hip dysplasia - stories/experiences please

[rhetorician]

dd2 (almost 7 weeks) just diagnosed via ultrasound - it didn't seem too severe. Anyway, she is trussed up in a pavlik harness, review in 2 weeks. There's a strong family history, which was why she was checked, and they noted that the left hip seemed 'loose' at birth.

I feel a bit :( for her, although I know that this is much better than the consequences, but not sure how the practicalities will work (we have been told not to bath her for a week [this is only about how often we bath her anyway ) and to bring her in then to put the harness back on again. Surely they could teach us how to do it?

If your dc have had this, how long were they in the harness, and did it work?

Hi there. My DD1 had a pavlik harness on from 12 days old. She had it on for 8 weeks and now, at four, only has to go back for two yearly check ups but is absolutely fine. We were told to not bath at all!!!! TBH I can remember how much of a pain trying to keep her/it clean was but can't really remember the coping strategies we used. Good luck. x

thanks for that billybo

My DD was diagnosed similarly to your DD (family history, diagnosed at 6 weeks, in harness at 8 weeks).

DD was in hers for 10 weeks in total, checked after 6 weeks but still not completely formed, checked again after 10 weeks and she was fine. We saw the Dr 6 monthly for a couple of visits and now we're annually - all's fine and they don't anticipate any future difficulties.

Advice varies as to how long to leave them in without bathing. Our hospital said no baths, DD was checked fortnightly and the harness adjusted for growth but she was never out of it. You do get used to dressing and cleaning them in it and at that age they adjust well to their new "shape". I was so sad when DD was diagnosed as it coincided with showing her off to all the family for the first time over Xmas but looking back (DD now 2.3yrs) it was such a short period of our lives that it really didn't matter.

The major thing to bare in mind is that it has a great chance of success and is far preferable to invasive surgery if the problem isn't discovered until after they become weight bearing.

There is lots of useful advice on the best ways to dress a harness wearer and stuff about car seats, prams etc - search in the childrens health section for dysplasia or pavlik (I think it may be misspelled as palvik on some threads too).

I opted for a slightly too big babygro, open at the crotch with a dress over the top to hide the open bit, I also bought nappy covers that opened both sides (for reuseables) and converted some frilly knickers to open at the sides (cut and add press studs) so that her nappy wasn't on show (purely a vanity consideration there . Our hospital was very strict about allowing the straps to always sit in their triangle shape and not be forced out of shape by clothing. I never had any problems feeding or comforting DD - memory is hazy now about what/how I did it (although think it's on past threads) but it wasn't tricky at all.

You and your DD will adjust to this really quickly and most people see results in a few months - good luck and do keep posting if things trouble you.

herethereandeverywhere - thanks so much - really useful post. Following some links I found the STEPS leaflet on living with a pavlik (which sounds like a breed of dog to me!) - feeding seems fine, so we will manage, I hope