finally did something right) I’ve got a darling little boy who sleeps 11 hours a night and has done from about 3 weeks onwards…He also sleeps a good 3 hours times 2 a day. He hardly cries, is very patient and will give a grizzle (to remind me he is waiting) when hungry, then put the dummy in and wait another ½ hour if needed.(I don’t let that happen often , but sometimes it does…with two others under 4) He always has a smile and it is gorgeous…he also only poos every 3 days…YEAH!!!! 

But from about 3 weeks I watched his beautiful little head start to flatten at the back…I spoke to the maternal health nurse…She told me it would pop back out when he got to about two…That is a long time – and I began to wonder if it would affect his development in any way – Did his brain have enough room to grow??? Every time I saw the maternal health nurse and they asked if I had any concerns I said his flat head…Nothing to worry about they said…it will pop out. Finally at his 4month check up the NEW maternal health nurse I spoke with said go and see someone about it… By this time I could put his little head flat against the wall (it is very flat)….I was told to see a physio, they said a pediatric physio, and they said the children’s hospital… Where I am, the wait is a good 6 months….I got the number though of a Dr who deals with this privately as well and luckily got in to see her within 2 days (she had a cancellation)…

Straight away she did a full examination to check his developmental milestones and his hip, knee and ankle reflex’s…He is tight in his hips… She advised that my little boy has PLAGIOCEPHALY (deformational) – or in his case BRACHIOCEPHALY (flat across the back) 

OMG!!!!

I panicked…

What was this??? What did I do wrong??? Is it permanent???? 

I calmed down enough to listen as she told me that he would benefit from Helmet Therapy to try and help his little skull develop a more natural shape…This is more for cosmetic reasons than medical…Also he was at the perfect age – between 4 and 8 months…His milestones are all being met and that is good as there is no brain development issues.(Thankfully) He has some tightness in his hips and that is also being monitored.And he is also very lucky his Flat Spot is directly across the back of his head…(Not on a side which is the most common.) so his face has not shown any signs of deformity…(A lot of kids with this and where their flat spots on the sides can pull the rest of there faces out of symmetry ) 

So now my little cherub wears a helmet for 23 hours a day…and will probably do so for the next 3 – 6 months (depending how he responds)

 We decided that the helmet was a good thing for him to avoid further problems later…We did not want him to be teased or bullied over this…Baldness runs in both my partner’s family and mine…What if it didn’t pop out very much on its own? 

What could I have done to prevent this…??? 

Because he is such a good sleeper I could have gone in and changed his head position – turn it from side to side. (But who wants to disturb a sleeping baby???) - still have them sleep on their backs because of SIDS.....

More tummy time in his waking hours (hard for him as he would throw up lots in that position)

Carry him in different positions. 

Remember….. The most important things to remember are that: 

Plagiocephelay does not cause brain damage.

If you are worried about your child’s head shape speak to your maternal health nurse, GP, or pediatrician.

It can be easily treated… and does not cause too much trauma to do so.

It must be looked at before 12mths of age. 

I will keep you posted as to how his little head is responding to the Helmet Therapy.His personality certainly hasn’t changed…Thankfully (again!! So very thankful) 

If anyone is worried about their little cherubs head shape please speak to someone as early as possible to help correct it before it can’t be done. I hope this helps some other parents out there. 

Sorry for babbling on – 1st advice I’ve written…