Members

As a member you'll be able to receive and send messages, keep your own photobook, agenda, ask questions, participate in the chat, and make new friends. All is free and you don't need email.
Sign up (free & anonymous)

Name: Password:

---

Activity
• Now online | Member search | New members | Comment Spy
• New blogs & Questions | Recently updated profiles
• New photos: Pregnancy | Babies | Bellies | Ultrasound | Member pages
• Latest comments: Forums | Week by week | Baby development

Write a new blog

---

29-1-2010 - Consult with Pediatric Ortopedic Sugeons

My mood while writing this blog: Relieved

---

So I went to see my OB yesterday. The FST test showed no signs of BH which as I explained to them I usually only get at night. They checked my cervix which was also closed :) I thought I wanted to be dialated to some degree already but I am only 35 weeks and my son needs some more time to get strong. I gotta stop being selfish and wishing for him to be born early, well not this early anyway. She confirmed that they will indeed go ahead and induce 1 week prior to my due date. So, all in all the visit went perfectly fine. I see her once a week which has been challenging due to having to be on FST each time but It's important that they consistently check for the protein which has been elevated in the urine the entire pregancy and watch for high blood pressure which will turn the protein issue into pre-eclampsia at the drop of a dime. I think everything is gonna be alright! :) On another note, I am having to set up the peadiatric Orthopedic doctor prior to Jack's arrival. I have had the hardest time finding a good team for his Club Foot procedure. I finally got ahold of a Dr. at The Children's Hospital here in Chicago ( One of the best children's hospitals in the nation) and they are scheduling my consult. He had me go the website to read more about my son's condition and was so helpful in making me understand the condition, traetment and success rates. I have attached the summary below:

Fetal clubfoot

Clubfoot occurs in males twice as often as females. (© 2007 Children's Memorial Hospital)

Fetal clubfoot, also known as talipes equinovarus, is a congenital foot deformity in which the foot is curved toward the middle of the body and the toes point downward. It affects the bones, muscles, tendons and blood vessels (of the limb) and can affect one or both feet. The foot is usually short and broad in appearance, and the heel points downward while the front half of the foot, or forefoot, turns inward. The heel can appear narrow and the muscles in the calf are smaller compared to a normal lower leg. Despite its appearance and its name, the affected foot and leg contain all the same bones, muscles, tendons, and anatomic parts as the unaffected limb — only they are misshapen until corrected.

Clubfoot occurs in approximately one in every 1,000 live births and occurs in males twice as often as females. One in every two cases affects both feet.

Diagnosis

Fetal clubfoot can be diagnosed by ultrasound (sonogram) examination prior to birth. Approximately 10 percent of all clubfeet can be diagnosed by 13 weeks gestation, and about 80 percent can be diagnosed by 24 weeks gestation. However, diagnosis based on ultrasound alone produces a 20 percent false positive rate. This is because the normally shaped foot sometimes turns inwards momentarily as the baby wiggles his toes and feet, and if an ultrasound picture is made at that instant the foot appears deformed.

Treatment

After a fetus is diagnosed with clubfoot, the surgeons and nurses at Children's Memorial counsel parents about what to expect when their baby is born and reassure them that the condition is correctable after birth. Parents also meet with the physical therapist before their baby is born to discuss how the stretching and casting is done.

Parents are asked to bring their infants for evaluation as early as one week of age. Treatment using the Ponseti method begins immediately; this includes a series of weekly stretching and casting by the physical therapist to gradually correct the forefoot and midfoot. After 6 to 8 weeks of treatment, some infants require a small surgery called a tenotomy to release the tendon in the foot, which is done on an outpatient basis. After surgery, the baby may require a few more weeks of casting until the deformity is completely corrected. To prevent recurrence, the infant wears a night splint for about six months after the last cast is removed and up to more than a year. Once the baby starts walking, his weight completes and maintains the correct position of the foot.

This method of treatment generally results in a 90 to 95 percent success rate. Some babies, however, do not respond to casting or have more severe defects that may require further surgery.

Long-term outlook

The long-term outlook for children born with clubfoot is excellent. After treatment, almost all children are able to wear normal shoes and their feet function normally. Most children go on to lead active lives with no residual weakness. In fact, there are numerous children who were born with clubfoot who have gone on to pursue professional athletic careers.

---

18 Comments on Consult with Pediatric Ortopedic Sugeons


angelblessings - Tuesday, 2 Feb
didnt really know much about club foot until i read your blog. im glad that there is a great success rate! and with that im sure that baby jack will be in good hands! :) wish you and your family the best of luck! :):)

zani0321 - Monday, 1 Feb
Hi there, just want to let you know that i was born with club feet in both feet. And my mom and dad only found out just before i turned 2. Well when i actually started to walk. And that time there wasnt really any treatment that they could do for me. Im ok and i have a lovely son that doesnt have my problem. Everyone in my family prayed for him. Good luck ill be thinking of you

lil.pigz - Sunday, 31 Jan
I have the utmost confidence in Chicago hospitals. You'll both be in good hands. (We unfortunately moved to the south and the medical care here is next to nothing!) The outlook sounds great and in the end I am sure it will all turn out fine:-) My prayers to all of you.

mom of 4 - Saturday, 30 Jan
hey girl im so happy everything is going good for u . I didnt know you son was being born with club foot . My youngest was too it looks alot worse than it is they really hate those stretches though lol. my sons feet look great now and hes 2 years old now unless u look close u wouldnt even know it was there. he was born with his right foot really clubbed and the left just barely he wore cast for awhile then into braces and a very minor surgery. Good luck and god bless u family . Feel free to ask me anything anytime im always here.

thetoymomma - Saturday, 30 Jan
The long-term outlook looks great. :)

ichinisan - Friday, 29 Jan
It's amazing how far medicine has come! I don't know if they have a Shriner's hospital in Chicago area, but if they do, you should look into. They specialize in those things and they can supplement the cost of all the bills. My brother had to get care thru them and they have been great to us over the years. I know they are nationwide but not necessarily in every state.

mariav - Friday, 29 Jan
You are almost there! You can do it!

MamaLuvnJah - Friday, 29 Jan
Your doing good. I don't blame you for wanting him here. My body can't take much more of this too, but I lay in bed trying to keep him in. I'm glad you found a good hospital. Best wishes!

♥MATTEO♥ - Friday, 29 Jan
Thats a awesome outcome to the club foot.. I am sure it will all work out fine!..

mom2ucc - Friday, 29 Jan
Looks like it might be a lot of appts in the begining but it is very well worth it! I am glad that it has such a high success rate with little intervention. Casting and braces are not so bad when you think about it. And with him being so little he wont ever remember a thing and in time your memory of it all will fade too!! Such great news!

sandistar03 - Friday, 29 Jan
that is good news it means baby should be fine in the end i am glad to hear this and i wish u hubby and baby the very best of luck

tiffanygannutz - Friday, 29 Jan
It sounds like everything will be ok this is just going to be a bump in the road when you look back at it years to come.

bella124 - Friday, 29 Jan
Have they set a date to induce? Do you get to pick his birthday? I'm glad everything is good!

rhodeislander - Friday, 29 Jan
I am happy to hear that all went well with your appointment. Your getting really close. If they induce you one week before your due date you only have a few weeks to go. Good Luck with baby's foot. It will be fine, it seem like a common situation and the outcome will be good.

hopefully3 - Friday, 29 Jan
Thats great news hun!!! This must be so comforting to you! I know baby jack will be one of the many children to recover fully. :)

mals313 - Friday, 29 Jan
What excellent news. Being from Chicago before moving to Texas, I know how great of a hospital Childrens Memorial is up there. Just a few more weeks now hun! xoxox

laluyaya02 - Friday, 29 Jan
I'm glad to here it is such an easy thing to correct. That must be very comforting news to you and your hubby. I will still pray for baby Jack and a healthy recovery.

Avas*Momma*09 - Friday, 29 Jan
So are you feeling better about his foot now? It can be corrected and he can live a normal happy life. Everything will work out.