Hip problems, now has to wear a harness! Reassurance needed!

[BrownEyedGirl32]

Have just been told today that my 6wo DS most likely has developmental dysplasia of the hip. Has an ultrasound on Thursday and if confirmed will be fitted with a harness which he has to wear 24/7 for 8-12 weeks! He won't be able to kick his legs and we won't be able to bath him. I know it's for his benefit and won't be forever but feel so upset and every time I look at him I cry.

There are alot worse things he could have but he's my miracle baby after a difficult few years. I can't bear for anything to be wrong with him.

Has anyone else had experience of this condition? Just need a bit of reassurance. Babies are such a worry!

I posted on a thread about this subject.

The poster was called kialiana try a search, sorry no idea how to do a link.

first of all congratulations on your baby boy!!

sorry no personal experience

closest I know is a friend's son who had a broken arm when he was a baby - her sister fell on him, and he had to wear a special cast for months.
it was hard going, but had to be done!

of course you feel worried and teary, hell I was heartbroken when my oldest had chickenpox as it left a few marks - I cried for weeks coz my beautiful baby's perfect skin was ruined!

you know you'll have to be strong for him, so my advice is to eat well, try to sleep enough, stay healthy and get a lot of RL support and practical help so you are able to look after him - no point getting ill from being emotionally and physically exhausted!

I wish you all the best, I hope you'll get some medical advice.

I don't remember it for obvious reasons, but I was born with this and was in a harness for several months as a small baby. My mum says she found it terribly hard to see me like that, but it worked and I'm fine now, my hips are very slightly uneven but it's only noticeable if I'm naked and you're looking very closely.

Kialiana's thread is called having a bad day.

Hi I know just how you feel, it is horrible to contemplate especially when they are so tiny. BUT this is for the best, and now that it's been spotted he has the best chance of the hips developing normally and there is a very good chance that he will get the all clear after the recommended time period in the harness. My 2 youngest had it (it runs in our family) and my 5 month old was on her harness from 10days old to 4 months old. It was a pain, but better, far better than trying to correct it when she's older. Some tips: you do need to be vigilant and keep your son in the harness as much as possible. However double check that they don't want you to bathe him as although both mine needed to be in it all the time, I was allowed to take it off for half an hour a day for bath and kick time. Check again about this maybe?
Dress your son in baggy bottoms - sweat pants, baggies etc. This will be comfier for him and easier for you when doing nappy changes.
He will not like it at the beginning (tho it doesn't actually hurt them to be in it) but he will get used to it. My middle dd was 6 weeks when she went in hers and she was a but harder to settle for sleeps at the beginning but she soon got used to it.
Make sure the doc or whoever is fitting the harness marks the straps where the clasps close so that when you take it off or open it you close it again at the right place/tension.
Get your husband used to changing baby and opening and closing harness as well, otherwise it will be you who has to do every nappy change etc.
When it's being fitted, make sure there are no places where it is pinching him or seems too tight. If it does, ask about it
When getting it fitted, bring a long pair of cotton socks that will stretch up to his knees. That way the harness can be fitted over his onesie vest and his socks and so avoid rubbing on his skin. Get a few pairs of these socks as it will be comfier for him.
Ask about re-fittings as he grows- my dd2 only needed 1 harness as she was only in it for 6 weeks, but my dd3 needed 3 as she grew so
much from the beginning to the end of the process.
When nappy changing you should only have to release the feet and can keep the chest strap closed. But make sure to move the straps well out of the way to avoid being peed and pooped on. It's likely to happen anyway at some point and if it does just sponge off.
The harnesses are usually very soft and padded made of canvas and felt (is yours a 'Pavlik' harness?) and have 'give' in them.
Once the orthopedic surgeon is happy that the hip has developed sufficiently normally your son will probably come out of the harness but you will likely have follow up appts for ultrasounds and later on x-rays to monitor progress every 3-4 months up to age 2 or so and then every 6 months for another year or so after that. At least this gas been my experience, your own doc will tell you what to expect in your son's case.
Be glad you have spotted it now. Mine wasn't noticed until I started walking and I had to have lots of retrospective surgery to try to correct it. Not pleasant at all!
I understand how heartbreaking it us though when you just don't want anything at all to be wrong with your baby. I found lots of people people were breezy about it when in fact I just wanted sympathy and a hug so I know what you are feeling. Good luck and feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Hi

it's late and I'm off to bed but just wanted to say that my eldest dd had this also. She's now a healthy, happy 17 year old and no problems whatsoever. Will post tomorrow re the challenges of the 'frog splint' which it sounds like your ds will have. It's really not a problem if found early and easily treatable - it's just a bot of a pita - hugs

HFD

I'm 40 now but I had this as a baby. It wasnt picked up until I was six months old and then I was put in a rigid brace that could not be removed.... I was on my back with my legs in the air, held in position by the brace! Thankfully things have moved on a bit since then...

My cousin had a strap on her leg which usually corrects the hips but in her case it didnt and she had to have an op when she was ten. She is about 26 now and very sporty.

I've never suffered because of my hips although I have never been very athletic and struggled to do hurdles and things like that.

My own DD was xrayed as a baby as it does run in families.

I think that the harness your DS is in sounds ok and like you say, it could be a lot worse!...

It should correct the problem and your DS will have regular checkups too.

Sorry re typos I'm posting from my phone. Just noticed you haven't had the u/sound yet. You will have better picture after that as the doc will assess both hips. Your son will probably cry a bit during the u/s. It only takes a few mins on each side but the foc has to push a little to get a good image and this pressure can trigger tears with baby. Doc will likely ask you to hold babies arms out of the way and I get on the other side from the doc, hold the arms and whisper soothing words to baby while the doc's doing the u/s. Seems to help baby and once it's over you can have nice cuddle and it really is quite quick and they are very experienced at handling babies. You will both be fine, try not to worry. Come prepared with your questions and get plenty if rest so that you're not overtired for the appt and you can be on good form for your son and not too distracted/tired for the discussion with the f
Doc afterwards. Big hugs to you.

Well, that's my wee one fitted into his Pavlik harness. The ultrasound confirmed that the hip is badly dislocated. We're pretty gutted but the wee bean was a star.

He's had lots of cuddles today and seemed ok until time to wash him. He screamed the place down and I ended up in tears. He's ok now and currently in his basket quite happy but I'm in pieces.

I'm telling myself things will get better as I get more confident handling him and I have been online buying him some funky new sleep suits in a bigger size to accommodate his bent legs.

Robbabank thanks for all your great advice and I hope that soon I will be as competent as you at dealing with this. It's just going to take a wee bit getting used to...

Hi Browneyedgirl. My dd had to go in a harness at 8 weeks and I was totally gutted so I understand how you feel. Sounds daft but it totally floored me.

The Orthopaedic consultant kept a really close eye and her (and me!) and for the first few weeks we went weekly for check ups. I remember the ball of her hip found the socket quite quickly and it was a case of the harness holding it in place until the socket grew round it. She was in it for 12 weeks in the end and then given a splint to wear all the time for 4 weeks (but you could take it off to bath her), then she just had to wear the splint at night for 4 weeks. She then had monthly check.ups and her hip declared perfect on her first birthday so she was discharged.

I found not being able to bath her really hard and you really feel for them as they are so tiny. I hope all goes well OP, you do get used to it and it's great it's been spotted early and put right while he doesn't know any different.

My DD is 4 now and there have been no lasting effects at all - you would never know! It didn't slow her down in terms of when she crawled or walked either. Feel free to pm if you have any questions.