If your LO was breech

VeilSdeGTO

I had to take DD#2 to the orthopedic specialist because she has metatarsus adductus (the bones of her feet are curved) and the specialist said that it puts her at higher risk for hip dysplasia and ordered a x-ray of her hips. When I mentioned she was breech, he was shocked that her hips weren't checked earlier.

So, if your LO was breech, did they check to see if LO had hip dysplasia? He said it was a good thing we brought her in when we did at 5 months because before 6 months, it would require just a brace, after 6 months, a body cast for 3 months, and after a year, surgery.

DD#2 doesn't have it, but I was surprised that this was the first time I've heard of this.

km_md

Not my LO but a friend of mine had a little girl who sat breech for a long time in the womb and she had really bad hip dysplasia from birth. She had to have surgeries and casts a few times. Poor kid. But from my understanding it was a pretty extreme case.

martinimomma

Hello, my dear!

Both DS and DD were breech.  Neither had hip clicks, leg length discrepancies or any other obvious sign of dysplasia.  DD did/does have the metatarsus adductus going on, but it is markedly better at 7 mos than when she was new.  With DS, there less concern as he was a boy.  Apparently the joint loosening effect of fermale hormones makes dysplasia more likely.  I was a slacker and did not take DD for an ultrasound until she was 6 months old, in part because she had no signs of a problem.  Indeed, all was well.  We're watching her feet for now. 

Take care and hope you and the girls are otherwise well!

a&aw12707

DS was breech, and we had to take him for an US at 6 weeks. We then were referred to a pedi ortho because the US wasn't clear . Luckily, we got the all clear there and just have to have a follow up x-ray in 6 weeks!

KJsbabe

DD was breach pretty much the whole third tri. Our pedi has checked her hips at every app, but I figured that was something they do for all babies. He's never said it was specifically because she was breach.

I'm glad they checked your LO in time!

SciChick

I was told a couple of times at the hospital that she would be checked but the doctor has never done it. I always forget to ask because she's developing fine but thanks for the reminder.

Mmm79

Our pedi checked us and sent us to have u/s at around 6 weeks because that was standard procedure for breech babies.  It was first mentioned to us at the hospital when DS was born.

ravenclaw1

My friend had a daughter who sat breach for a long time. They caught it really early, so she did the hip brace thing.

VeilSdeGTO

martinimomma said:

Hello, my dear!

Both DS and DD were breech.  Neither had hip clicks, leg length discrepancies or any other obvious sign of dysplasia.  DD did/does have the metatarsus adductus going on, but it is markedly better at 7 mos than when she was new.  With DS, there less concern as he was a boy.  Apparently the joint loosening effect of fermale hormones makes dysplasia more likely.  I was a slacker and did not take DD for an ultrasound until she was 6 months old, in part because she had no signs of a problem.  Indeed, all was well.  We're watching her feet for now. 

Take care and hope you and the girls are otherwise well!

Hey!

Did you do anything to help her feet straighten out or did it just take time? Are they going to reevaluate in a couple of months? We have to go back at 8 months to see if they've improved. Otherwise, she will require casts.

Aside from still getting no sleep, things are ok. How are you?

VeilSdeGTO

Luckily, her hips are fine but I am annoyed now that nobody mentioned this to me when she was born. I'd much rather have had her have an u/s at 6 weeks than a x-ray at 5 months.

twotexans

M was breech, but born at 32 weeks.  They did an initial check in the NICU.  I keep meaning to ask our pedi if she needs a follow-up, but I always forget. 

I had never heard of this prior to M's physical therapist mentioning it.  My sister and I were both breech.  Neither of us had hip dysplasia.

martinimomma

VeilSdeGTO said:

Hello, my dear!

Both DS and DD were breech.  Neither had hip clicks, leg length discrepancies or any other obvious sign of dysplasia.  DD did/does have the metatarsus adductus going on, but it is markedly better at 7 mos than when she was new.  With DS, there less concern as he was a boy.  Apparently the joint loosening effect of fermale hormones makes dysplasia more likely.  I was a slacker and did not take DD for an ultrasound until she was 6 months old, in part because she had no signs of a problem.  Indeed, all was well.  We're watching her feet for now. 

Take care and hope you and the girls are otherwise well!

Hey! Did you do anything to help her feet straighten out or did it just take time? Are they going to reevaluate in a couple of months? We have to go back at 8 months to see if they've improved. Otherwise, she will require casts. Aside from still getting no sleep, things are ok. How are you?

A's feet have improved with time, but their "default" position (i.e., at rest) is still inverted.  At almost 8 months she still does not bear much weight on her feet (yes, another one with slow gross motor) and when she does they are mostly flat -- so I'm hopeful we'll get clearance.  Our pedi's perspective was that until she started to bear weight we could not really tell what was going to occur - so I'm waiting to see how our next visit goes. ETA - we did not do anything special to her feet.  In the jumperoo we try to make sure she is low enough to get both feet flat on the floor.

BootsOrHearts

Yes baby had an ultrasound and he was fine. I wonder why they want to do an x-ray vs. an ultrasound? They need to see how the joints actually move. Also no radiation with the ultrasound. 

martinimomma

BootsOrHearts said:

Yes baby had an ultrasound and he was fine. I wonder why they want to do an x-ray vs. an ultrasound? They need to see how the joints actually move. Also no radiation with the ultrasound. 

I think it has to do with age.  The hip joints are less easily viewed by u/s the older the child gets, apparently.  I scooted with with DD under the wire and argued in favor of the u/s versus xray, with the understanding that if they could not see what they needed to see on u/s they'd do an xray instead. Luckily they could still see and get it done.

VeilSdeGTO

martinimomma said:

BootsOrHearts said:

Yes baby had an ultrasound and he was fine. I wonder why they want to do an x-ray vs. an ultrasound? They need to see how the joints actually move. Also no radiation with the ultrasound. 

I think it has to do with age.  The hip joints are less easily viewed by u/s the older the child gets, apparently.  I scooted with with DD under the wire and argued in favor of the u/s versus xray, with the understanding that if they could not see what they needed to see on u/s they'd do an xray instead. Luckily they could still see and get it done.

This. They recommend an u/s under 5 months and DD was exactly 5 months. He gave the option of doing the u/s, which would have required us to make a separate appt, might not have a clear pic, and still end up doing the x-ray.

I was hesitant because of the radiation but this is what he said. If we were to take DD on a round-trip plane ride to NY, she would get 6 times the amount of radiation from the plane ride than she would from the x-ray.

VeilSdeGTO

martinimomma said:

VeilSdeGTO said:

Hello, my dear!

Both DS and DD were breech.  Neither had hip clicks, leg length discrepancies or any other obvious sign of dysplasia.  DD did/does have the metatarsus adductus going on, but it is markedly better at 7 mos than when she was new.  With DS, there less concern as he was a boy.  Apparently the joint loosening effect of fermale hormones makes dysplasia more likely.  I was a slacker and did not take DD for an ultrasound until she was 6 months old, in part because she had no signs of a problem.  Indeed, all was well.  We're watching her feet for now. 

Take care and hope you and the girls are otherwise well!

Hey! Did you do anything to help her feet straighten out or did it just take time? Are they going to reevaluate in a couple of months? We have to go back at 8 months to see if they've improved. Otherwise, she will require casts. Aside from still getting no sleep, things are ok. How are you?

A's feet have improved with time, but their "default" position (i.e., at rest) is still inverted.  At almost 8 months she still does not bear much weight on her feet (yes, another one with slow gross motor) and when she does they are mostly flat -- so I'm hopeful we'll get clearance.  Our pedi's perspective was that until she started to bear weight we could not really tell what was going to occur - so I'm waiting to see how our next visit goes. ETA - we did not do anything special to her feet.  In the jumperoo we try to make sure she is low enough to get both feet flat on the floor.

Interesting. The specialist wanted us to have her re-evaluated and casted before she started putting pressure on her feet so that it wouldn't affect her ability to walk. I also thought that once she could bear weight on them, it would straighten out on its own. Guess I'll see how they are in 3 months and go from there. Thank you!