Research has proven that there is nothing more effective against plagiocephaly than cranial helmet therapy when called for. One problem is when the mom (and sometimes dad) become emotionally opposed to the process. It’s not that they don’t believe the therapy to be necessary, it is that they cannot grasp emotionally the fact that for twenty- three out of twenty- four hours in the day they will not be able to touch, cuddle and hold their baby in the warm way they have been dreaming of. This emotional insecurity comes from several different situations having to do with the birth of the baby, the prematurity of the baby and prolonged hospital stay of the baby in the hospital to name a few.

Cheryl B. is generally a practical person except when it comes to her baby, Jen. Jen was born prematurely and had to stay in the hospital for two long months after her birth. Cheryl had dreamed of breastfeeding her exclusively and hoping to refuse a relief bottle to help this new mom recuperate from the childbirth. Her dream began when she found out she was pregnant after several years of hoping and praying for a baby. When she thankfully became pregnant, she immediately signed up for childbirth classes and dreamed of taking time off from work after the birth to give full attention to her expected long awaited miracle.

Life did not turn out exactly the way Cheryl had envisioned. She and her husband Harry were so grateful for their new miraculous gift from above that they did not envision such a perilous road ahead and the long-drawn-out hospital stay. Before the birth, Cheryl imagined a dream-like picture of herself as a devoted mother hardly putting down her baby except to sleep. She learned about co-sleeping in her childbirth classes and was preparing all the safety precautions that would go with this type of arrangement.

At the same time, Cheryl’s sister’s baby was wearing a cranial helmet for plagiocephaly and progressing quite well. However, Cheryl knew in her heart that she was not going to plop her infant down at a babysitter to be in the crib for hours on end. No never! Not her pride and joy. There would be no need for cranial helmets in her baby’s future as she would be held as much as possible.

Little did Cheryl know that yes, her baby would be in the crib for hours at a time. Not in her home crib but in the hospital bassinet with not too much room to move about her adorable perfectly shaped head.

When a baby lies in a crib for long periods of time in the hospital, there is no denying that there is a chance it will develop a flat head also called plagiocephaly. No one can be blamed, not the doctors, not the nurses and certainly above all not the devoted parents. A preemie needs to be cared for in a certain special and delicate way. Specifically in these days of crazy viruses, it would not be beneficial for the baby to be held for long periods by different pediatric nurses and aides. The most important progress that the doctors will look for in a preemie is strength of sucking, getting enough nourishment, weight gain and certainty that all the organs will be or are already working properly. Such a symptom as a flat head is not on the top of the list for the devoted medical professionals.

After two months, Jen was ready to come home to her waiting and loving parents. Although Cheryl was not able to breastfeed her baby, she always held her while feeding her and never propping up her bottle. Was Cheryl surprised when at her first visit to the pediatrician she was told that she must go immediately with Jen to get evaluated at a cranial therapy center? Objectively, Cheryl did notice flatness on one side of the head and also at the back of the head. She put this question out of her mind since she was not emotionally ready to deal with another struggle with Jen. Now that the doctor had announced the predicament and made it a fact, Cheryl was quite distraught. Upon her husband’s arrival at home that night she did not even tell Harry about the pediatrician’s diagnosis. At breakfast the next morning, Cheryl showed rather than told Harry the situation of Jen’s flat head. Harry was quite upset as well. “No way am I putting Jen in the jail of a helmet”, Cheryl cried. “This baby has been out of my arms for two months and will not be restrained in a helmet for one moment”.

Mothers, especially first timers are quite sensitive and take very personally anything that is wrong with their baby. If Jen would have been a second or third child perhaps Cheryl could have dealt with the situation more realistically. She was shattered emotionally and just beginning to bond with every inch and centimeter of her precious baby’s body. To feel Jen’s warm head resting on her shoulder, kissing her head, and stroking each and every part of her head gave Jen a lift that nothing else could. In fact, Jen had tried to hold her niece who wears a cranial helmet and it felt so awkward. She could not find a comfortable position to hold her in. How would it be possible to have her own baby wearing such a contraption for twenty- three hours a day?

Plagiocephaly is caused by repeated pressure to one or more spots on the baby’s skull. A baby with plagiocephaly may also have a companion condition which is, torticollis. This is characterized by one side of the neck having a tightness in the muscles. This is identified when you notice that the baby is usually turning her head in one direction or her eyes focusing in that same direction.

Babies born prematurely are more susceptible to plagiocephaly since they will spend extended periods of time in one position in the NICU. This is exactly what happened to Cheryl and Harry’s baby. Predictably Cheryl ignored her pediatrician’s warning and had a wonderful bonding experience with Jen, just as she had dreamed of for so long. Six weeks later it was time for another checkup. This time Harry took off from work to accompany his girls to the doctor. Jen had gained nicely, and the doctor was so pleased with her overall progress. Before exiting the office, the doctor asked, “So how did the appointment at the cranial specialist I recommended go?” Cheryl started crying and unburdening herself to her understanding pediatrician. “I will not let anything artificial come between my baby and me” she explained to the surprised doctor.

The doctor was patient with Cheryl and Harry explaining to them that a cranial helmet is a temporary inconvenience and does not go on indefinitely. He emphasized that it would be worth it and showed the couple pictures of some patients who were not fortunate enough to be fitted with a cranial helmet as infants. These children are at risk of being tormented and bullied in school for their misshapen heads. He articulated that he recently had a ten-year-old boy complain to him that he feels neglected because his parents did not take him to a cranial therapist as an infant. He now must deal with a flat head that cannot be hidden and is always in plain sight.

Devoted parents such as Harry and Cheryl would never forgive themselves when looking back at how shortsighted they were at the time where plagiocephaly could have been routinely cured. Babies get used to helmets usually by a week barring any rash or irritation that needs some simple adjusting. Cheryl finally agreed that day to at least take Jen for a cranial evaluation without committing to any definite helmet therapy.

An appointment was made for the next week and Jen was evaluated and fitted with a cranial therapy helmet. Cheryl is still adjusting emotionally to what she called a setback but is really a rectification of a condition that was no fault of Jen’s parents. This is the case in most helmet situations. There can be babies that are in the crib for great lengths of time and do not require a helmet and other babies’ heads are more prone to flatness. In either situation the prognosis is great for a turnaround from a misshapen head to one that fits into the criteria of normal formation.

Final Words

Some parents require their babies to be there for them in all ways. To such people the cranial helmet imposes a barrier to the cuddling and stroking of their baby at crucial times. Cranial therapy usually begins between three to six months of age. This is the time when the baby starts smiling and recognizing its parents. The mom has recovered from childbirth and is ready to just sit back and enjoy her miracle. Then comes the news that her infant must wear a helmet. Most mothers take this news in stride realizing that in the long haul they have saved their child from ridicule and bullying. A few moms will become quite emotional with any outside structure being put on the baby. Understanding family and doctors can help make this transition go more smoothly. With a supportive husband she will be able to handle this new development like a soldier. Each person is different and the worst thing a well-meaning friend or relative could say is, “What’s the big deal? You should thank your lucky stars for such a minor intrusion.” With moms such as Cheryl who have waited such a long time to hold a baby in their arms any drawback is major and by acknowledging this by the ones closest to her can make the road ahead much brighter.