1. Identify the Deformity in a Fetal Sonogram
A clubfoot is a deformity in which one or both of a baby's feet are abnormally positioned. This can result either from genetic/environmental causes or from how your baby was positioned while developing in the womb (postural clubfoot). If your child has a clubfoot with a pronounced deformity, it will usually be diagnosed during a fetal sonogram. There is no treatment that can be done for a clubfoot in utero, but having an early diagnosis can give you time to study up on the condition and consult with a specialist about how and when you should begin treatment when your child is born.
2. Visual Diagnosis at Birth
If your child has a clubfoot or clubfeet, your doctor will more than likely diagnose it on sight in the delivery room. While clubfeet is a term that describes a wide range of foot deformities from mild to severe, it is usually obvious to experienced labor and delivery nurses and obstetricians. There are several different types of clubfeet, and they are classified primarily by the direction of the malformation. You baby's foot may be distorted in more than one direction. In some cases, the doctor may order X-rays to be taken to evaluate the severity of the deformity, but these can be inconclusive because most babies bones have not calcified enough to be seen well on X-ray.
3. Check for Other Birth Defects
A clubfoot itself is not a dangerous condition for your baby and it causes your baby no pain. Clubfeet can, however, be indicative of other birth defects and congenital conditions including spina bifida, a potentially serious birth defect that affects the spinal cord. If your doctor diagnoses your child with a clubfoot, further screening for other congenital defects will likely follow. In most cases, however, a clubfoot is just a clubfoot and poses no serious threat to your child.
