Last minute play date - Maple goes to the foot doc

We had a great impromptu play date with a mum I met on an online pregnancy forum and her daughter, 5 months younger than O and B. She came on holiday from the UK and happened to be staying at Atlantis, 5 minutes down the road. The three children enjoyed causing mischief, singing and talking together! It was more than worth the effort!

I took Maple to a recommended Orthopaedic surgeon this morning to look at her turned in feet. When she was born they told us they were positional and that she would likely grow out of it but to keep an eye on them. A couple of weeks ago, I took her to an also highly recommended paediatrician. The paediatrician said that as they show full movement, she will grow out of it and there is nothing to worry about. I wanted a second opinion, just to make sure. I guess I was a little surprised today when the orthopaedic surgeon said that he thinks her left foot especially is quite rigid and he would suggest putting them both in casts for several weeks then special shoes after that.

The surgeon said the inwards turn is a physical, rather than structural thing and that correcting it would be purely visual. Personally, considering the nurse reassured me that the casts would cause no discomfort at all, I would go ahead with it if I felt it was needed based on the experts advise, as I worry about potential bullying.

I am a little confused as the ortho explained that if left it will not affect her walking, pelvis or spine. I don't understand how two turned in feet could not affect walking if they didn't self correct?

To make matters more confusing, the paediatrician I went to is one of those 'anti-biotics only in extreme situations' and in general tries to keep medications to a minimum (I like this). The Orthopaedic Surgeon, however, seemed to fall into the over-medicalising category that most medical experts seem to be in over here in Dubai. For example, when I turned up to give birth at City Hospital, there was clearly no need to speed things up. I was 4cm's and things were moving rapidly. There were no complications at that stage apart from Maple being early. I was still offered to have my waters broken, to have an epidural, and even a c-section was mentioned. I hear stories like this all the time.

But, again, this chap came highly recommended. He is trained in the UK and people I know have had positive outcomes with him. I would think because he is a specialist, he would know better than the paediatrician?

So he suggested more intensive foot-stretching exercises for the next two months and then an appointment to see if it had made enough of a difference. If not, we would go ahead with the casts as it would be better to do this before she is walking, for obvious reasons.

I need to think about this one as she is so strong and I believe she will be walking before one. If that were the case, it would be better to get it done now as to not interfere. However, I don't feel entirely convinced as was more impressed with the manner and explanations of the paediatrician. I felt really rushed with the orthopaedic surgeon. Will definitely be needing to sleep on this one a few nights. Poor wee mite.