When six-week-old Tobin went to his first doctor's appointment, mom Kelsey Plichta had one burning question. It was about hip dysplasia.
"That was pretty much the first question I asked my pediatricians. OK, I need a referral now. How are his hips? Kind of like a crazy person," Kelsey said.
She wanted him checked for signs of hip dysplasia because Tobin was more likely to develop the condition since Kelsey had it as well.
But, unfortunately for her, it wasn't diagnosed until she was 21. She needed two surgeries to help alleviate the pain.
"I just knew the earlier it was detected, the better the outcome was for them,” says Kelsey.
Hip dysplasia is the abnormal formation of the hip joint. It can be genetic, but doctors say it can also have other causes and warn poor swaddling is causing hip dysplasia in more and more infants with no family history.
"It's mind-boggling that something as simple as a swaddle can cause a life-long disability of hardship for these kids,” Kelsey said.
"Very commonly the doctor doing the exam can actually push the ball in and out of the socket and feel the hip to be loose," Dr. David Podeszwa, an orthopedic surgeon explained.
Dr. Podeszwa says hip dysplasia can develop anytime during early childhood.
When swaddling, a baby's legs should be in a frog-like position, and the baby should have enough room to move their legs around.
"The technique of swaddling is important so as not to swaddle with the hips in extension, but in abduction, meaning they're not next to each other," Dr. Podeszwa said.
If there are signs of dysplasia, it's important to get treatment right away -- like Tobin, who will wear a harness for the next few months.
"Tobin was born with it most likely because of my family history, but a lot of kids develop it as a result of improper swaddling. So, if people are more educated on how to properly swaddle, they won't have to go through what I went through,” Kelsey said.
