clubfoot diagnosis

The clubfoot diagnosis can strike fear in a

parent's heart - but

don't let that fear

freeze you

in your

tracks.

Because out-dated and ineffective methods of

clubfoot treatment

still abound in

mainstream

medicine today, is up to the parent of

the

clubfooted child to research

their options and

make those

vital, ultimate decisions regarding

their child's

treatment.

This web site, and this page, will help you

weed

through the fact

and fiction.

So you just heard the news... either an ultrasound discovered

your new baby's birth defect, or you

found out first hand when

you saw those little curled up feet at birth...it doesn't matter, it'll

all be OK.

I almost think learning ahead of time through an ultrasound is

worse - it gives the parent time to

stress and worry. It also

gives doctors time to terrorize you with "What If"

scenarios

suggesting

heavily that your clubfooted baby will suffer many

other gruesome deformities of both the mental

and physical

variety. It's likely that genetic counseling will be prescribed

along with the highly risky

procedure called amniocentesis

which puts an infant at risk for spontaneous abortion (death).

the time they're done with you, they'll have a perfectly healthy

woman with a perfectly healthy baby

convinced she is a high

risk pregnancy with all the trappings that come with such a

label

, including

stark raving mad fear.

David Barrere, MD writes:

(Amniocentesis) Any invasive procedure has the

potential for complications. With ultrasound

guidance, the

risk of complications is diminished, but is not completely

eliminated. The most

commonly associated

complications associated with amniocentesis are:

- 1:1000 risk of intra-amniotic infection (chorioamnionitis)

- 1:100 risk of fluid leak typically self-limiting

- 1:200 risk of fetal loss (miscarriage)

ompare those figures to the risk of having a baby with

clubfoot.... which is 1:1000. You are

much more likely to

miscarry your clubfooted baby in the process of seeing if

this child has

any further

genetic

defects, and equally as

likely to get some sort of internal infection which

could

carry it's own host of problems.

Don't listen to them - well maybe a little, but don't panic and

don't let yourself be bullied with fear

tactics in to any

procedure you are not completely comfortable doing.

is actually very rare for a

baby with clubfoot to have any other

ailment - and clubfoot does not make your pregnancy "High

Risk". Consider this as a training ground for when your baby

is born.

Because

f the clubfoot diagnosis

, hospital personnel are

going to try to

coerce

you in to starting treatment immediately

and they are prone to

using both your fear and new-mother

emotions

against you.

Be on guard for

your own guilty feelings that will try to push you

where you don't really want to go. You will have to

stand strong

to defend your right to refuse their treatment as you opt for one

you personally feel is

better (lets hope you opt for the Ponseti

Method!).

I am not a doctor and certainly you should listen to your doctor -

I'm just saying you should

follow

your own common sense

too, and make educated decisions regarding your prenatal

care and any

extra testing procedures your doctor may suggest

due to the clubfoot diagnosis.

I didn't know my

oldest boy would be born with clubfeet, he

surprised me at birth - delivered naturally with a midwife

at a

birthing center. We went home two hours after his

rrival

I knew my 2nd son would have

clubfeet - we looked for it on the

ultrasound simply so we could make plans to travel to Iowa City

see Dr. Ponseti. This child was born on the bench seat of a

'78 Ford pick up truck parked along the

highway in the dead

darkness of a rainy night with just his daddy and me there.

When my third son

came along we also knew via ultrasound he

would have bilateral clubfeet, again we wanted to know

so we

could prepare for that trip to Iowa for treatment. With this

baby, I opted to deliver him in the

comfort of my own home with

a midwife attending. There was no high risk associated purely

with

the clubfoot condition, and it's a rare thing that any other

ife threatening condition

would be

ssociated

with this birth

defect.

If you are a healthy woman, chances are real good you'll have a

simple, healthy pregnancy and

delivery. My advice is just

enjoy your pregnancy

, it's an amazing event and the only

time

in life that

you

personally get to help God create a miracle.

The clubfoot diagnosis not your fault; it wasn't that aspirin you

took or that diet cola you drank or

the fact you painted your

kitchen a week before you discovered you were pregnant...

lubfoot is

considered "

Congeni

" because it's present at

birth, and "I

diopathic

" because the real cause is still

unknown. Specialists tend to believe it is a genetic fluke most

of the time. Thing is, don't beat

yourself up.

You didn't cause

On the other hand, learning about the clubfoot diagnosis during

an early ultrasound

gives a wise

parent time

to do their

homework - to research the facts about this birth defect and the

treatment

options that will be available to them.

I just want you to know, whether an ultrasound told you, or the

birth of your child was your moment

of discovery, it really ain't

no thang. Your child's feet can be perfectly corrected before

your child

is even old enough to know what feet are (if you use

the Ponseti Method).

You have time - I think that is the most

important

thing I can tell you.

You do not have to start treatment immediately as in the first

few days of life to achieve total

correction.

Most doctors are

going to tell you that you do,

"Oh he needs to start casting

today!" but

that just proves that doctor doesn't know a whole lot

about clubfoot or the Ponseti Method's ability

to let a mother

and baby wait a little while before

he correction processs

starts.

Take your baby home from the hospital with no

treatment, no casting; recover from your

delivery,

let the baby adjust to life outside the

womb, let him learn to nurse well and put on a

little weight and

meet his family. Bond, love,

photograph and heal as a family from both the

physical and emotional

trauma that typically

comes with giving birth - as well as the

psychological trauma of acknowledging

your

baby has a potentially serious deformity. Take

a little time to grieve if you need to - get

yourself

put together, then start your treatment journey.

Take a couple weeks, snuggle that little fat baby in your arms

and simply love him to bits before the

whole treatment thing

begins. Cherish that little bundle God gave you and all the

delicious softness

that comes with him. Map out your plan of

treatment. Find that qualified Ponseti Method doctor.

Get your

wits about you then lead the charge for non-surgical treatment

that will be completed in a

few short weeks. From then on,

clubfoot will live only in your rear view mirror.

I hope you will continue to read this article for the specific

information that will help you understand

and heal this deformity.

The
Clubfoot Diagnosis:

It Ain't No Thang Once You Learn the Ropes

Return to Clubfoot Diagnosis Top of Page

Read More About the Ponseti Method Here

Return to Six-Feet.com Home Page

Contact Dr. Ponseti personally,
speak to him about your child's
condition.
Ignacio-Ponseti@uiowa.edu

I.V. PONSETI, M.D.
Department of Orthopaedic
Surgery

University of Iowa Hospitals
and Clinics
200 Hawkins Drive,
Iowa City, Iowa 52242

319-356-3469