Defect at anatomy scan today

[CajunShrimp]

It took me 5 minute just to figure out how to title this post.

At out anatomy scan today, the doctor was pretty sure that DS2 will have an unilateral club foot. H actually notived it looked a little odd during the scan before they even said anything. We have no family history of club foot, and the eaely blood screen we had ruled out the major genetic anomalies (Trisomy, cerebral palsy, spina bifida). It just looks like pure shit luck.

I know there are so many things that are much, much worse, but I am devastated. The genetic counselor assured us there was that could have caused this, but I am still feel like it was my fault, and something I did wrong.

Does anyone have experience with this? We will meet with a pediatric ortho at 28 weeks of pregnancy so they they can coordinate care for after D is born. They usually have a cast from hip to toe for 6 months, followed by bracing.

I just feel sick.

[toepick]

I'm sorry you got bad news today, but please don't blame yourself. It's not productive and doesn't change anything.

[speckledfrog]

This is likely NBD, which I'm sure is what the doctor told you. MH was born with a club foot 34 years ago and is a healthy, athletically active adult today. He had surgery as an infant and had to wear corrective footwear for a period of time (I'm not sure how long, before he was walking). He played sports growing up and continues to do so now. He has a special orthopedic insole for his shoe for when he plays and that's it. I know there are moms on GBCN (I can't think of who, specifically) who have had children born with a club foot and hopefully they can help ease your fears a bit more.

[zoomzoom]

I'm so sorry. But knowing ahead of time and forming a plan is a good thing.

[madringal]

I am sorry you got bad news. A friend of mine was born with clubbed feet. He grew up to be a star basketball player in HS, is married and has three beautiful kids. You would never know about the condition he was born with. ((hugs)) your baby is still perfect, and it sounds like you have a great team ready to help once he is here.

[Deleted]

Nothing but hugs, honey.

Please know you did absolutely NOTHING to cause this.

[swimmette]

I am sorry   My H has worked with several, and he/she may not need casting depending on the severity, it may just be bracing.  Hugs, although it really, really sucks to hear it and go through it, most children are not affected at all by it later in life if it is treated properly early. 

[Deleted]

I'm sorry you had this news today. I don't have a ton of information/experience. But DH was born with malformed feet for no apparent reason. Once he started to walk, they put him in braces at that point for about a year; he had to relearn how to walk. But you would have absolutely no idea and he's done any number of sports and activities. Hopefully, especially with today's technology they can come up with a great action plan. And FWIW I have congenital nerve damage hearing loss for no apparent reason, nowhere else in yhe family. It happens, and you will be amazing parents no matter what taking care of a great little boy when he arrives.

[nonsensetomfoolery]

I'm sorry, I know it is hard. But, it is correctable and there is no reason to think it will effect his long term mobility!

Troy Aikman, Mia Hamm and Kristi Yamaguchi were all born with club feet! Dudley Moore, too.

(I had to to a short paper on club feet in grad school)

[nomad100]

Sept 18, 2014 15:51:48 GMT -5 speckledfrog said:

This is likely NBD, which I'm sure is what the doctor told you. MH was born with a club foot 34 years ago and is a healthy, athletically active adult today. He had surgery as an infant and had to wear corrective footwear for a period of time (I'm not sure how long, before he was walking). He played sports growing up and continues to do so now. He has a special orthopedic insole for his shoe for when he plays and that's it. I know there are moms on GBCN (I can't think of who, specifically) who have had children born with a club foot and hopefully they can help ease your fears a bit more.

This is exactly my brother's situation minus the ortho insert today.  

Cast then a brace he had to wear 23 hours a day for the first months of his life, surgery around 4 or 5 to lengthen his Achilles tendon, now he's totally fine and you would never know that he had an issue.  

[CajunShrimp]

You guys are amazing. Thank you.

[DotAndBuzz]

Many hugs.

You did nothing wrong. NOTHING. Your little one is, and will still be, happy and wonderful and perfect. A friend of mine went through this with her son, and he is completely fine now. Running all over the place, causing all sorts of trouble.

Take a bit to process this, and even mourn the loss the reality of what you thought was going to happen. It's normal, and completely ok to do that. When you come out the other side, and finally get to meet your baby, he's going to look at you and melt your heart like you wouldn't believe. And you'll know you can do this. Even if/when you still have moments of anger and frustration for him, you can do this, and you're going to be a great mom.

(((((hugs)))))

[aprilsails]

I don't have any experience with this but I just wanted to say I'm sorry and it's good that they are catching this very early so that measures can be taken to help your baby.

Modern medicine is truly marvelous.

[Deleted]

So sorry. It must be scary thinking about what you're in for as far as corrections, casts. What a tough day.

[nicanmatt]

I'm so sorry to hear that everything was not perfect today. I am so glad to hear stories from others familiar with this issue that it can be corrected and your child will be able to grow and thrive and be wonderfully successful.

Be kind to yourself right now-there is nothing you could have done-but you are doing everything you can do right now. By learning early what your child needs, you can be prepared and celebrate the birth and know exactly how you are going to help your child best.

Did you find out if it was a boy or a girl??!! DUH! A boy! Congratulations!!!

(((hugs)))

[Monica Geller]

I'm so sorry you got bad news today. Many others have posted some really encouraging thoughts. It's okay to be sad and scared, but from what others have said, it sounds like your son has a good prognosis. Be kind to yourself, but you did nothing wrong. ((HUGS))

[TemperanceBrennan]

My niece has a club foot (at least that is my understanding from what doctors have said) and she is missing her pinky toe on that foot. She is fine. She is very active. She loves jumping and running and nothing really slows her down. She has had surgery to help the muscles get stronger in her foot and I know she will have at least one more surgery because her leg is a little shorter. She has shoes that they added an insert in because her leg is shorter and she needs to wear those to school and if she's walking a lot. But they are just regular tennis shoes that they added an insert in the sole of.

She is 6 and day to day nothing is different for her than any other kid.

If you have any questions, I can always ask my sister. I'm sure she would be happy to answer them if she can.

[Deleted]

No direct experience with club foot but I remember when we found out that DD had a heart defect at her anatomy scan and how it rocked my world.

Everything you're feeling is normal, whether that's sad, protective, scared, anxious, guilty or something else. I spent A LOT of time worrying about whether I was strong enough to parent a child with special needs. Be kind to yourself.

But the good news is that this sounds like an isolated defect, which is what DD had. And you will get him the best care he can get and love him unconditionally and emerge from this stronger. Sending good thoughts and wishes to you and your LO.

[Deleted]

I have a good friend whose daughter was born with two club feet. Her first year was kind of different, because the surgery got delayed because she was adopted, so she had the surgery later than they would typically do it, from what I understand. But she's 7 today, and you would honestly never even know. She got her braces off somewhere between her first and second birthdays, I honestly cannot remember, but she hasn't looked back since.

I'm sorry you got scary news, it would be very upsetting.

[Deleted]

I think catbus 's son had this. Forgive me if I'm wrong, and/or you want me to delete.

[mellymel]

I'm sorry. I can imagine how difficult that was to hear at the A/S, but your baby is still perfect and it's good to know, plan, and prepare ahead of time. There are so many medical advancements now and it sounds like you have a good medical care team. Hugs!

[Muddled]

It is scary to know that something is wrong, but thank goodness this is manageable. Don't blame yourself. It's not your fault.

[elleblue]

I'm sorry CajunShrimp. 

[stellas]

I'm sorry. It's gut wrenching I'm sure to find out that your baby boy will be starting out with a significant challenge. (Hugs)

[snipsnsnails]

My best friend and best man at my wedding was born with a club foot. He had 2 surgeries and some corrective bracing. He's never had any hindrances as a result if it. He's a ridiculously successful lawyer in Paris, is active and has always had great success in his personal life!

[kaybee85]

You did nothing wrong! Sounds like people have some great news about treatment, which I hope is easing your mind. ((hugs))

[kitty63]

Club foot mom checking in. I found out at our scan that my son had bilateral club foot. He is two now and runs around like a madman. You would never know, and his case was really severe. I'm sure you have a lot going through your mind but try to take a deep breath and relax. I would recommend searching Facebook for support groups. There are a few and it's sooo helpful to connect with others who are going through the same thing. Hugs and please let me know if you have any questions!

[CajunShrimp]

I just talked to my mom and she suggested that it may be from the antibiotics I had to take after I was bitten by the cat back in July. I hung up on her. The doctors said the antibiotics were safe for the baby, but that could have been the cause. Turns out it may be my fault after all.

[mcsangel2]

Sept 18, 2014 15:56:35 GMT -5 nonsensetomfoolery said:

I'm sorry, I know it is hard. But, it is correctable and there is no reason to think it will effect his long term mobility!

Troy Aikman, Mia Hamm and Kristi Yamaguchi were all born with club feet! Dudley Moore, too.

(I had to to a short paper on club feet in grad school)

I was just about to share this!

[catbus]

Sept 18, 2014 16:15:18 GMT -5 @roseyposey said:

I think catbus 's son had this. Forgive me if I'm wrong, and/or you want me to delete.

Yes! And he's totally fine!

@cajunshrimp, I know how you feel. It's so hard to find out there's something "wrong" with your baby. Club foot, especially unilateral, is almost always idiopathic if there isn't a family history. The only causative link that's been tentatively established is to maternal smoking, which I definitely did not do. 

The severity and rigidity of the foot will determine the treatment course. In our case, DS's case was fairly mild and very flexible, so he needed a series of four casts (the minimum), then twelve weeks of 23 hour/day brace wear. He did not need the tenotomy that the vast majority need (we were very lucky, but from what I know even the tenotomy is a simple outpatient procedure). 

This is him at just a few days old; his left foot was the affected
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The day he got his first cast, at one week old: 

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And the day he was fitted for his brace, at five weeks: 

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There were definitely challenges. I had imagined him snuggling up against me in a wrap carrier, which didn't work so well with the casts and brace. But the kid developed quite the set of leg and ab muscles from his reverse crunches with his bar.

He is now turning two in a couple weeks and still wears his brace overnight, every night. He will until he's three. But he doesn't mind his "night shoes," at least not yet. 

He has hit all his gross motor milestones just fine. But yes, it's scary to know you'll have another challenge when dealing with a baby. I'm definitely not brushing that off. My thoughts are with you!

Oh, and @missy1 also has dealt with this.