Did you know that since the start of the Back to Sleep Campaign in 1992, the incidence of Plagiocephaly has increased from 1 in 300 to 1 in 50? Please share Brianna and Kiersten's stories with others and help me on my quest to raise awareness!
Feel free to email me if you'd like to know more and if you're a plagio parent, definitely join the Yahoo! Plagio Group! It's an invaluable resource!

Our first daughter, Brianna, was diagnosed with deformational/positional Plagiocephaly and tightness in her right Sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) at 3 months. She was treated with a DOC band®, at home therapy and physical therapy.  Brianna graduated from her 2nd DOC band® in Feb 2004 at 8 1/2 months.  Her torticollis was resolved at 13 months.  Our second daughter, Kiersten, received the same diagnosis (except left tightness in the SCM versus right) at 4 1/2 months.  She was also treated with a DOC band®, at home therapy and physical therapy.  Kiersten graduated from her DOC Band® April 2006.  She is very close to having her torticollis resolved.

"Plagiocephaly literally means "oblique head". It's called a parallelogram deformity because if you look down on the infant's head (bird's eye view), this is the shape you will see. From this angle it looks as if half of the head has been pushed forward, often accompanied by misalignment of the ears, facial asymmetry and bulging forehead." (www.cranialtech.com/MedicalInfo/plagiocephaly.html) The SCM is a muscle in the neck. Tightness limits range of motion and causes an infant to prefer looking one direction. This condition is also referred to as Torticollis or wryneck.

These conditions are not life threatening.  However, it's still your baby and can be frustrating and stressful.  Either diagnosis can mean many, many appointments and some lengthy travel for treatment.  A strong support group can be essential to keeping your sanity and positive outlook.  There is a wonderful Plagio on-line parent support group on Yahoo! Which I couldn't have survived without.  I love it so much I am a moderator.