There were signs that pointed to hip dysplasia, and when I looked up the symptoms, she exhibited many of them. Uneven legs were just one sign. At birth, she had a heavier and longer crease on the bottom of her buttocks on the left side, leading to frequent blowouts and leaks that the diaper couldn't contain. Despite our efforts to prevent leaks with various diaper placements, sizes, and brands, the issue persisted and only on that side. Additionally, her chunky legs, while adorable, had uneven rolls, with the left leg having more creases than the right. When we mentioned this to the pediatrician, there was no cause for concern, and we assumed it was normal.
While hitting early milestones such as rolling over, smiling, and even talking, she showed reluctance to sit when the time came. Whining and straightening her legs and arching her back, she seemed uncomfortable or in pain. Although she eventually achieved each milestone, it took longer than our son, who met all his benchmarks on time or slightly early. The concerns were raised at each well check, but her milestones within the normal range, albeit on the later end, and the pediatrician expressed no concerns.
Approaching the orthopedic appointment, I scrutinized our daughter's movements, questioning whether I was imagining symptoms. I observed the mobility of her left hip, comparing it to the right. It seemed there might be differences, but nothing was obvious. She resisted when I checked her legs, making it unclear if there was an issue or if I was simply annoying her. Was it harder to lift her left leg when changing her diaper? Perhaps slightly, but nothing definitive.
Upon crawling, she predominantly used her right leg, leading with it even when crawling on all fours. I noticed she often walked on her toes on her left foot only when cruising to even out her legs and hips, with her left leg always straight when using her walker. This observation became another obsession, similar to my internet research. As the appointment neared, I eagerly anticipated not only gaining insights into our daughter's condition and creating an action plan but also regaining the ability to be fully present in the moment with my children, without the constant preoccupation with these concerns.
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