What is Clubfoot?
My Daughter’s Bilateral Clubfeet in 2018
Clubfoot is a birth defect where a baby’s foot is curled in at the ankle at birth. While the baby is developing in utero, the foot is prevented from turning out to the typical position and is pointed upward and inward towards the ankle.
Clubfoot is one of the most common birth defects, and it affects 1 in 1000 babies born across the world. 50 percent of babies born with clubfoot will have both feet impacted, and it is twice as likely to appear in boys than girls. The clubfoot diagnosis can be identified during an ultrasound prior to birth, or directly after the baby is born.
There is no known cause for clubfoot, meaning that if you child is born with clubfoot, there is nothing you did to cause it.
While you may not have been able to prevent your child from being born with clubfoot, you do have the power to educate yourself about clubfoot treatment and advocate for your child throughout their treatment journey.
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Ponseti Method for Clubfoot Treatment
The most successful form of treatment for clubfoot is the Ponseti Method. This method includes serial casting (a different cast applied each week) for 6-7 weeks, a small surgical procedure called the tenotomy (necessary in 80% of cases), and the use of maintenance brace (the BnB) for up to 5 years of age.
The casting portion of treatment uses gentle manipulation and stretching of the foot to bring the foot to the correct position.
The tenotomy is preformed in clubfoot cases where the heel tendon is tight and needs to be lengthened to create flexible feet.
The BnB, brace wear stage, is to maintain all the correction your child achieved through casting and tenotomy. This stage will rely entirely on parents at home, who will be adhering to the brace schedule.
Disclaimer: The information on this page is meant to support and help parents, and is not intended to replace any medical advice. 
95% of Clubfoot Treatment is Done at Home by the Parents
I was a mom who knew absolutely nothing about clubfoot before my daughter was diagnosed in utero. I had no idea what the diagnosis meant, what her feet would look like when she was born, what the treatment would look like, or how the diagnosis would impact her ability to walk or run!
I was a bundle of nerves for the rest of my pregnancy, imagining worst case scenarios, worrying that my lack of knowledge would lead me to make the wrong treatment choices, and not knowing if I was strong enough to step outside of my comfort zone and advocate for my child when needed.
All my concern and worry about not being enough melted away when I held my daughter for the first time. I looked at her beautiful newborn face and those sweet curled feet and knew that I was capable of handling anything that came our way. If you are a fellow clubfoot parent, I know that you are capable too!
Yes, the medical team and clubfoot doctors play a vital role in correcting the feet through serial casting, but it is the parents who are responsible for keeping them that way.
Your role as a clubfoot parent is VITAL! Do not underestimate how important you are in your child’s clubfoot treatment journey. If you want to hear about the 3 steps I took to empower myself and feel confident on my child’s clubfoot journey, click below.
Listen to this podcast about Maureen from Child Life On Call, where she was interviewed about her daughter’s bilateral clubfoot.
Documentary About Clubfoot
I had the honor to be a part of the documentary “Ponseti Treatment Worldwide”, directed by Lane Wyrick and sponsored in part by MD Orthopaedics.
The documentary features testimonials from parents of clubfoot babies along with Ponseti method advocates worldwide who share their clubfoot experiences.
If you are just learning about your child’s clubfoot diagnosis you should definitely check it out! I found the information really valuable and relatable as a fellow clubfoot parent.