My daughter, Mackenzie, wore a Pavlik Harness over an 8 month period in 2015/2016. She wore it 24/7 for almost 3 weeks, 23/7 for about 4 months and then night times only for about 3 months. I am yet to come across another family who have used a Pavlik Harness for so long! Over that time Mackenzie had around 20 appointments at the hospital for assessments, scans, xrays, adjustments and checkups.
Each time we had a scan/xray and assessment appointment, I would go into it feeling excited and positive that good news was ahead. Unfortunately, only three of the scans resulted in happy news. The first was when we were told we would get an hour free time each day (that precious hour was bliss! We headed straight for the bath!). The second was when we were told she would only have to wear the Pavlik Harness overnight. The third was when we were told she didn’t need to wear it any more and that her next check up would be in a year!
All of the other scans/xrays and assessments resulted in disappointment and sadness. Time and again I would be told that Mackenzie’s hips were improving (:-D) but very slowly (:-/) and to come back in 2, 4 or 6 weeks (:-().
Each time I was told that we would not need to
purchase another Pavlik Harness as hopefully the next appointment would be the
last. As time passed, Mackenzie’s harness became more and more discoloured, stained, covered in old pen marks
made by the physiotherapists, straps curled at the edges, velcro not sticking
properly and the padding was all pilled. Towards the end, we had to use bright blue stick
on thingies to extend the size of the straps that wrapped around her ankles as
she had grown so much (pictured). That harness was so gross
and I frequently dreamed about hosting a burning ceremony when we were finished with it.
Mackenzie's scans and assessments took place at the hospital's hip clinic which ran on set days each month. As we waited for our turn, we would always see other babies in Pavlik Harnesses in the waiting room. I liked to guess how early into treatment the baby was by the state of their harness. Parents in that waiting room would often compare their hip dysplasia war stories and wish each other luck when their name was called. It was a nice little community in that waiting room sometimes.
Despite the negative feelings I experienced after so many hospital appointments and as much as I detested the Pavlik Harness, I always felt so grateful that my daughter was able to receive treatment to fix her dodgy hips using straps and velcro, without surgery. I was grateful for the hospital physiotherapists who treated Mackenzie and I was grateful that my out of pocket expenses were limited to the cost of one Pavlik Harness and the parking fee each visit. I still am grateful for these things! Now Mackenzie is all good and we consider ourselves very lucky.
For more posts about life with a baby receiving treatment for developmental dysplasia of the hip, browse our blog here: https://www.hipsleepers.com.au/blog/
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