I’ll admit it. I was super anxious in the waiting room prior to London’s scan today. Like, bouncing knees, sweaty palms, clock-checking anxious. Today marks 13 weeks in the helmet; a few weeks longer than we had hoped for. I had my fingers crossed this scan would bear good news, but I didn’t want to get my hopes too high.
Our specialist wasted no time, as she could probably read the anxiety on my face, and got right to fitting Lo’s head with the little sock. Peyton was with me, and seeing her laugh at how silly London looked in her little head-sock broke my inner tension a bit, and I was able to relax.
That was short-lived, because the minute we laid London down on the scanner, she flipped out. Thankfully, this scan doesn’t need to be EXACT like the helmet-fitting scan, so we were able to get it in one shot.
Melissa, our specialist, sat at her computer typing, and Peyton immediately began playing 20 questions. “Was sister getting her helmet off for good?” We’ll see. “Did her head grow?” I hope so. “What’s going to happen to her helmet?” We will take it home. “Can I wear it?” No.
Melissa looked up and smiled. She answered Peyton’s first question, “Your sister doesn’t need her helmet anymore!” I was beyond excited. Melissa went to go give the helmet one last good cleaning, and I excitedly text Dave that Lo was helmet-less, while the girls sat and played.
When Melissa came back, it was my turn to play 20 questions. My biggest concern was her head re-flattening. I asked if Lo should wear the helmet for naps and nighttime. Melissa reassured me that the bones in her head were much stronger and harder than they were, and even if she laid only on that side of her head, it would stay round!
The red lines are London’s first scan when she was almost 6 months. The blue are from today. The arrows show where Melissa wanted to see growth, the circled areas are where she wanted no growth. London’s head did exactly what it needed to do in the helmet! She also scored a 7.4 in her initial scan. Melissa explained that a 6 and up means the baby needs a helmet, and 0 is a perfect head (which doesn’t really exist). Today London was a 2.3!!!! That’s perfect enough for me!!
The left is Lo’s head pre-helmet, and the right is her head today!
This little lady has adjusted just fine to life without a helmet, and took a nice, long nap (her first without the helmet in 13 weeks!) We couldn’t be more convinced that helmet therapy was the right choice for London!
You can read about her journey into the helmet here.
Jessica says
That is such exciting news!!! Congrats, Miss London!
Jenna says
Thank you so much!
Anna says
Wow! Hardly seems like 13 weeks! She’s adorable with or without the helmet! Yay lo!!
Jenna says
It’s all a blur 😉 but thank you so much!!
abi says
That’s such great news! Glad the helmet therapy worked!
and 13 weeks isn’t long! My nephew was in his cranial helmet for almost 4 months!!!! Perfect little head now, though!
Jenna says
Awe!! It’s kind of bittersweet ditching the helmet! But definitely welcomed!! 🙂
Hallie says
did insurance cover this? we are fighting with ours over it ;(
scott says
congrats to london for her graduation!!
holly says
kids are so resilient! she won’t even know this happened to her, and you’re a great mommy!!!
terah says
my son just got a helmet, and there isn’t much to read about them – so thank you so much for being so open! glad your little one is helmet free and doing well!
heidi says
thanks for sharing your experience!!
Amy says
Thank you for putting this out there – my little one has a helmet, and its nice to know others went through the same thing and the baby took it in stride!