Is an elongated head shape common with premmies?

[Anna Barry]

Hi all,

Neaves cpap hat came off again today was lovely to see her gorgeous face again, i did notice that her head shape is a little elongated, is this because she came out naturally or because she is premature, how long does this take to correct itself?

 

[CazH]

Yeah Freddy seemed to have a wierd head shape, flat on both sides where he was being laid on his sides you could post him through a letter box!. It seemed to go normal after about 6weeks or so dont worry it will ping out!!!

 

[Anna Barry]

Thanks, she is 7 weeks old but still on cpap so i expect the hat isn't helping, your little one looks really sweet.xx

 

[AP]

ooooh yes it'll sort out, the nurses wll change babies positioning to help this, and it eventually pads out!

 

[CazH]

Ah thanks hun, Little Neave will get there Freddy used to look all tiny and wierd headed was well worried especially when he had that cpap machine on and then the docs shaved his hair off to get a line in his head so he looked even worse!!

 

[Marleysgirl]

Not that I want to rain on anybody's parade, but ...

Andrew still has an elongated head shape after 4 months, he rarely lies with his head straight as the back of his head is too rounded for comfort. The physiotherapists have actually advised us to start "propping" his head on both sides to get him used to holding it straighter, so that it starts flattening out at the back.

The problem has a posh ".....agia" name but I can't remember what it is! It's most common in NICU graduates, I do recall.

 

[CazH]

https://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p253/CarolineHearn/freddy/Image031-1.jpg
This is what he was like last year
https://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p253/CarolineHearn/freddy/Image004-1.jpg
And now he is like this!! Unbelievable really!!
https://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p253/CarolineHearn/freddy/18742_269419083311_620008311_449355.jpg

 

[MandaAnda]

Plagiocephaly?

For the OP, ask the NICU nurses if they have any special pillows to help with this, as it's better to start out with developmental positioning early on.

The best thing I've ever used is what we called a "peanut" at my old unit. It's two balls of pillow, joined by a flat piece of fabric. We used to have some volunteers make them, and it makes baby lie on the back of his head, as he can't turn it from side to side.

They work like this: https://www.ozlemons.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/julia-peanut-thumb.jpg
These would also be helpful, but I still prefer a "peanut": https://www.urbanbaby.com.au/WebRoot/ecomm5000/Shops/UrbanBaby/45FD/F245/5234/CBD3/76F9/C0A8/D207/41C0/LovenestDetail.jpg

Even if baby is still on his tummy to help with breathing, reflux or whatever, he should still have some time on his back and can use this then.

 

[Marleysgirl]

I was close with "agia" ... it had a "g" in it! Yup, that's the thing.

I bought a head-hugger today that I'll use with Andrew in his basket (daytime when he's awake) and in his bouncy chair (ditto) to try and encourage him to hold his head straighter.

 

[MandaAnda]

You got the whole "agi", so I knew what ya meant!

Oooh, I just found this on ebay. https://www.facepillow.com/ebay_pictures/butterflybabylisting.jpg

It's frustrating because I can't find any "peanut" pillows for sale though. But like I said, it was volunteers (the old ladies who knit the cardigans, etc.) that did them. But they should be easy to make: one ball of pillow filler about the size of your fist, covered in fabric, connected to another by a flat band of material wide enough to fit baby's head in (?4-6in.).

 

[AP]

our hospital uses these

https://www.jentle.com/

bloody expensive. we accidently took one home its in the memory box sssshhhhhh!

MandaAnda are those micky mouse ones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Dona]

Hey there, I remember getting worried about Archie's head shape, I used to look at it all the time. It does get better but it takes time. I would say a good 6-7 months of them being home. Its not a short term fix I'm afraid. Once they start putting on weight their face starts to fill out along with the head.

Here's two pictures of Archie - the first when he was still on CPAP and we managed to get a sneaky peek of his face. I was mortified when I seen how long his head was. The second was taken last week.

It will get better...honest xxxxx

 

[Dona]

our hospital uses these

https://www.jentle.com/

bloody expensive. we accidently took one home its in the memory box sssshhhhhh!

MandaAnda are those micky mouse ones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He he - they are in Archie's picture xx

 

[maxsmummy]

im so glad im not the only one that worried about this wen i first saw maxs head i thouhgt the same andit was also long at the back!
https://i883.photobucket.com/albums/ac38/maxsmummy_2009/bbymax019.jpg this was wen he was 11days old
but as he got older and heavier now weighing in at 6lb 7oz at 4months old its either sorting it self out or its in proportion to the rest of him now! but it is still a bit longer i think at the back but i think its getting better!!!
https://i883.photobucket.com/albums/ac38/maxsmummy_2009/bbymax152.jpg this was him yesterday! he has had a bad icu haircut for his op so they could get a long line in which i think makes it look worse but its deffiantly better! than wen he was smaller! i think i may get one of them pillows! does any one know where u can get them??

 

[MandaAnda]

The "Butterfly Baby Head Support" I put in my last post is on e-bay. The link's above the picture.

 

[dippy dee]

Jack is 3 and he still has the preemie head as our consultant calls it, i wish i knew about them pillows back then as they may of helped.
Btw all these pics of lo's are beautiful xx

 

[Foogirl]

Abby was the same. Even now her hear is slightly longer at the back, but it is getting better. I think I remember the consultant saying it was something to do with the way their brains develop.

 

[CazH]

Mxs mummy Freddy had one of those haircuts too when they put an iv in his scalp!!! Took FOREVER to grow back people were looking at me well wierd!!

 

[CazH]

Dona I think Archie is GORGEOUS looks like a little Olly Murs!

 

[Dona]

Dona I think Archie is GORGEOUS looks like a little Olly Murs!

Aww thanks hun. xxx