Teddi Mellencamp Says Baby Dove Has Been Diagnosed With Lambdoid Craniosynostosis

From Women's Health

• Teddi Mellencamp revealed her newborn daughter has been diagnosed with lambdoid craniosyntosis.

• The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star says baby Dove will have to undergo neurosurgery.

• Dove will have to spend a week in the hospital, but Teddi says they procedure has a "high success rate."

Teddi Mellencamp welcomed her third child—daughter Dove—in February, and she’s regularly posted cute pics of her baby on Instagram ever since. But, while Teddi just shared an adorable closeup of Dove in a new post, the message next to it was serious.

“Dealing with anxiety, especially when in the ‘public eye,’ isn’t easy; and going into July it’s at an all-time high,” Teddi began. “I was torn as to whether I should share this information, but as someone who tries to be as transparent as possible, and knowing I have a platform to reach others in similar situations, I would like to update you all.”

Teddi then shared that Dove was diagnosed with lambdoid craniosynostosis and “has to undergo neurosurgery at the end of the month.”

Craniosynostosis is a condition where the sutures (i.e. growth seams) in an infant’s skull close too early, causing problems with normal brain and skull growth, according to the Children’s Hospital of Philadephia (CHOP).

There are different types of craniosynostosis, but lambdoid craniosynostosis involves the two seams located on the back of the skull. CHOP says this is “very rare” but can cause a trapezoid shape to the head, a flattening to the back of the head, and displacement of the ear toward the back of the head or set lower than the unaffected ear.

There are different forms of surgery available for craniosynostosis, according to CHOP, and each has a different recovery time.

Teddi said that she and her family originally thought that Dove had torticollis, a twisting of the neck that causes a baby’s head to rotate and tilt at an odd angle, per Johns Hopkins Medicine. But a CT scan showed that she actually had lambdoid craniosynostosis.

“The recovery is about a week in the hospital and a couple weeks at home with a very high success rate,” Teddi continued. “So although we are filled with nerves as neurosurgery sounds scary, we have our faith that she will be OK.”

She ended on this note: “Please keep baby Dove in your prayers and if you have had a child with this same surgery, please let me know below, as I would love any additional insight and support. Sending 💕 to you all.”

Video: The most hilarious newborn outtakes ever

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