June 9, 2009: Physical Therapy

Well the infant toddler program certainly does not waste any time getting their babies on track! Cohen had his first Physical Therapy appointment one day after we received the news that he needed to have one. The physical therapist came to our house and spent some time observing and handling Cohen. He was really awake and alert, but the physical therapist could definitely tell that he had some mannerisms that were not on track for a normal newborn baby of Cohen’s adjusted age of 6 weeks.

The four major areas of concern are 1) Cohen doesn’t bring his hands or legs together in the center of his body…like the fetal position 2) his fists are continuously clenched and his legs are stiff and rigid (both signs of CP) 3) when he is held he doesn’t curl into you, he just lays like a limp noodle 4) when he eats he is just limp and is not engaged in the experience (putting hands to the bottle/boob, focusing on the feeder, etc.) She gave us some ideas of what to do to help him and some exercises to do to help with this, but she is prescribing him 2 physical therapy appointments a week until he is back on track for his adjusted age.

We discussed our issues with sleeping and how Cohen STILL will not sleep on his back. After 20 minutes of observing Cohen on his back and listening to his breathing we were told to immediately stop putting Cohen on his back when he sleeps. We were taken aback by this demand, but the physical therapist said that his breathing changes when he is on his back and his mannerisms make for sleeping on his back dangerous. She is contacting Cohen’s doctor to demand, not request, an apnea monitor. Finally somebody believes us! Hopefully we will get this apnea monitor soon and both Cohen and his parents will be much happier!

Cohen will be 4 months old tomorrow! Where did the time go?

See, I told you he sleeps well on his belly! (Don't worry, I was right next to him watching him sleep!)