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Desperate for Help!
by tavisty, Jan 13, 2008 06:32PM
I am a parent of a 6 month old daughter in desperate search of answers. I think I should give some background information to help understand the total situation.
My wife and I as well as or family history have had no major illnesses or disabilities. My daughter was born a week later than doctors had anticipated and then only by induced labor. There were no serious complications.
Our daughter has never been tempermental and does not cry without reason, such as being hungry.
Now starting with the problem. Since birth when our daughter was tired or hunrgy she has had the habit of lifting her legs up in almost a 90degree angle, mostly the right leg. Along with her right arm extended over her face.
When holding her or while having a pacifier in her mouth she does not do this. Expect ocassionaly for having her arm over her face, such as an adult would do to shield their eyes.
She has also been late by about two months on milestones. Although she did eventually accomplished them. So while she is 6 months now she has accomplished milestones to about 4 months. Such as holding her head up. But has yet to turn over and doesnt do well on her belly.
While holding her up and putting her feet to the ground she goes completely limp and does not show any sign of strength. However, her legs are very healthy and she kicks and moves around alot when laying down.
She laughs quite often and is very aware and is constantly making noises.
I am currently working in Korea. My wife took our daughter to a Korean clinic, a small clinic. After examining her for about 10 minutes and seeing the behaivor of my daughter lifting up her leg, he said he thinks she has a mild form of cerabal palsy and that we should take her to bigger hospital to get her tested and diagnosed.
I have made an appointment but it will take a month for them to see us. It's killing us. We feel as if our world has crumbled. A month to find out what is really going on seems to be an insane amount of time.
Can anyone offer me any insight? any thoughts at all? Please help!!!!
My wife and I as well as or family history have had no major illnesses or disabilities. My daughter was born a week later than doctors had anticipated and then only by induced labor. There were no serious complications.
Our daughter has never been tempermental and does not cry without reason, such as being hungry.
Now starting with the problem. Since birth when our daughter was tired or hunrgy she has had the habit of lifting her legs up in almost a 90degree angle, mostly the right leg. Along with her right arm extended over her face.
When holding her or while having a pacifier in her mouth she does not do this. Expect ocassionaly for having her arm over her face, such as an adult would do to shield their eyes.
She has also been late by about two months on milestones. Although she did eventually accomplished them. So while she is 6 months now she has accomplished milestones to about 4 months. Such as holding her head up. But has yet to turn over and doesnt do well on her belly.
While holding her up and putting her feet to the ground she goes completely limp and does not show any sign of strength. However, her legs are very healthy and she kicks and moves around alot when laying down.
She laughs quite often and is very aware and is constantly making noises.
I am currently working in Korea. My wife took our daughter to a Korean clinic, a small clinic. After examining her for about 10 minutes and seeing the behaivor of my daughter lifting up her leg, he said he thinks she has a mild form of cerabal palsy and that we should take her to bigger hospital to get her tested and diagnosed.
I have made an appointment but it will take a month for them to see us. It's killing us. We feel as if our world has crumbled. A month to find out what is really going on seems to be an insane amount of time.
Can anyone offer me any insight? any thoughts at all? Please help!!!!
Post Comment
Terrible feeling I know. Look, unless her condition deteriorates (in other words she starts "losing" milestones) or she develops seizures you shouldn't stress yourself out right now. She certainly doesn't sound too severely affected (well compared to my son that is). If it is a form of CP, she will need PT as soon as possible, but I doubt if a month is going to make a huge difference. Unfortunately, neurological conditions take forever to sort out, test for and diagnose. Don't beat yourself up right now about what if. I am sure that if the doctor you saw in the clinic was concerned about her, he would have referred her immediately and as an emergency. In the month you have to wait, encourage tummy time, play with her on the floor most of the day (Lie face to face on your tummies and grap her attention so as to force her to look up at you), encourage her to roll over and keep trying to weight bear. The stimulation is important. consistancy and repetition is the magic words. Good luck
i can understand your terrible situation, especially when you dont get the professional help on time.since the babies have their maximum motor development achieved during the first year of their life,you shouldnt be wasting time . this is not because she is considered to have mild CP but because she is delayed in her milestones. hence care should be taken about her handling.
the way u describe her , she has an asymmetrical pattern. hence you need to encourage her to do things in midline, like clapping the hands,catching objects with both hands in the middle,...do her arms and legs feel very stiff or quite loosened up when u move them?you have to make her lie on her tummy as many times as possible. if she struggles keep a small pillow or a towel roll under her tummy.her arms in front. since she has started holding her head, she will lift her head up and bear weight on her forearms.
if you feel she is not picking up on her milestones a neurodevelopmental assessment by a developmental paediatrician followed by early intervention by a paediatric physiotherapist is essential.