Cranial Technology

I've been up since 4 a.m.  I'm exhausted and I'm ready to crash.  We had Zoe's cranial appointment today with Cranial Technology.  Today was the consult to see if she is a potential candidate, and she is.  She has the "plagiocephaly" head shape. She's in between the mild to moderate degree.  I feel awful that she has to wear this, I feel like its something we did wrong.  But I know we've done everything we can to help her be on track developmentally, including lots of tummy time.  Since she was in the NICU for 32 days, had intestinal surgery which prevented her to be on her tummy for some time, the lack of tummy time and laying flat started her to have plagiocephaly and torticollis.  Not to mention, she's on her back 15+ hours a day.   Seeing friends, neighbors, acquaintances, etc. kids on facebook, I know helmets/bands are extremely common these days due to babies not sleeping on their bellies.  I was really hoping to forgo this as Zoe has been through so much.   So in addition to weekly therapy, she will have weekly cranial appointments until they feel the band is no longer needed.  The therapist today said she believes between 6-8 weeks is all that's needed.  She will need to wear it 23 hours out of the day.  After 6-8 weeks, they will re-evaluate her head to see if another band is needed.  Now we wait and hope insurance will cover this so its not another out of pocket expense.   I know this won't bother her, or she'll even realize she's wearing this. And since time is flying by, I know 8 weeks will creep up on us in no time.


This is the email that came from her physical therapist, Lesa:

Zoe is making good progress.  She now has increased neck movement in all positions with the greatest when she is laying on her back.  On her stomach I know that she continue to prefer to look to the right however in any challenging position she is going to revert back to her preferred position until it becomes easier and she gets stronger.  I am happy to see her interacting more with people. toys, and her environment, and she has made great progress with lifting her head up while on her stomach.  She is bringing her hands together in the midline nicely.  I am now working on rolling and increasing her head control and active movements.  You are all doing a good job at home!  Thank you for your hard work!


Just set up her pediatric surgery and cardiac appointment for early July.  Doctors, doctors and more doctors.  I just need to take a step back and realize how lucky Mike and I are for how well Zoe is and has been doing.