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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

HV says not to worry but to mention to GP...

21 replies

womba1 · 14/11/2006 14:39

Hi All,

i do hope you can put my mind at rest over this!
My dd had her 8-12 month developmental check this a.m. She's doing everything that a baby of her age should be doing, however, she has an extra crease in her left thigh. My dd is weight bearing and sitting unaided, so the HV has said that she isn't concerned, however, i should mention it to my GP next time i take her.

I'm a little confused as in one breath i shouldn't worry, but it's obviously something my GP needs to be aware of.
Do you think i should make an appointment specifically about this or just wait until the next time i have to go?

I am a real worry wort so any advise would be greatfully recieved.
Thank you in advance x

OP posts:

Original poster

womba1 · 14/11/2006 14:53

Hate bumping but would really appreciate some advice!

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funnypeculiar · 14/11/2006 14:53

am prob v stupid ... butwhat is an an extra crease? like one leg chubbier than the other do you mean??

Original poster

womba1 · 14/11/2006 14:56

Funnypeculiar..sorry, i haven't described it very well!
Basically she has chubby thighs and on her left thigh, she has a fold in her leg and not one on her right leg. I just put it down to her having chubby legs like me but apparently it needs to be looked at.

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piglit · 14/11/2006 14:58

I think it can occasionally be an indication of a problem with a hip. However, the fact that your dd is weight bearing etc almost certainly means that everything is ok. If you'll only worry about it then I would make an appointment just to be sure. No point worrying unnecessarily. HTH.

SparklyGothKat · 14/11/2006 14:59

I believe this can be a indictation that a hip in out of place, My DS had it and he was checked for clicky hips when he was born.

Original poster

womba1 · 14/11/2006 15:01

Thanks piglet... i guess making an appointment would be the sensible option, but i just hate making doctors appointments unless my lo's are ill. I'm sure that HV's have the best of intentions (most of the time) but they certainly know how to worry you don't they?!?!

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Original poster

womba1 · 14/11/2006 15:02

SparklyGothKat.. my dd was checked for clicky hips at birth too and the HV checked them today. She said they seemed fine but this extra crease aseemed to concern her a little.

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3littlefrogs · 14/11/2006 15:16

HV probably feels it isn't anything to worry about, but she is obliged to report it as it can be a sign of congenital dislocation of the hip. She will be bound by protocols and guidelines that will get her in a heap of trouble if she has not documented the fact that she has advised you to check with GP (even if she does think it is probably ok IYSWIM). The fact that your dd is weight bearing ok is a good sign. Try not to worry, and just mention it next time you go to GP.

lemonaid · 14/11/2006 15:16

We've been taking DS to the chiropractor every 3-4 months or so since he was a couple of months old (initially because he was only turning his head to one side). One of the things she looks/looked for is whether the pattern of creases in his thighs was symmetrical -- if not then she'd do an adjustment (in the case of babies this is basically picking up for a little jiggle, no major contortions) and they would go back to being symmetrical.

It's certainly nothing serious and the vast majority of parents would probably ignore it.

PinkTinsel · 14/11/2006 15:22

some HV just want to cover their own asses really.

when ds was born and i was asked about hereditory(sp?) problems and mentioned spina bifida my hv felt the need to point out the dimple at the base of his spine to me and told me 'it's closed over but you'll need to take more folic acid next time'. i was on the highest dose and had extra scans in both pregs to ensure the spine was closed over but thanks to her saying that in front of dp who's a worrier he's in a state of panic now and doesn't want more kids as they'll probably have SB (in his mind anyway).

i appreciate she meant no harm but there really was no need to point it out (the specialists in hospital who examined him didn't feel the need to do so!)

sorry, that doesn't help you at all, just wantd to point out they don't all have the best sense when dealing with worried mothers!)

Original poster

womba1 · 14/11/2006 15:52

Thanks for all your advice guys! You've certainly help put a worried mummy's mind at rest. I'm not going to make a specific appointment to see my gp but will be sure to mention it on our next visit.
I understand that the HV had to point it out to me but PinkTinsel, you're absolutely right about the way in which they just tend to blurt out whatever the concern is and then just carry on as if they haven't said a thing! I asked her if she could explain the potential seriousness of this problem and she tutted and said 'well, it's probably nothing but you never know'!!
That really helped put my mind at rest!!
Anyway, thanks again for your kind words x

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RachelG · 14/11/2006 16:19

It's almost certainly nothing to worry about, but an extra skin crease can be a sign of Congenital Dislocation of the Hip. It's unlikley if all is well otherwise, but to be honest I would make an appointment with your GP. I'm a GP, and if I saw a baby with an extra skin crease I would refer them for an Xray. I really don't want to alarm you, but I felt I had to give you my view - hope you don't mind.

Also, when people consult their GP for a problem, then mention "in passing" something else, the GP rarely has time to address it properly. So mentioning something when you're there for something else is a really bad idea - your HV should know this.

It'll almost certainly be nothing, but it's best to get it checked. And it's a perfectly good reason for making an appointment, don't ever worry about taking up the GPs time.

NAB3 · 14/11/2006 16:31

A friend's DD had an extra crease in her arm. I can't remember what happened as it was years ago but she did see the doctor for it. I hate it when HV do that.

NAB3 · 14/11/2006 16:33

*lemonaid"

Has your child got torticullis?

NAB3 · 14/11/2006 16:35

extra crease

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Original poster

womba1 · 14/11/2006 16:44

Thanks for your input RachelG. You haven't alarmed me at all and i appreciate a GP's perspective, so i'll make an appointment for tomorrow.

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lemonaid · 14/11/2006 16:51

I don't think so, because it was so easy to fix. She did the clicky thing (i.e. used a thing that goes click, about the name of which I always draw a mental blank... it's an activator or actuator or something) on his neck a couple of times in one session (plus the jiggling for the spine a bit lower down - he had whooping cough from 2 weeks old so his thoracic area tended to get a bit out of alignment until he eventually stopped the coughing fits several months down the line) and bingo, he turned his head both ways quite happily after that (he could turn it both ways before but just would never do it from choice, would always turn it the same way when asleep or being carried or lying down).

I've always got the impression that torticullis takes a series of physio sessions to sort out, so given that this didn't I'm assuming it wasn't IYSWIM, just a bit of muscle tightness.

Original poster

womba1 · 15/11/2006 14:39

Hi Guys, just wanted to update you on my creasy thighed baby!
I took her to the doctors this morning and she's convinced that my dd just has chubby thighs and no hip problem. Obviously, we have to keep an eye on her over the next few months as she'll be starting to crawl and walk, but for now, everything is just fine.
Thank you all for calming me down lastnight...

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janinlondon · 15/11/2006 15:20

We got all the way to the specialist (with all the worry that that entails) on the basis of an extra crease - and you now what he said? "What are you doing here? F*&^ing health visitors. Take her home. She's fine."

octobermum · 15/11/2006 15:46

I sometimes think that hv say things without thinking about how you will take it or just to worry you.

I was told to take my dd to the gp after her 8 - 12mth check because her hear hadn't grown much and if i didn't they would report me to ss. She had her check up at 10mths and was already walking and talking.

When i took her to gp and told him why i was there he just looked and said what do they want me to do she just small like you.

She take after me and has a small frame.

I'm glad that everything ok.

JAKEJEM · 15/11/2006 19:20

Hi, my daughter had an extra crease in her thigh which was spotted by our HV at her 8 month check. She went on to have hip splints for the next 6 months as she had hip dysplasia and her hip sockets were shallow on both sides. If this had not been noted, she would have probably been in plaster for 6 months later on in life after a nasty operation. She also had a scan at 8 weeks for clicky hips but it was missed at this point. Don't wish to alarm you but I am so grateful to our HV for flagging this because she was weight bearing and everything seemed normal to us. It saved DD and us a lot of heartache and pain.

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