9 month old preemie with stiff legs-

[MrsAlves]

MY SON WAS BORN 2 MONTHS EARLY , IN JUNE 10. HE IS NOW ABOUT TO BE 9 MONTHS OLD , GESTATIONALY 8 - HE STARTED THERAPY ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO BECAUSE HIS LEGS ARE COMPLETEY STIFF , ONLY BENDING SOMETIMES. I TOOK HIM TO THE PEDIATRICIAN AND SHE TOLD ME THAT HE HAS A RIGHT HIP CLICK , AND TO GET AN ULTRASOUND. THE HIP ULTRASOUND CAME BACK NORMAL. BUT HE IS STILL STIFF, DOSNT BOUNCE UP AND DOWN WHEN STANDING - AND HE CANNOT SIT UP , CRAWL OR ROLL OVER . HE WILL BE 1 IN 2 .5 MONTHS .. I HAD EARLY INTERVENTION COME AND EVALUATE THEM AND HE GOT DENIED - BECAUSE HE CAN GRAB THINGS AND FOLLOW A LIGHT WITH HIS EYES?? - I NEED HELP AND THE STATE DOSNT SEEM TO WANT TO HELP - MY SON NOW HAS TO WEAR A HELMET BECAUSE HIS HEAD HAS GOTTEN VERY FLAT BECAUSE HE CANT HAVE BELLY TIME OR SIT UP DUE TO THE STIFFNESS. WHEN HE SLEEPS - HE IS IN A C POSITION , COMPELTELY CURVED AND EXTENDED. I NEED HELP , PLEASE???

[Sandra4126]

Here is a suggestion.....maybe some floor toys and kicking toys, grabbing toys may help to get his limbs to start loosing up. My daughter was born 11 weeks 2 days early and we had intervention, but we used it for speech, identifying animals and shapes. She didn't really need it, but she had the medical card and the doctor told us it would keep her on track. Now she a normal almost 5 year old and progressing well. I wouldn't give up and talk to her pediatrician and ask for help in this situation. I feel for you and hope you get the help you need for your son. God bless you and your son.

[grannienannie]

rub and excercise his legs constantly with baby oil bend and work his legs ive been there except my son was full term and his cord broke off and he was doing his breating inside my stomach...his apgar was 0 that mean dead and when they brought him back after 11 minutes he was stiff...and i was denied help for him but i didnt give up and i did not wait for the so called therapy cause it took so long to get that help...i watched the therapist and i did that every day 4 x a day my son is not stiff no more and he overcame all he went through with my help without wait..pray while you do it he is also Gods child too..he helped me and he will help you...im not a church goer but i do believe in a higher power and that who you need it help my son pray and rub GIRL you should see my son now...his legs are fine now he wouldn't sit still....pray rub with FAITH.

[supermomma531]

Hi there, how are you today? Lots of stuff come to mind when reading your entry. As his parent, you know and realize that he'll be behind in everything he does for a long period of time, he has to be able to do things at his own pace. Because of him being a preemie, he will be behind in everything. So because he has been turned down for help through early intervention, try your health unit nurses or go to your pediatrician and demand that he/she write a letter of support on your behalf to the agency that should be giving your son help. Also see if there are other agencies that are able to help you. Try some massage therapy at home with him by rubbing and massaging him all over the body to help loosen his muscles and do some gentle stretching with his limbs. Sometimes using lotions or baby oils can help to make the rub down easier on his skin. Do the rub downs two to three times a day. Floor time is very important for him to have as well. Not one baby I've ever been around ever likes floor time at first and screams their heads off but in time, he will get used to it and be able to get around all over the place. Give him time and space, and he'll eventually get caught up to where he should be at developmentally. Good luck.

[RockRose]

Mrs. Alves,  YOU DO NEED HELP,  you're completely right!   I don't know who evaluated your son and decided he didn't need any intervention.

At this point,  he should be mobile.  He should be crawling in some fashion - whatever method works for him to move him where he wants to go - sitting up,  rolling over,  moving his body about.  

You need to call the school he would be attending for kindergarten in 4 years and tell them what's going on,  and get early intervention.  I would recommend actually walking in to their front office at the school with your baby and asking for a referral for an evaluation.

I can't imagine why you're being ignored.  

Best wishes,  for you and your darling boy.  

[MrsAlves]

*he is about to be 10 months , gestationally 8