Is an elongated head shape common with premmies?

Anna Barry · Jan 12th, 2010, 15:21 PM

Hi all,

Neaves cpap hat came off again today was lovely to see her gorgeous face again, i did notice that her head shape is a little elongated, is this because she came out naturally or because she is premature, how long does this take to correct itself?

CazH · Jan 12th, 2010, 15:32 PM

Yeah Freddy seemed to have a wierd head shape, flat on both sides where he was being laid on his sides you could post him through a letter box!. It seemed to go normal after about 6weeks or so dont worry it will ping out!!!

Anna Barry · Jan 12th, 2010, 16:02 PM

Thanks, she is 7 weeks old but still on cpap so i expect the hat isn't helping, your little one looks really sweet.xx

AtomicPink · Jan 12th, 2010, 16:20 PM

ooooh yes it'll sort out, the nurses wll change babies positioning to help this, and it eventually pads out!

CazH · Jan 12th, 2010, 16:49 PM

Ah thanks hun, Little Neave will get there Freddy used to look all tiny and wierd headed was well worried especially when he had that cpap machine on and then the docs shaved his hair off to get a line in his head so he looked even worse!!

Marleysgirl · Jan 12th, 2010, 16:50 PM

Not that I want to rain on anybody's parade, but ...

Andrew still has an elongated head shape after 4 months, he rarely lies with his head straight as the back of his head is too rounded for comfort. The physiotherapists have actually advised us to start "propping" his head on both sides to get him used to holding it straighter, so that it starts flattening out at the back.

The problem has a posh ".....agia" name but I can't remember what it is! It's most common in NICU graduates, I do recall.

CazH · Jan 12th, 2010, 16:55 PM

This is what he was like last year

And now he is like this!! Unbelievable really!!

MandaAnda · Jan 12th, 2010, 16:59 PM

Plagiocephaly?

For the OP, ask the NICU nurses if they have any special pillows to help with this, as it's better to start out with developmental positioning early on.

The best thing I've ever used is what we called a "peanut" at my old unit. It's two balls of pillow, joined by a flat piece of fabric. We used to have some volunteers make them, and it makes baby lie on the back of his head, as he can't turn it from side to side.

They work like this:

These would also be helpful, but I still prefer a "peanut":

Even if baby is still on his tummy to help with breathing, reflux or whatever, he should still have some time on his back and can use this then.

Marleysgirl · Jan 12th, 2010, 17:03 PM

I was close with "agia" ... it had a "g" in it! Yup, that's the thing.

I bought a head-hugger today that I'll use with Andrew in his basket (daytime when he's awake) and in his bouncy chair (ditto) to try and encourage him to hold his head straighter.

MandaAnda · Jan 12th, 2010, 17:08 PM

You got the whole "agi", so I knew what ya meant!

Oooh, I just found this on ebay.

It's frustrating because I can't find any "peanut" pillows for sale though. But like I said, it was volunteers (the old ladies who knit the cardigans, etc.) that did them. But they should be easy to make: one ball of pillow filler about the size of your fist, covered in fabric, connected to another by a flat band of material wide enough to fit baby's head in (?4-6in.).

Jan 12th, 2010, 15:21 PM	#1
Anna Barry Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Weston Super Mare Posts: 66	Is an elongated head shape common with premmies? Hi all, Neaves cpap hat came off again today was lovely to see her gorgeous face again, i did notice that her head shape is a little elongated, is this because she came out naturally or because she is premature, how long does this take to correct itself?

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Jan 12th, 2010, 15:32 PM	#2
CazH Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fareham, Hampshire Posts: 119	Yeah Freddy seemed to have a wierd head shape, flat on both sides where he was being laid on his sides you could post him through a letter box!. It seemed to go normal after about 6weeks or so dont worry it will ping out!!!

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Jan 12th, 2010, 16:02 PM	#3
Anna Barry Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Weston Super Mare Posts: 66	Thanks, she is 7 weeks old but still on cpap so i expect the hat isn't helping, your little one looks really sweet.xx

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Jan 12th, 2010, 16:20 PM	#4
AtomicPink Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Scotland Posts: 19,122	ooooh yes it'll sort out, the nurses wll change babies positioning to help this, and it eventually pads out!

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Jan 12th, 2010, 16:49 PM	#5
CazH Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fareham, Hampshire Posts: 119	Ah thanks hun, Little Neave will get there Freddy used to look all tiny and wierd headed was well worried especially when he had that cpap machine on and then the docs shaved his hair off to get a line in his head so he looked even worse!!

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Jan 12th, 2010, 16:50 PM	#6
Marleysgirl Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Manchester Posts: 2,468	Not that I want to rain on anybody's parade, but ... Andrew still has an elongated head shape after 4 months, he rarely lies with his head straight as the back of his head is too rounded for comfort. The physiotherapists have actually advised us to start "propping" his head on both sides to get him used to holding it straighter, so that it starts flattening out at the back. The problem has a posh ".....agia" name but I can't remember what it is! It's most common in NICU graduates, I do recall.

Status: Offline

Jan 12th, 2010, 16:55 PM	#7
CazH Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fareham, Hampshire Posts: 119	This is what he was like last year And now he is like this!! Unbelievable really!!

Status: Offline

Jan 12th, 2010, 16:59 PM	#8
MandaAnda Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Coastal Kent Posts: 1,656	Plagiocephaly? For the OP, ask the NICU nurses if they have any special pillows to help with this, as it's better to start out with developmental positioning early on. The best thing I've ever used is what we called a "peanut" at my old unit. It's two balls of pillow, joined by a flat piece of fabric. We used to have some volunteers make them, and it makes baby lie on the back of his head, as he can't turn it from side to side. They work like this: These would also be helpful, but I still prefer a "peanut": Even if baby is still on his tummy to help with breathing, reflux or whatever, he should still have some time on his back and can use this then.

Status: Offline

Jan 12th, 2010, 17:03 PM	#9
Marleysgirl Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Manchester Posts: 2,468	I was close with "agia" ... it had a "g" in it! Yup, that's the thing. I bought a head-hugger today that I'll use with Andrew in his basket (daytime when he's awake) and in his bouncy chair (ditto) to try and encourage him to hold his head straighter.

Status: Offline

Jan 12th, 2010, 17:08 PM	#10
MandaAnda Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Coastal Kent Posts: 1,656	You got the whole "agi", so I knew what ya meant! Oooh, I just found this on ebay. It's frustrating because I can't find any "peanut" pillows for sale though. But like I said, it was volunteers (the old ladies who knit the cardigans, etc.) that did them. But they should be easy to make: one ball of pillow filler about the size of your fist, covered in fabric, connected to another by a flat band of material wide enough to fit baby's head in (?4-6in.).

Status: Offline

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