The national charity STEPS is hoping their Baby Hip Health Week 13th – 19th March 2011 will help raise awareness amongst parents and health professionals of the vital need to check babies’ hips during the first few weeks of life to prevent unnecessary pain and disability in later years. A Marlow Mum who has a son affected by this condition is planning a coffee morning on 23rd March to raise funds for STEPS. In this blog she tells us about the charity and why she became involved.
My second son, Lucas, was diagnosed with DDH 18 months ago and is awaiting a second round of surgery after the first failed last year. STEPS has been an amazing support for us and we are therefore supporting them by holding a ‘Put the Kettle On’ this March. We are asking for people to either come along and have a coffee and cake or offer a donation or auction prize so that we can give back to this fantastic organisation.
Julie Charlton, STEPS Marketing & Community Fundraiser, commented, “Whether you host a ‘Put the Kettle On’ event for two or two hundred people, we are very grateful for your donations. Without this support, our work, including campaigning, a helpline, information centre and website could not happen and many parents would be alone during a very difficult time. Ultimately we want all babies to be checked as early as possible and not have to endure unnecessary pain and suffering.”
In the UK alone, up to 2000 children a year are diagnosed with Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH), which describes a range of conditions from mild instability to total dislocation of the hip. Early detection means DDH can often be corrected by a simple outpatient treatment, but a later or missed diagnosis can leave a child requiring hospital stays, operations and potentially a permanent disability.
Even if the hips appear to be normal it is important to be aware of signs that might mean there is a problem. The signs parents should look out for include:
- one leg appearing shorter than the other.
- an extra deep crease on the inside of the thigh.
- crawling with one leg dragging or walking with a limp or a waddle.
Whilst these signs are not conclusive, they may indicate the need for further investigation.
Please seek medical advice if you are concerned.
For more information about Healthy Hip Week go to www.steps-charity.org.uk or contact me at natalie@tallypr.co.uk to donate to our event!