The Magical Helmet That Reshaped My Newborn's Head

Motherhood from the Other Side

I am a certified Midwife, a prenatal courses instructor, and a lactation consultant. I've spent years caring for women at various stages of their lives, witnessed hundreds of newborns, and assisted their mothers in caring for them. So, I thought I would be entering motherhood from the professional league, no surprises, as I was fully prepared.

But motherhood, this deep sea with secrets we can't fully comprehend, brought me the most beautiful gift any woman could receive: my firstborn 😊 The birth wasn't easy; here I am, the one who helped other women through labor, facing a difficult delivery. Still, by the grace of God, my beautiful baby boy was born healthy and well. However, I sensed something was amiss when I looked at his head.

Pediatricians in the hospital and my colleagues assured me that he had no health issues. But what about the shape of his head? It was flat at the back with a bulge on one side. I asked, "No need to worry. There could be some pressure during passage through the birth canal, but it will improve in a few days," the consistent response.

I returned home without the reassurance they asked of me. I was confident my instinct was on point, and his head shape was abnormal. I persisted in seeking opinions from several doctors until I received the conclusive diagnosis: a collection of blood known as cephalohematoma, causing a calcified cephalohematoma, altering the shape of my newborn's head over time.

The Magical Helmet for Correcting the Newborn's Head Shape

To correct the bulge in my son's head, we used a therapeutic helmet called Cranial Orthosis. It's a somewhat costly treatment but successful in adjusting the shape of newborns' heads, especially those with flat head syndrome. The treatment lasts about three to four months, and by the end, the newborn's head shape is wholly adjusted, requiring no further intervention.

The mother's instinct

A mother's heart is the most accurate guide. Always listen to a mother's intuition, whether she has medical knowledge or not. She knows her child's health best. Dear mothers, trust your instincts and advocate for your child's health. Get the proper diagnosis and treatment for your child. Your child's health and well-being are responsibilities you can care for and nurture.