Weird Head Shapes @ 5 Weeks

My babies are five weeks old and they have some strange head issues going on. They are identical - we received confirmation a week or so ago - but look pretty different because of their head shape. One baby is really flat on the back of the head, which makes the sides bulge out like an alien (my pediatrician's description), the other is flat on one side. Their heads were shaped like this at birth - they were both vertex and waaaaay low with their heads crammed in a most uncomfortable way for their momma - but I think it's getting worse. I have been changing their positions in their cribs and encouraging them to face the non-flat way when I hold them ... is there anything else I can do this early? How long should it take for their heads to round out if the weird shape was acquired in-utero?

 

I would definitely have them evaluated for possibly a helmet at some point. I know repositioning can work, but if it was from being in the womb they might need extra help to correct it. My one twin has a flat spot on the back of his head, but toward the top. It was there at birth. I switched the boys to sleeping on their bellies at 3 months to see if it would help. I really wish I would have had it looked at. Although his head isn't completely flat in the back that spot from in the womb is still there and obvious to me.

 

I would also get them evaluated. I don't know how early they can start with the helmets, but if they are going to need them, it might be best to get the process started early. Until then, I would keep up the repositioning & put them on their tummies as much as they will tolerate!

 

It wouldn't hurt to get them evaluated but my PT told me that they wouldn't look at getting a helmet for my boys yet(who are nine months old) because they can still be fixed by positioning. It is a slow process but my boys's heads are a way nicer shape than when they came home from NICU.
Best of luck

 

I'd try repositioning then at 3.4-4 months get them evaluated for a helmet if it hasn't improved. DD's head had a flat spot too but it got better on her own.

 

DS head was flat on the back right side when he came home from the NICU. We used blankets rolled up behind his back to position him to lay on the other side. Pedi gave him upto 6 months to improve on it's own. It did improve but still flat in the back and the left side of his forehead is fuller than the right. His right ear is also further forward than his left. He just got his helmet today to correct his positional plagiocephally. That is the medical term for flat head :blush:

 

Jonathan had a flat head. I really started noticing it at 5 weeks. I tried repositioning and it just did not work. My ped did not seem concerned about it, but it was getting worse. I really worked on tummy time to get those neck mucles strong. At 9 weeks, I felt that his neck muscles were strong enough and I put him on his belly to sleep!

He now has a round head!

 

I would start with tummy time too. I didn't start it soon enough and my boys hated it because of this (at least I think). Ryan had a flat spot in the back of his head so I bought a sleep positioner to get him to sleep on his side. He wiggled out of it within an hour and would be flat on his back again. :gah: We just worked on a lot of tummy time and I did everything I could to make sure his head was not laying on something as much as possible. The pedi checked his neck muscles and everything was fine. It's still a little flat back there, but nothing noticeable to anyone but me.