Rilynn's Story

At 6 weeks old Rilynn had an ultrasound done on her hips to check for hip dysplasia because she was breach, female, and first born.  The only risk factor she didn't have was a family history.  I honestly thought it was just routine and nothing would come of it, but driving home from the appointment I got the call that both of her hips were fully dislocated.  I didn't panic, I thought it wasn't that big of a deal.  I went home and did some research and the panic began.  I was reading horror stories of things that could happen to my baby that could possibly impact her entire life.  On Tuesday she went to the orthopedic surgeon and they put her in the Pavlik harness.  I was devastated.  It didn't turn out to be so bad; by no means was it convenient and what I wanted for her, but not horrible.  After 2 additional ultrasounds and 6 weeks later, the harness came off without success.  We went on to live life with a "normal" baby for 3 months dreading the day of her closed reduction.  It came, we had 2 hours of joy thinking her closed reduction had worked, but later that day her MRI showed that her hips had both come out again.  3 weeks later we had her first open reduction on her right hip.  So many other families have blogs that have helped us either find comfort in knowing we aren't alone and there can be a happy ending or in tips and tricks for the spica cast care.  I hope that our blog helps others out too.  

6 weeks old day 1 of Pavlik harness.

5 months old after closed reduction.

4 hours after being in the cast we found out her closed reduction failed.  Dr. Renwick removing the cast.

Just shy of 6 months old day of right hip open reduction.

Successfully have 1 hip in place.

Car bed after the Hippo car seat loaner from the hospital didn't work.