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MULTIPLES!  MULTIPLES!  MULTIPLES!

The latest statistics are out; twin births have hit an all-time high.  Moms are waiting until they are older to have babies and in-vitro procedures have increased dramatically. So, you know what that means – lots and lots of babies! We love babies so we couldn’t be more excited. It also necessitates sharing another risk factor for plagiocephaly.

Multiples have a greater chance of getting plagiocephaly for several reasons. The first is that these babies are often born prematurely and spend more time in the hospital initially. If they are medically fragile, they are attached to machines and often placed on their back. Repositioning isn’t always on the top of the priority list. The skull is extremely malleable so it can flatten very quickly.

Secondly is just pure lack of space in the womb. They have to share their home with their siblings and sometimes it just isn’t enough! We typically see that the bottom baby will have more issues with torticollis and/or plagiocephaly.

The third reason that multiples are at higher risk is the use of containers. When there is more than one newborn in the house, containers are often used to maintain sanity and organization. These incline surfaces help a great deal but you will need to watch what they are doing to the head. If left in there too long, the baby’s head will start to take the shape of the incline. Not good.

Sooooooo – if you or someone you know is having more than one miracle – take heed. Shout it from the mountain tops. Watch the head!