Why'd they want to wait til after her first birthday? Amber's Amelia got it done within weeks of her birth...

Amelia didn't need a general anaesthetic because I don't think her extra digits had bones in them. Jenny's thumb has a bone in it & a nail etc. so needs to be asleep during the procedure. Her doctor said they avoid putting babies under a general anaesthetic before the age of 1 so that it's less risky.

Ahhhh. That makes sense. You don't have to answer this if you don't want to, but does Jenny's extra thumb function? Like, can she move it?

It's fine, I don't mind people asking questions about it =) No she can't move it, it's attached to her proper thumb so the two move together, if you know what I mean.

I researched polydactyly (her condition), & apparently 1 in 10 babies are born with extra digits, but it's quite rare for the digits to contain bones & even rarer for them to be fully functioning. It sounds pretty common, but everyone who sees Jenny's extra thumb is either fascinated or freaked out by it.

Everything will be alright, Zan!

My daughter is 7 weeks old. She was born with an extra digit on both hands and both feet. Of course, her feet are more of a concern because theirs bone there. A doctor at an orthopaedic hospital said she is too young to have the surgery, not because of the operation itsself but because of the anesthesia. They are concerned about putting her under anesthesia so young. The doctor said in approximately another year they will consider operating on her. On one hand I understand why they want to wait so long, but on the other hand I am concerned that she will not be able to walk because of the position of the extra toes. No only that but I was hoping to go back into the work field soon, but I am afraid to put her in daycare, I dont want the other kids to tease her. Now everyone thinks it is no big deal because she is a baby, but she will not stay a baby.

Hi there. This post is quite old now, my daughter is 2 next week! Her surgery went well & she only has a tiny scar & a slight bump on her hand now, so you wouldn't know she'd ever had an extra thumb!

I can understand your concerns about the extra toes affecting your daughter's walking, but if she has the operation at around 12 months old it might not matter since a lot of babies don't walk until after then anyway. In regards to her being teased.. my daughter went to nursery for a while before she had her thumb removed & none of the other children treated her any differently. If your daughter was with kids her own age (or even a little bit older) they wouldn't realise there was anything different about her because they'd be too young to understand.

Good luck, I hope everything goes well for you & your little girl.

Thanks Zanny. It really does make me feel alot better when you put it that way. I suppose I am thinking way too far ahead. Im praying things work out. Best wishes to you and your daughter as well and Happy Holidays!

Which is exactly why you are absolutely doing the right thing by having this surgery. Don't think for a second that you are doing anything superfluous here.
You are just being a good parent.

good luck