To ask for your experiences with hip Dysplasia

[Blondiecub0109]

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DS 6 weeks is as delivered via ELCS due to breech. Click heard during paed. Check on discharge. US performed today.

Both hips are immature, one was scored 57 angle and the other one I’m not sure it was worse but above 50. Comments about the bony roof being deficit?

We’ve to go back next week to see consultant as ‘it wasn’t serious enough to be seen today’.

Is a Pavlik Harness inevitable? Is there ever a wait and see approach?

The radiographer mentioned something about a plastic nappy. I’ve also read about double nappy- Ing. We cloth nappy anyway, Basically, is there anything to try before the harness?

It was a long journey to have this precious baby and obviously I want him to be happy healthy and not have issues now or in the future.

But I’m now panicking that my mat leave will be another string of hospital appts and caring for a child in a harness when I’d planned to do swimming lessons, have a family holiday etc.

Please share your experiences in particular positive harness stories

My ds had the harness and later had an operation and a spica cast. Hip dysplasia runs in my dhs side of the family and ds was also breech so I was expecting ds to have hip problems. Most babies who have it picked up early and have a harness normally have the dysplasia resolved.
The harness can be a bit of a faff with cleaning especially if you have poo emergencies, but other than that its fine to manage with and your ds shouldn't notice it to much. I had to go to the hospital a couple of times when ds had a leaking nappy but it was so much easier than a spica cast.
Hopefully your ds does need any treatment op.

Haven’t rtft so sorry if I repeat. Both dc had harnesses. I weirdly don’t remember clothes being an issue, think they just stayed in babygros or DD in little dresses. I did struggle to bf first time just in terms of finding a comfy position, but I don’t think we had got bf very well established so we probably would have struggled regardless.

Second time round I wore DD in a sling a lot which had the same effect as the harness - they did tell me off for not using the harness enough when I admitted this but her hips did correct, and I think as long as your sling supports the legs in a wide position at the right angle it’s probably doing nearly as good a job. She also had reflux so needed to be upright a lot so I had that to contend with as well.

It is hard at the time and I remember feeling so sad about my little babies being all harnessed up but it’s not forever and soon a distant memory. Far better to grit your teeth and get through it than face surgery. We only had 6 weeks both times so that was a blessing. I do forget it even happened until I see a baby in one! Another weird recollection - it was much easier to pick them up and prop them on your new in a harness so I remember finding that quite helpful at the time!

I forgot to mention steps charity are fantastic and have lots of helpful information.

Like @Allthepinkunicorns it runs in my DH's family, he was born with one completely dislocated hip. I knew it would happen to DD once she was diagnosed as a breech baby.

DH is a strapping man at 6ft 4, so his hip problems didn't hold him back.

My DD's time in her harness flew by, and looking back at the photos you can't even tell that she was in the harness.

My wise old grandad said to me, DD won't think anything of it, she will accept it as she doesn't know any difference. He was right!

My DS had hip dysplasia and was in a harness from 8 weeks to nearly 6 months old. I cried nonstop for about a week but then we adapted and it was totally fine. I bought some nice clothes from hip-pose, a star suit from tuppence and crumble and an ergo baby sling and there was no stopping us. No real difficulty breastfeeding or bonding. I now can’t even remember it, it’s really weird.

Don’t fear the harness, it really is an amazing thing as there’s no need for surgery and it can do a great job. And remember, it’s worse for you than them, your DS won’t even remember.

Hi op,

I remember this feeling so well and it is tough but as our lovely consultant pointed out to me, it won’t bother your dd in the slightest.

The gp picked it up at dd’s 8 week check and within a week she was in a pavlik harness for 12 weeks, followed by a month in this plastic nappy thing. We were so upset at the time. It didn’t delay her development though, she crawled at 8 months and walked at 13 and is now 10 and enjoying her dance, football, swimming and athletics!

Best of luck op, you’ll soon be in that pool for your baby swim lessons.

My sister had hip dysplasia and was harnessed, plaster cast etc. I have a shallow hip joint as a case of milder dysplasia. Leaves me vulnerable to frequent hip dislocation. They thought my daughter did but it turned out to be hypermobility instead. My sister lives a fully normal life, she has the odd bad day when her hip plays her up, and had some moderate problems through pregnancy, Labour etc. But nothing too bad.

Oh Op I feel your pain, I was devastated when my also ivf breech baby girl was put in a hip abduction brace at 12 weeks, she was in that 23 hours a day for 3 months and then just at night for two months. I cried my eyes out when they were fitting it but as my husband said it’s so good they caught it and it’s so fixable. I was able to breastfeed and didn’t stop our bonding. I was lucky that I could take it off for an hour a day so was able to go swimming, have baths etc. It did the trick, and now at 15 months she’s running around the place. Hope your appointments go well x

This was our brace, much easier then the Pavlik.

My youngest had to wear a harness for 9 weeks. She was reviewed every 4-5 weeks before it was removed. Her measurements were both 50ish although her left hip was more immature than the right. I was devastated when she was put in the harness and cried and cried, thinking of all the baby outfits she wouldn’t be able to wear and how uncomfortable she’d be. She was the most placid smiley baby ever and everyone said how happy she was. I did find the months of her wearing the harness upsetting and I was concerned that she’d developed a flat spot on her head but now she’s four and dances, runs, climbs and does gymnastics and I am so grateful that the doctors spotted the issue and she was treated before it caused her any upset. A friend had a baby at the same time - her baby passed her hip check but once she’d started walking had a very obvious limp - she ended up in a cast and was it was so sad to see a once active toddler laid up. It really does become a distant memory and it is deffo worth the heart ache xxx

Ps bf until 15 months so no issues there either x

I was born with dysplasia and had a harness for a good few months - absolutely fine now!

Peadiatric nurse here. We look after babies with DDH. If the consultant suggests the harness go with it. Treating DDH is far easier with babies than toddlers who are already walking.

I'm a 70s baby who spent weeks in some sort of solid frame.
My ds spent 12 weeks in a pavlik harness. It's tough at first but we soon adapted. It was 6 weeks wearing it for 24 hours a day then 6 weeks gradually reducing the time. It's a lot of hospital appointments to get harness adjusted each week and regular scans but it was worth it. He's now 21 and has had no problems at all.
My dd also had a shallow socket so we used an extra terry nappy to keep her legs in the right position for a few weeks. As hers wasn't too bad this worked for her and there was no need for the harness.

Hi hope you don’t mind me asking but how is your baby now with regards to the hips? Did u end up with a Pavlik harness? My daughter has had hers in now for 3 weeks because her right hip was 52* from being breech , ELCS.

If I could hear how you went in from here maybe it will give me some hope for the next few weeks xx

Thanks xx

DD2 is 24 and was cleared after having clicky hips after birth. It was put down to the speed of the birth and a big baby. She has been in pain for years and her GP has just written to her hip surgeon to say that the time has come for her first hip to be replaced. She has also developed arthritis in her hips and possibly her back. If they are suggesting the harness, then please go for it. You do not want your DC in the kind of pain mine is right now.

Have a look at the steps charity worldwide page on FB. Lots of helpful information and success stories

My dd had to be scanned due to her being over 10lb at birth. It showed a slight problem but she just had to wear double nappies for a few months and afterwards the scans showed no problems

Hi. Could you post a link for the Facebook group please.