Adjusted age when 4 weeks early versus 6 weeks early

st.augbride

I have a questions about adjusted age and am wondering what others have experienced. So ds was born at 34 weeks but also had severe IUGR, so he was just over 3lbs (the size of a 29 weeker). We used his adjusted age until he was closer to 2 years old. Dd ended up surprising us by coming 4 weeks early on her own (ds was induced and then I had a c/s). Luckily, dd did not have IUGR and was 5lb 12oz, so still small but great considering. None of her doctors use adjusted age at all though. Why would they use it when you are 6 weeks early but not 4 weeks early? They honestly look at me like I'm crazy when I even mention it. I still use it on my own, but find it odd that they don't.  

meldoo2002

Not sure.. but I didn't really find doctors use my kids adjusted ages much.  Other than for growth chart none really referred to them by their adjusted age.  

DrRx

I don't know.  I wonder if it's possible that, although still a preemie, when it is less weeks premature the babies tend to "catch-up" sooner than other preemies?  Honestly, however, I have no idea. 

st.augbride

It's just so strange to me because with ds, it was a big deal, but for dd, nobody even considers it.

Mrs. Alice

I remember reading somewhere maybe in one of my preemie books that most pedis don't adjust for age after 35 weeks.  My sister's twins were 36 weekers with no NICU or SCN care.  They never formally did age adjustment they took into account them being small and a little behind in some milestones for the first few months.  Even though they were technically preemies, we didn't really think of them as such since they were healthy at birth.

cottingham3

My oldest two kids are 35 & 36 weekers. No adjusted age with them because they were considered "late term preemies" by our pedi.

Fowler is a 26 weeker and we will use adjusted age in limited circumstances.

cambria7707

I have a 36 weeker and our pedi does adjust and said just like other preemies, he may not "catch up" until he is 2 years. He was big, 7lb 6oz but he is a little delayed with his milestones. 

opheliainwaders

DD was born at 36 weeks, and we were not given an adjusted age, but my pedi basically takes growth and milestone development with a grain of salt for her. For example, she looks at her growth curve, rather than her percentile. For milestones, I've noticed so far that it's not consistently 4 weeks behind in all things. For example, her head control is right on target, but she didn't smile until about 9 weeks.