To be upset that daughter has to have a hip spica cast

[Kat160417]

They found something wasn't right with her hip before we were discharged when she waa born. Had a scan at 5 weeks and they confirmed she had a shallow hip. Dd is now 16 weeks old and we have only just started seeing specialists. Had another ultrasound yesterday and her hip is now fully dislocated so she has to be put in a hip spica cast.

The hospital has definitely left her too long as she could have been nearly out of something by now. Everyone around me though seems to be kind of shrugging it all off saying everything will be fine which i know it will be in the end and there's no reason to be upset but aibu for being upset that she has to be put in one? I know children adapt really quickly to things and it wont be forever but it still isnt very nice for her and will still cause some discomfort for hee. It's also worse that this might have to be put on after her 1st birthday when she will be moving around more by then.

If anyone else has had any experience with hip spica casts i would greatly appreciate if you could share

I'm 47. I was born with hip dysplasia and had all manner of treatments (including 'pioneering' experimental surgery) over the first two years of my life. Mine wasn't spotted until I was about six months old (hence the surgery) but it was the spica cast that made the most difference.

Obviously as a mere babe then, I can't give you any tips on how to make living with it easier, but as an adult I'm hugely grateful for all the treatment which left me able to walk, run and have a pretty normal childhood.

My daughter was born with bilateral hip dislocation and spent six months in a pavlik harness, its really unfortunate they didn't pick it up earlier as the harness is much easier to deal with.
It's upsetting of course but if it helps avoid surgery it's a huge plus.

Yeah ive read up on all the different treatments including the harness and i think that's why im so upset and annoyed because i know that she has been left too long.

YANBU to be upset. I don't understand why they've left it so long before referring your dd? Have they why they can't fit the cast before 1?

My ds had mild hip dysplasia (which was picked up on a scab at 5 wks like your dd), he was then referred and was fitted with a pavlik harness the following week. I realise your dd's situating is slightly different but why have they left it 10 wks? I'm annoyed for you!

StorminaBcup they are going to try and fit the cast between now and october but if they cant manipulate it themselves she will have to have surgery which they will leave until after she is 1.

I think they too so long because to start with the referral went to the wrong Dr then i think they just left it/didnt bother rushing it.

I was also born with hip dyplasia but mine wasn't picked up until I developed other issues at 18 months. I had to wear the cast for a long time after various surgeries but my parents say I was still very active and not in any pain. My parents didn't find the cast too difficult, they bought a huge pram and took me out and about as normal.

Another 40 something year old who spent most of first year in a brace for a wonky hip. I have no memory of it and now run long distance regularly. It must be upsetting though to see your baby go through it though.

That sounds hugely upsetting - yanbu. It will have a huge impact on her life and your life for a while. I don't think it's at all unreasonable to take a few days to come to terms with it. And rage a bit. I get why you are cross they didn't move faster. Get that anger out.
And then you should be in a good place to deal with all the extra physical and emotional upset you'll both go through.

DD2 had 'clicky' hips when born, but they said she was fine. She's now 22 and has been told she will need a double hip replacement by the time she is 30 because her hip dysplasia was not picked up on until she was in her late teens and her not-unusual weekly riding lessons had not helped. She developed hip pain after moving from a bungalow to a house with stairs and for several years, the pain was thought to be gynae. She was only sent to ortho to shut us up and there we discovered the seriousness of the problem. While I appreciate that you are annoyed the hospital did not pick this up earlier, I would count your blessings.

Thank you for all the replies!

LittleCandle that is awful for your dd and all your family too! I do know that there are people worse off and it could be a lot worse for my dd but i think atm i am just angry about it.

I really do hope your dd gets the correct treatment she needs

We have just come out of 22 weeks in a pavlik harness and are waiting to see the surgeon in September. I am worried about a cast like you, but the babies won't remember it and it's more traumatic for the mum's and dad's than the babies. They seem to adapt really quickly.

There is a private group on Facebook cslled my hippy baby that will have a wealth of knowledge for you and all the tricks and tips of dealing with it.

Just know that there is support out there, it is tough but hippy babies are resilient little buggers and it will be all over and done with as soon as possible.

My sister was born 39 years ago with the ball joint missing from one of her hips. It was just a bit of a stump. She had one of those casts and over time 6 hip replacements. Hers was missed as well but that was a long time ago. Her more recent operations were private which helped a lot. Hers is also hereditary, more so in girls. She's just had a baby with an easy pregnancy and luckily with no hip problems at at. I know this doesn't help you now with your DD but they can do some amazing things then so now must be so much better.

My DD's hip dysplasia was missed at birth, it was only the vigilance of a health visitor who noticed DD's leg creases were uneven that meant we were checked at all. My DD spent 6 months in a spica cast (4-10 months approx) and then another 6 months in a rhino cruiser brace.
DD had to have a very minor op in order to cast her ( a tendon needed cutting in order to get her hip into the correct alignment). We had to buy a new car seat as she was set too wide for her one. Thankfully we already had a Phil and Teds buggy and, although she didn't fit in the main seat, she did fit in the double seat when it was top mounted. If you don't have one, get a smallish bean bag, you can then sit your daughter up no matter what shape they've cast her. Extra pillows to mould around her for sleeping. My DD only needed calpol initially after surgery and then again at cast change. We even survived chicken pox while she was cast (bloody elder siblings!)
There is a Facebook page called Spica mums and bubs which is mostly NZ based so might not be brilliant for hospital based questions but are wonderful for the practicalities of life in spica cast. One thing I learned the hard way was that children in cast no longer bend in the middle - poor DD had a few extra bumped heads when I forgot this fact near doorways.
I think it's totally normal to be worried and upset, even if the outcome is likely to be successful. My DD turned 7 yesterday and you would never know there had any been any physical issues

I should of also said you will need an adapted car seat. Steps charity do a maxi Cosi one that you can rent or britax do an adapted one that you can buy.

You are also entitled to a blue disabled badge as a spica cast is classed as bulky and large medical equipment so apply for that as soon as you can. You need a letter from your hospital I believe.

Clothes. Dresses can work as can harem pants and harem style playsuits (next do a lot).

One of my dss has been in a spica. Tbf it was following surgery, but he got used to it really quickly and it certainly didn't stop him wanting to do stuff which we encouraged. Surgeon agreed with this approach. Agree that the reason you got to this point is shitty, but hopefully it will all work out.

RedGrapeCornSnake my dd has to have exactly the same as yours ( cutting the small tendon etc) i knew about the car seat which i am currently trying to find out how we get 1 but i have been wondering if we will need a new pram (currently have a mothercare orb). I'll definitely have a look at the bean bags. Will my dd be able to fit in a normal cot for sleeping?

divadee thanks for advice on the clothing! Also just found out about the blue badge yesterday which i never knew before either!

My niece was in a spica cast, put on around her 1st birthday. My sister was devastated as is is such a big thing, but in reality, my niece just got on with it. She knew no different. Practical things to help, you will need a particular car seat as many wont fit. Look online for support groups. Don't hide indoors, get out and about, and when people ask questions, answer them.
I am on holiday with my family atm. My niece is now 14 and pushing 6ft. No issues with her hips since the cast was removed.

My cousin was in a hip cast. I don't think it was picked up until quite late, but she was quite bad, and it was on for about a year.

She was the most active toddler you've ever seen. A&E knew her name for the number of times she had to be taken in from falling when climbing. I seem to remember her parents got called 3 times in the first fortnight of nursery where she'd climbed up and fallen off. After that they got used to her (mostly) and prevented the climbing.

Never had a problem since the cast came off.

But speaking from the prospective of a parent, dd2 is missing her left hand.
It's devastating as a parent. You think of all the things they won't do, you have all the conversations with child and adult alike about why they're like that. But actually the child knows no different and not only takes it in their stride, but copes with anything that is thrown at them.
By the time your dc is old enough to realise that not everyone has a cast on, they'll be well out of it. They won't even remember that they had one.

I had hip dysplasia, wasn't picked up until I was nearly 2'as I wasn't crawling yet. I'm perfectly fine now. The doctors are right kids are so resilient.