Post-Pregnancy Moan Thread

SmokeyEyes wrote: »

We brought baba for a 12 week checkup with community nurse today, she's referring us to physio because she said the back of his head is getting flat as he's on his back or in his chair rocker with his head against it a fair amount and their skulls are easily shaped when they're young. Basically he needs more tummy time and time lying on his side to help correct this. Neither of us had ever read or been told about this so we were really surprised but after looking it up it's supposedly quite common, poor little guy:(

It is extremely common! And it's quite a recent problem, since parents are now being encouraged to put their babies to sleep on their backs rather than on their tummies. Cot deaths have been massively reduced, but incidences of positional plagiocephaly ("flathead") are gone way up, because as you said their little skulls are so easily shaped and moulded at that age - not so much of a problem when they weren't left on their back.

It's a bit crap that you were never told about it; we were told about it at our antenatal classes, and our PHN went through it with us as well at her first visit. And even so; even though we were aware of it and doing what we could to prevent it in the early months, he still ended up with a moderate case of it. The physiotherapist told us that it's not really something you can prevent; some babies just are naturally inclined to develop it.

Bear in mind that it's almost always just a "cosmetic" problem, i.e. it's rare that there's any actual physical/medical issues involved. And it's definitely reverseable.

Suucee wrote: »

My lil guy had this. Thanks to another boardies advice. I put him in a sling alot. Used a bumbo (i know these are controversial) and even lay him on his side in travel cot for day time naps and during the night i would turn his head to the none favoured side (he normally turned it straight back but uf he was in a deep enough sleep he woundnt) . and at his last check (2 weeks ago) they were very happy and discharged us.

Delighted he's doing so well Suucee (I might have been that boardsie, under a previous username! ) We've been discharged from the physio too now.

SmokeyEyes as above, the main things that the physio recommended were a sling (which never really worked too well for us, but I'd definitely try again with future babies, all kinds of benefits to them.) And a Bumbo - as Suucee said, they're controversial (risk of baby falling over in it) but, I never left him alone in it, and he never even came close to toppling over in it. Obviously follow the usual safety precautions - use it on a flat solid surface, and only on the floor, not at a height. There are other versions you can get - I think maybe the Mamas and Papas version has been recommended here as being safest? Honestly I'd go with whatever you can get secondhand (we got given a Bumbo for free!) as it's something they'll outgrow quite quickly - but it definitely made a big difference for him.

As for exercises, it's all about the tummy time - just have him on his tummy as much as possible when he's awake. If he's lying on your chest, or if you sit cross-legged with him propped up on your knee, it all counts. Encourage him to reach for toys etc with both hands. In his cot, hang mirrors/toys/etc on his "less favoured" side, to encourage him to look that way. One exercise we were given that seemed to help was to stand in front of a mirror holding baby perpendicular to you - i.e. baby is parallel to the ground, with his bum/back resting against your tummy - and they should try to raise their head so that it is in line with the rest of their body. This is really good for their neck muscles.

Our boy's "flathead" was pretty severe and noticeable at around 3-5 months, but now that he's almost 9 months, you wouldn't really notice it at all (and their head continues to "round out" until around 24 months.) So I'm hopeful that there won't be any permanent effects from it.

Penny, i think it's different for everyone. I'm nearly 7 months postpartum, but things are not back to normal for me yet. I had a pretty bad tear though. Lochia went on about 4ish weeks.

Hair has stopped falling out though. Few bald patches, but mainly at the back where I can hide them. Regrowth has started, which is the weird layer of short hair growing back underneath... Man I hate this weird hair stage. I'm convinced it's why do many women end up with the same Mammy-Haircut. I will resist!

pwurple wrote: »

Penny, i think it's different for everyone. I'm nearly 7 months postpartum, but things are not back to normal for me yet. I had a pretty bad tear though. Lochia went on about 4ish weeks.

Hair has stopped falling out though. Few bald patches, but mainly at the back where I can hide them. Regrowth has started, which is the weird layer of short hair growing back underneath... Man I hate this weird hair stage. I'm convinced it's why do many women end up with the same Mammy-Haircut. I will resist!

I didn't have any major hairloss, but I do have loads of little short frizzy bits appearing around my hairline. Pain in the ass! Most mammies I know who had babies around the same time as me are complaining about the same thing. Can't wait til it's back to normal again.

My LO had her 6 month jabs today. 3 of them. I'm surprised she's is grand form because by the screams of her in the surgery I thought the whole of Dublin would be able to hear her! On a nice note.... She was screaming so loud I could see into her mouth and spotted a big tooth that must've come up in the last dew days . She barely ever cries so unless I put my finger in her mouth I don't really ever since much in there

biancab wrote: »

mine too, it's everywhere . And my baby is 15weeks old today

... Mine has eased off a good bit but it is still coming out and LO is 6.5 months! Got a great haircut tho which makes it appear a bit thicker (thank god!).