We’ve hit the first anniversary. It’s now 370 days since I became all consumed with DDH (Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip/ Hip Dysplasia) and life with a baby in a pavlik harness.
A year from navigating how to dress a baby in a with hip dysplasia (You can read how I achieved it here- How to dress a baby in a pavlik harness) and searching for a safe way to around. (You can read about our car seat solution here- Maxi Cosi Happy Hips car seat service)
And a year on since I opened this app and typed out my deepest feelings. I can remember that day like it was yesterday. You can read my early hip dysplasia fears here- From double nappies to the pavlik harness.
Double Nappies to Pavlik Harness
Let’s head back a year and have a recap.
Our 6 weeks of double nappies had made zero improvement, and before I could catch my breath, my pride and joy was fitted with a contraption I was desperate to rip off.
But instead, I astonished a group of nurses by opening a Marks and Spencer’s bag and pulling out a vest and trousers designed especially to fit around a pavlik harness. And I’ve never been more happy than I like to come prepared.
You can still purchase the range of hip dysplasia clothes here- Marks and Spencer Hip Dysplasia Range.
I’ll never forget carrying out our ‘sturdy’ 3 month old babe to the car, in floods of tears, avoiding people’s eyeline, convinced they were staring, wondering what on Earth we’d done to him.
If you’re reading this now, there’s a pretty good chance you’re going through something similar.
And this is the bit you need to read…
Hip Dysplasia one year on
If you’ve followed the series of posts I scribbled down in-between night feeds and during naps, you’ll know they we were one of the extremely lucky ones.
The pavlik harness treatment worked, and at our one year review it showed no regression. In fact we don’t even have to attend an appointment for another 12 months- something you can’t imagine when you are in the midst of the weekly appointments.
Yes, he was slower than others at reaching some milestones. But he reached them.
Rolling, sitting, crawling, pulling himself up, and finally.
The big one.
Walking.
Those first steps
We were granted the best Christmas present when he stood unaided for the first time and took those first tentative steps between us. No limp, perfectly flat feet and nothing that raised concerns that his hip wasn’t sitting as it should be. I’ve never breathed a deeper sigh of relief.
He now has no symptoms or obvious signs that he is a hip dysplasia baby. Yes I won’t let him wear super tight trousers, the jumperoo is completely out of bounds and I still insist on a hip healthy carrier– but these aren’t factors that make him stand out like the pavlik.
In fact, the only thing the pavlik left behind is scaring on his legs from those first few days of rubbing. But you know what?
I love those scars. They remind me of how strong we were, what we overcame and how lucky we are to be where we are today. And I know I can show him when he’s older and explain how the journey he went on at such a young age.
As always, if you need to talk- I’m here. Find me on Instagram and drop me a DM- I’m Flicks and Red Lips- Instagram.
I’m always happy to talk hips.
All my love, as always.
Sian x
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