My experience and reasons for not treating flat head syndrome

 Back in December 2013 a magazine dropped through my door that would haunt me for the next 12 months. I was 34 weeks pregnant with identical twin boys and was finally getting excited for their arrival. I was slowly getting by all the pregnancy mile stones and each scan was showing my boys to be healthy little bundles! I had signed up to TAMBA (twins and multiple birth association)  and they had sent a sample magazine through the post. I loved reading about other twins and the tips and advice in the articles on coping with more than one child. It was only when I reached the end of the magazine and saw an advert for LOC bands and a small article I felt a bit panicked. The article was one persons experience of flat head syndrome or  plagiocephaly, they explained how they noticed one of their twins head had started to flatten out quite considerably at about 2 months of age. They saught treatment which involved the baby wearing a helmet for 23hrs a day to correct the head shape. It alarmed me as it wasn't anything I had heard of before and I started to worry about how my boys  heads would look. The NHS does not recognise flat head syndrome as something that needs treating so these helmets are paid for privately.
Fast forward to March 2014 and my beautiful boys were here in the world already 2 months old and thriving. Only with my first born twin I started to notice his head becoming flat and in my opinion very uneven. My other twin was also looking flat but not as extreme as his brother. I made sure tummy time was given throughout the day and time in bouncers, car seats and the pram was limited. By four months I had purchased a pillow to help support the head and I was heading to the GPs. They checked for any problems in the neck muscles that may have caused a preference to lie facing one way and checked the soft spot was still open. We left with a clean bill of health and advised that it will round itself out without treatment. I knew about helmets and bands and felt a bit put out the GP hadn't mentioned them or suggested any other treatment. We definitely could not raise the funds to buy helmets for both my boys. Eventually at 7 months old we decided to take the boys to a consultation for a helmet. I think it was a test to myself to see how I felt after and to see if they commented how bad their head shapes were. Anyway we left the office feeling elated! There was no way on earth we were going ahead with treatment! I wasn't comfortable with the whole process and that's my own opinion. The reason I am sharing my experience is because I wanted to show you a before and after of my boys head shape without treatment. It's not perfect but noones is! The top picture was taken at 7 months and the bottom at 13 months. 

This is my first born Twin who I felt looked really uneven and I was sure his face shape was becoming affected by his head. Now I couldn't be happier and it didn't cost me £2k for each boy! I promised myself I'd write about this no matter how his head turned out as I felt there was no information for those who didn't get treatment. So here it is I'm pleased with the results my beautiful little boys are growing into handsome chaps! If you are worried talk to your GP and Health Visitor. I also had a consultation with a company that makes the helmets they normally do the first one free. I let guilt swallow me up over not being able to afford to treat privately now I'm happy we aren't drowning in debt!