Diagnosed with clubfeet before he was born: Gabriel’s story

Cheryl Bratt and her wife, Sue, expected a routine visit when they went in for their 18-week ultrasound. Cheryl, a professor, had scheduled the test before her morning class. The radiologist was reassuring through the entire ultrasound — until the end. “Then she told us the baby had clubfeet and we needed to see a specialist.” Just like that, these expecting parents faced an unexpected diagnosis.

Clubfoot causes the front of the foot to turn inward and the heel to point down. As many as four children out of every 1,000 are born with clubfoot. Like about half of children with the condition, the ultrasound showed that Cheryl and Sue’s baby would have clubfeet on both sides.

Questions and fears about clubfoot diagnosis

The news came as a shock. Cheryl’s pregnancy with their first child, Ilan, had been easy and issue-free. “We were thrown. We didn’t know what the diagnosis meant.” The couple worried that clubfoot might be the first sign of a more serious birth defect.

Cheryl’s obstetrician referred the couple to the Maternal Fetal Care Center for further screening. Within days, they had their first meeting scheduled with Dr. Collin May of the Lower Extremity Program.

Understanding clubfoot treatment

The question of whether something she had done might have caused the deformity had worried Cheryl since she first got the diagnosis. “Right off the bat, Dr. May told us this was not my fault,” she says. “He understood that we were anxious and afraid.” They also wanted to know why an earlier ultrasound hadn’t detected the condition and whether the diagnosis meant their child was at greater risk for other birth defects.

Treating clubfoot is not invasive but takes time and commitment. Within a few weeks of birth, the child’s feet are repositioned and placed in leg casts to hold them in position for a week. After several cycles of casting and minor surgery, children graduate to a brace. Nightly bracing continues for the next four to five years.  

By the end of their meeting, Cheryl and Sue understood how their baby’s feet would be corrected. They knew the treatment would be challenging and take years, but felt reassured to have met the clinicians who would be involved.

“Dr. May and his team put us very much at ease. It was obvious they had worked with hundreds of families in our position and knew what they were doing.” Gabriel was due in four months. Dr. May asked Cheryl and Sue to let him know when he was born so he could stop by and say hello.

Gabriel’s clubfoot journey begins

Cheryl gave birth to Gabriel on February 2. Since the 18-week ultrasound, she’d wondered if his clubfeet would make it difficult for her to bond with him. “But when I saw his feet, they were adorable. I just loved them. I’m glad they’re corrected but it didn’t impact our bonding.”

As promised, Dr. May stopped by to meet the new baby. Three weeks later, on February 25, Gabriel’s clubfoot correction began.

Treating Gabriel’s clubfeet

Timing was on Gabriel’s side. He was several weeks into his clubfoot correction by the time Boston Children’s cancelled non-urgent procedures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Because his treatment was already underway, Gabriel’s clubfoot correction continued on schedule.

Adjusting to the clubfoot brace

Now 6 months old, Gabriel only has to wear his brace at night. However, he and his moms have faced some challenges along the way. One cast had to be changed after Gabriel cried for a solid day and a half after a correction. A few times, his brace has caused heat rash and pressure sores. “We found everyone at Boston Children’s to be incredibly responsive,” says Cheryl. “They provided immediate support when we needed them.”

Gabriel may be delayed in crawling and walking, but has already figured out how to roll over wearing his brace. To Cheryl’s relief, the treatment has not seemed to cause him significant pain or upset, which she feared it might. “This is normal for him,” she says. “He hasn’t known anything different.”

Looking back on early fears about clubfoot treatment

If Cheryl could go back in time, she would reassure herself and Sue about Gabriel’s clubfeet. “It’s just one of the many things he’ll experience as a child” she says, “It’s part of who he is as a baby, but we don’t expect it to cause any long-term complications or difficulties. Although clubfoot requires a commitment to the years-long treatment plan, it is much more manageable than we thought it would be.”

Learn more about the Lower Extremity Program.