Pavlik Harness help

[Mommy2Abby]

Hi Everyone,

I'm relatively new here, but you all seem so nice, I thought I would go ahead and ask a question. I have a 3 month old daughter who was born with Acetabular Dysplasia, which is essentially a dislocated hip. We were hopeful that the issue would resolve itself, but it has not, and yesterday we were told that she has to wear a Pavlik Harness to help correct the problem.

So far, she is not adjusting to life with the harness very well. She cries every time she tries to move her legs and seems really uncomfortable. She was up a lot last night crying and I just don't know what to do for her.

Has anyone out there ever dealt with this and have any advice to give a new mom going through it? I just want my sweet baby back!

Thanks for any help you can give.

Mommy2Abby

 

[bananiem]

I'm sorry I don't have any advice for you. I'm sure she'll get used to it quickly though.

 

[aprilgail2]

My daughter was born with hip dysplasia and wore that harness brace thing for 5 months. It was not fun for me or her! The only good thing was that she had it put on at 3 days old so she was used to it. When I would give her a bath it would come off and when I went to put it back on she would throw her leg straight out and not bend it so I couldn't get the harness back on! She went through 2 sizes of harness before it was time to take it off but I did buy an extra one of each size so I could wash them and she would still have one to wear. The day before her christening she had explosive diareaha and it was all ove the harness so it was a good thing I had the extra! You can use the triple diaper method though is you need to wash it and you only have one. The three diapers keep them from pulling their hip back out of whack. She had sonograms every 2 weeks to see how progress was coming and once she had it on about 3 months after every ultrasound I would leave crying because it was not time to take it off! It delayed her crawling and walking and turning over and effected her gross motor skills- she did need physical therapy for awhile after it coming off.

 

[Mommy2Abby]

Thanks aprilgail2!

I am worried about it delaying DD's development too. She was just starting to sort of roll over and now I'm afraid she won't make any progress. Were you allowed to take the harness off from the very beginning? My doctor told me I am not allowed to take it off at all, even for bathing. It has to be all sponge baths. I'm so sad because she really loved bath time Maybe I will get to take it off for short periods of time as things progress? This all comes at the worst possible time because I have to go back to work from my maternity leave on Monday and now my sitter isn't sure she wants to take her!

Mommy2Abby

 

[aprilgail2]

Thanks aprilgail2!

I am worried about it delaying DD's development too. She was just starting to sort of roll over and now I'm afraid she won't make any progress. Were you allowed to take the harness off from the very beginning? My doctor told me I am not allowed to take it off at all, even for bathing. It has to be all sponge baths. I'm so sad because she really loved bath time Maybe I will get to take it off for short periods of time as things progress? This all comes at the worst possible time because I have to go back to work from my maternity leave on Monday and now my sitter isn't sure she wants to take her!

Mommy2Abby

Yes we could take it on and off but the only time was for bath time-months and months of sponge baths just would not have cut it-yuk!! The brace guy showed me how to put it on and off and she also had to go for adjustments every couple weeks. Don't worry to much-it does delay them but my daughter is 7 now-she is black belt in taekwondo, plays basketball, racquetball, irish step dances, jumps rope etc...they will catch up. My daughter in kindergarten still had trouble hopping on one foot. I do credit taekwondo with much of her gross motor skills though, she came really far in there.
Always put a shirt on under the harness or it will chaf their tender skin.
She could not go in her walker, or the jonny jumper thing you hang from the doorway so they can jump or anything like that. Some clothes were challenging too being their legs were at a weird angle.
here is some info I found-wish we had the 12 week plan they talk about in the info but ours was longer.....


"First Phase: Under 6 Months
The infant with DDH is placed in a Pavlik harness fulltime, except for half an hour in the morning and half an hour in the evening for bathing. The Pavlik harness directs the ball into the center of the socket. Force transmitted by the ball into the center of the socket causes the socket to become deeper and wider.

After the child has worn the harness for one week, an ultrasound test is done to make sure that the ball is sitting in the socket. Once this is confirmed, the harness is worn for six more weeks. At that point, a second ultrasound test checks if the angles and ratios of the ball and socket are normal. If so, the child continues to wear the harness, but only at night, for another six weeks. If the ball fails to sit properly in the socket after three weeks using the Pavlik harness, use of the harness is discontinued and the child moves to the second phase of treatment.

The overall success rate using the Pavlik harness is about 90 percent, which means that only around 10 percent of children with DDH need the second phase of treatment."

 

[wheeler1]

Oh my, this brings back memories...

My daughter was born with hip problems as well. The "ball" wasnt in the socket at all. She underwent surgery at 5 mos, was in a spica cast for a couple of months and then a brace until about 13 months or so...
She never was able to experience sitting up and crawling like other babies do but she was never behind at all. She actually would crawl somewhat with the brace on and she never had a problem sitting up once she was actually able to.

Please try and not worry about it too much. The most important thing right now is that her hip heals and grows together correctly. She may not like it now but treatments that she/you will be facing when she gets older will be far more difficult. Babies grow so incredibly fast, it is very very important her leg and hip be positioned correctly as much as possible right now.

I realize this does nothing to make it easier for you right now...If you stick with the treatment plan, do not deviate from it, she will adjust to it.

My heart goes out to you!!! My daughter not only survived this ordeal, she is now 9 and you would never ever know she had problems as an infant.

 

[Mommy2Abby]

Thanks for your support

I know we will get through this and that it's much better that we get it taken care of now, rather than waiting until she is older.

She seems to be slowly adjusting to the harness, although we had her sleeping through the night and now she is back to waking up every 3 hours or so. Not exactly what I was hoping for as I got back to work She's also more hesitant about things and gets frightened much easier it seems. My good baby that never cried at anything now cries at everything!

Does anyone have any suggestions for making her more comfortable to sleep? I called my doc back and they were no help at all. They just told me that she will adjust in time.

 

[solferino]

I'm sorry she's having such a tough time. Be rest assured though, this almost 38 year old doesn't remember being in a body cast for hip dysplasia. My mom said it was during the hottest 6 months of the year and claims it went from my armpits to my ankles

 

[wheeler1]

I'm sorry she's having such a tough time. Be rest assured though, this almost 38 year old doesn't remember being in a body cast for hip dysplasia. My mom said it was during the hottest 6 months of the year and claims it went from my armpits to my ankles

Yup...my daughters cast was from armpits to ankle as well...


One thing I do remember doing for my daughter is laying her on her back in her crib propped up on a pillow. Her tushie was on the mattress and the rest of her on the pillow. Btw, its impossible to roll over in these things, before anyone starts howling!
I do remember her waking up throughout the night now that you mention it. She was a solid night time sleeper but went back to waking up during the night. I gave her a bottle to sooth her, she usually didnt drink it all but I didnt fuss about the change in her schedule. Its difficult all the way around but honestly, when she was sprung from her cast/brace after being over a year old, she very quickly went back to sleeping all night. She sat up no problem, crawled etc. She actually never really crawled much as she was in the brace all that time.
She really did adjust, and you will too! Your heart is breaking over this, I know. But please know that the most important thing you can do for her is keep her in that brace!!! Babies grow at night, leg/hip needs to be in the best position possible for this to heal itself.

It may seem insurmountable now but trust me, it really will get better. You will have your days but in the end, you will look back and realize you can get through anything!

I also wanted to add that she did become attached at the hip (no pun intended) with me. When she was in the cast I had to carry her all the time, when we switched to the brace she still clung to me, always wanted to be in my lap etc. My feeling on this was (and still is) to follow her lead. I held her way more than most, accomodated her etc. She had needs that I couldnt possible understand having never been through this. So I was supermom! And I am gratefull.....I held her, comforted her at all hours of the day and night....She really did turn out just fine both physically and emotionally! And yes, we are still attached to each other! Not a bad thing at all....

 

[Mandy_in_NC]

You both will be fine. Trust me I went through it with my youngest daughter when she was around 6 months old. It was way harder on me that it was her. She even learned to scoot around using the back of her head while she was wearing the brace. She was able to go anywhere she wanted to go. We were able to take the brace off to give her a tub bath and then back on it went. She is 7 now and she has no memory of it. Her sister who is 9 remembers it. As a matter of fact we still have the brace somewhere. My oldest daughter was talking about it to her sister and Sissy wanted to see it so we dug it out for her. And they put it on Sissy's stuff gorrilla. So Sissy got to see what she looked like while wearing it. I always told her she looked like a little frog when she had it on. You can not even tell Sissy had a problem with her hip now. My niece on the other hand had to go through being in the cast because the brace didn't work but she made it through and is no worse for the ware. You and your daughter are in my thoughts and prayers.

Mandy

 

[Mommy2Abby]

Thanks again everyone!

I tried using a pillow under her in her crib last night and she slept through the night for the first time since getting the harness. Thanks so much for the suggesstion!

I really appreciate all the kind words and support. I'm sure that it upsets me way more than it upsets her, as she seems to be adjusting. She wants to be held much more than she did before...but I don't really mind that. I figure some day she won't want me to hold her at all, so I'll just enjoy it for now. She still hates it when we have to change her shirt because it's a struggle to get it on without taking the harness off, but I'm sure she'll adjust to that in time too.

This Mommy thing is way harder than I thought it would be

Mommy2Abby

 

[tish50]

I wish I had some advice for you. My daugher has been in the harness for 7 weeks. I go next week for a recheck and she may go to part time only at night. Right now she is 23 out of 24 hours a day. She was a little fussy the first few nights but then adjusted. I cried when I left the Dr. office. I didn't want her to suffer. I also wore a Pavlik when I was a baby (34 years ago) The ortho doctor was amazed said i must have been one of the first ever in the US to wear. He did his medical school research on it and traveled to the Czech republic and met Pavlik's son...

I also have no memory of the harness. Isn't it funny all the work we do for our kids and most of us can't remember much before 2...all this work for that Hang in there and email me if you need anything. I can tell you it gets easier. I was so crushed at first I was going to do a countdown calendar (like a days to christmas ring thing) and now I am only 10 days away and I am so use to it now as is my daughter it is not as big of a deal anymore.

 

[Cool-Beans]

My cousin was in a hard plaster cast from her chest down for 6 months when she was three years old.

My aunt thought the child would go mad and be scarred for life because she tried, but couldn't move. Then she'd cry and cry, all day. Then she did nothing, like she was depressed.

Then she got the hang of it and started dragging her body around using her arms. We'd all run around and there she'd be, slugging along behind us.

Hope you have just as happy an ending.

 

[katelynsmommy2001]

My dd6 was in the harness for quite a few months!! I guess my experience was a little different, because dd6 can't move her legs a whole lot because of Spina Bifida, but she adjusted. It is so hard on you too~ I remember going thru door ways making sure that I was sideways, so i didn't hit her legs!!

Hang in there~ I feel your pain!! &

 

[Jen S]

My daughter was born with hip dysplasia and had to wear the pavelik for her first 6 months. The x-rays went ok, and they took her out of it and then put her back in it 3 months later for nights and naps only. That readjustment was very hard (probably much harder for mommy), but she did get used to it eventually. It did not affect her development at all, she rolled over, crawed and walked on schedule. You will probably reach a point where she will only have to wear it at night and nap time.

Elizabeth was put in her harness in the hospital after she was born and the nurses were so much help with tips on how to make life easier. They suggested putting infant tube socks and snap shirts on under the harness (I found the full onesies a little difficult to work around with the harness), and then put her regular outfit on over the harness. That kept the harness from chafing her skin, but still made outfit changes easier and you only had to change the underclothes at bathtime. Most of the time people never realized what she had on underneath unless they held her. When she needed her diaper changed, we would only have to unstrap the leg portions.

It is very frightening at first. We were first time parents and absolutely terrified when we brought her home. It does get easier, especially after you get a routine down. Hang in there!