Hi



I am Mum to child currently undergoing treatment for DDH. When she was
first diagnosed I was distraught & felt that there was little emotional
support or factual information offered or available. As such I thought
I'd post this message in the hope that it might be of use/interest to
other parents/carers who find themselves in the same position



In March this year my younger daughter, Catriona, was diagnosed with DDH
of the right hip. During her eight month check up the Doctor was a
little concerned & referred us to the Sick Kids Hospital in Edinburgh
(we live in Edinburgh). The ultrasound & X-ray showed that she had DDH
of the right hip. This came as a bit if a shock to us as I had mentioned
at all her previous check ups that my niece (who is now two, walking &
running about normally) had CDH which was picked up at birth, Catriona's
hips had been checked at all of her earlier check ups but had seemed to
be ok.



In April she spent two weeks in traction. The first week she spent in
the Sick Kids, the second week we managed to get her set up in traction
at home. Home traction, although not ideal, was much easier on the rest
of the family than the hospital traction. Catriona settled down in the
traction very quickly much to our surprise & relief. The hardest part
was keeping her entertained when she got frustrated, she continued to
eat & sleep as normal despite everything.



As soon as the traction was finished we went back into the Sick Kids &
she had an open reduction + hip spica plaster put on. Initially I
thought that our lives were going to be turned upside down because of it
as I couldn't see how we were going to get her transported around & the
hospital are not allowed to advise on the issue of car seats. However we
quickly worked out that we could get her into her buggy (Maclaren Quest)
propping her up using some small bean bags that a relative made for us.
More importantly however we managed to get her into her car seat (Britax
Club Class Extra) using the extra long crotch strap that can be ordered
from Britax & using more small bean bags to prop her up. The hospital OT
department have provided a chair & table that she can sit at to eat &
play, they have also provided a large bean bag. The chair & table are
great, she is not so keen on the bean bag.



Catriona's nursery have been great. She went back to nursery the week
after having her open reduction/hip spica on & she has being going her
usual three days a week since. This has meant that I have been able to
keep on working which at one point I thought was going to be impossible
whilst she had the cast on.



We have bought her a Little Tikes rocking horse which she loves sitting
on & have fashioned a ball pit from an inflatable pool & balls which she
also loves.



Nappy changing hasn't been nearly as traumatic as we thought it was
going to be either. We have carried on having a normal bathtime where
our older daughter (who is four) is in the bath whilst Catriona is
sponged down dangling over the bath. She loves splashing a little with
her hands & throwing her bath toys about.



Throughout it all Catriona has been great; she doesn't seem bothered
(too much by the cast). Her eating & sleeping routine hasn't been
affected by it all.



She has now had her second cast on for three weeks, she has it changed
on the 13 June so only another 5 weeks of plaster to go!



Despite our initial panic we have managed to keep things as near to
normal as possible. Getting out & about seemed impossible then daunting
but we quickly worked it out (you get used to the stares from other
people!). I hope that this message is of some use to someone.........



Alison







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