Preparing for a Baby with Clubfoot

In the midst of a successful pregnancy, as you're taking your vitamins and seeing your doctor and doing all the things that you're supposed to do to ensure a healthy baby, it can be distressing to learn that your baby will be born with clubfoot, also called talipes equinovarus by medical professionals. This is a general term used to describe a range of unusual positions of the foot. Because most types of clubfoot are congenital, meaning that they are present at birth, they are often detected with a prenatal ultrasound scan, which gives you time to prepare to help your baby immediately after delivery.

In almost half of the infants with clubfoot, both feet are affected. Observing any or all of the following characteristics in one or both feet may alert your obstetrician to the presence of clubfoot:

• The foot (especially the heel) may be smaller than would be expected.

• The foot may point downward.

• The foot may turn in toward the other foot and, in extreme cases, the bottom of the foot may even point up.

Although clubfoot may be disconcerting to parents, it is essential to note that it is painless for the baby. Nonetheless, treatment should begin immediately. If left unaddressed, clubfoot can cause significant problems as your child grows. But with early intervention, most children born with clubfoot go on to live entirely normal, active lives.

Whether your son or daughter is diagnosed with clubfoot before or after birth, the first step you should take is to make an appointment for a consultation with a podiatrist. With years of specialized education and experience, your foot doctor is the most qualified professional to help your baby. He or she will almost certainly offer nonsurgical treatments such as casting or splinting first, often through a technique called the Ponseti method. Surgery is rarely required.

You can be confident that, with proper treatment, your baby will have normal looking feet with normal function for all practical purposes. He or she will not be limited by having been born with clubfoot and will go on to a full, active life.

Contact James C. Ricketti, DPM and let us address all your foot and ankle needs. Our board-certified podiatrist will tailor treatments based on your individual needs and with our state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment options, we’ll help you get back on your feet in no time! Call our office today at 609-587-1674 to make an appointment at our conveniently located Hamilton, NJ office.