Mis-shapen head

[Joannie2]

My DS is now 10 weeks old , he is a wee darling and so far hasn't given me too much trouble . However, his head is still very high/misshapen and I'm starting to worry about it. He was delivered with forceps and apparently the birth was quite bad (although I didn't realise this until 3 days later when the paediatrician mentioned it). When he was born his head was very high and pointy - very cone-like. It has lowered a bit but still looks very high (but not pointy anymore) I have mentioned it to my midwife and doctor but they just said that some babies heads are like this. I must say that I have never seen a babies head like this, but then again I never paid much attention to babies before DS. Anyway, just wondering if anyone else has had a baby with a high head. If so, did it eventually become "normal" looking?

Thanks

You could take him to a cranio oesteopathist, they can tell if the plates of the skull aren't in the right position and do incredably gentle manipulation to align them correctly.

Cranio osteopath treatment is definitely the best way to go but you don't want to wait too long. Also check for plagiocephaly but don't get me started on that one...

Thanks MNP and NAB3. DH is phoning around some cranio osteopaths right now. I'll get back to you and tell you what they say.

Would love to know Joannie2 how you and DS get on.

I have had great results from Cranio on several babies i have cared for.

Oh dear NAB3 re plegio, know a 5yo that parents won't acknowledge has it, funnily he also has a speech problem.

We used cranial osteopathy on DS and it definatley helped. Would recomend getting checked for plagiocephaly as my son had severe plagio that we ended up getting treatment for. If it is plagio there are lots of repo techniques you can use to help the head round out naturally. would also say don't be fobbed off by GP's.

Just to let you know that we have an appointment at the Cranial Osteopath on Tuesday Morning - I'll let you know how we get on.

Tubismybub - I know what you mean, my GP is lovely but is really not taking my concerns seriously.

yep dd saw a cranial osteopath and he was fab. She does have plagiocephaly (sp??) and her head is still a little flat on one side but as she has loads of hair i can only tell when i feel it. If it is that you can get helmets for them but i understand they are very expensive ie around two grand. The doctor who saw my dd at the hospital laughed when i told him i was thinking of getting one (not available on NHS) he said they were a waste of money (tho i'm sure some parents would disagree with him. Hope it goes ok

TheLadyVanishes, star bands - reshaping helmets are available on the nhs as a head that is not growing in proportion can exert higher pressures on areas of the brain.

we were told you had to get them privately, tho is suppose if the doc thinks that the head will correct itself in time then they might not have bothered

Oh FGS the doctors are still spouting this crap. It will NOT sort itself out if it is true plagio. We paid £2500 for our daughters helmet. She went from an assymetry of 1.7cm to 0.3 in 3 months. Een the guy who treated her was amazed she did so well as she didn't get the helmet until she was 10 months. Damn "professionals" who thought they knew it all.

some NHS hospital will refer you to private clinic and pay for treatment but i've only heard of a handfull of people who have had this. Postcode lottery.

We're just back from our appointment and I feel so much happier. She said the moulding was caused by the forceps, she doesn't think he has plagiocephaly and shouldn't need a helmet (but she'll keep an eye on it and assess him again in a few months). She thinks that eventually with the CO that the head should go down well (maybe a tiny bit of coning, but not noticable). She also said that he should sleep alot better (just now he sleeps about 8 hours on a good day). His fonteles (?) are still open and she said there is lots of room for movement. She seemed very competent and really knew what she was talking about. We are booked in for another appointment next Tuesday. I am so glad I took your advice, just wish I had asked sooner. Will keep you updated. Thanks XXX

joannie2 - my baby suffered a skull fracture and 2 bleeds on the brain from a forceps delivery. once the fracture had healed we noticed a severe flattening of one side (as it hurt for her to lay on the other). it corrected itself though so don't worry too much.

Joannie2- I had quite a traumatic ventouse delivery and my DS head was quite flat and misshapen to one side for several months. I took him to the doctor as I didn't want to think that as an adoring mother I was missing She reassured me that the baby's head does not stop changing shape until well after 1 year old. Now at 19months you would hardly notice any difference. He is not irritable and is developing well up to milestones.