I developed intense heartburn during my second pregnancy. I tried every pregnancy-safe home remedy I could find and nothing seemed to work. I was hopeful that once my daughter was born, it would improve. When it didn't, I spent a lot of time working with an internal medicine specialist and researching remedies online. I've found many different things that help in different ways. I decided to create this site to document the solutions that I've found and help others to find a way to manage their chronic heartburn as well. If you're struggling with persistent heartburn, I hope this information helps you find relief.
If your child has a birth defect known as craniosynostosis, then their skull has fused too soon and is placing pressure on the brain. To help reduce the risk of long-term damage, your child will likely need to go through surgery. While this may seem scary, the good news is that the surgery is typically quite effective. Before the operation begins, there are a few things that you should be prepared for.
Staying In The Hospital
There are two types of procedures that can be performed when your child has craniosynostosis. One involves a more typical general procedure while the other is an endoscopic operation. Both procedures will often involve at least one to two days in the hospital. This is important in order to monitor your child for swelling and bleeding issues. Additionally, a neurological assessment will usually be completed every few hours.
So, make sure that you and your child are ready for the stay in the hospital. You will want to write down your infant or toddler's usual schedule in relation to when they eat and sleep. Maintaining a normal routine is ideal to ensure that your child feels secure when in the hospital. You also want to bring comfort items for them, and you should ask about sleeping in the hospital room. Many pediatric hospitals have fold-out beds and cots for parents to stay with their children. This means you should bring your own necessities like toothbrushes and clothing along with your child's things.
Wearing A Helmet
Depending on the surgery that is completed, your child may or may not need to wear a soft helmet after the procedure. If they do, then the helmet will often be placed on your child's head the day after the surgery is over. So, you should expect this while you are in the hospital.
The soft helmet is a shaping device that helps to form the skull into a healthy shape as your child grows. The helmet is a custom-made one for the size of your infant or toddler and an orthopedist will take a mold of the head so that the device can be made in advance. This usually happens about one week prior to the surgery.
Keep in mind that your child may be a bit fussy when the helmet is first put on. Your physician and the other hospital staff will teach you how to distract your infant and make them comfortable until they get used to it.
If you want to know more about craniosynostosis and surgical procedures, speak with your child's neurologist.
Share20 May 2019
