Late preterm mommies

julia0402

My DD was born at 36w and her pedi seemed a little concerned that she hasn't smiled yet (she'll be 6 weeks old tomorrow).  Does your pedi follow your LO's actual or adjusted age?  Is the pedi using my DD's actual age because she was so close to full-term?

I just hate feeling like she's behind 

mrs.amandamm

Really? I wouldn't even think to be concerned... but I am no doctor!  I remember my first pictures of Addie smiling were when she was 2 months old. 

It is hard having a preemie and going by milestones... I have just accepted that all babies are different, and there is nothing wrong with being behind a little.  Addie crawled right at 8 months (which is on time) but she didn't walk until 15 months (late in my opinion) she is almost 2 and I don't think she knows 50 words, so she is way behind in that.  Would she be behind if she weren't a preemie?  I don't know.  There is no way of knowing.  They say MOST kids catch up by 2, but NOT ALL, so I just try not to stress....

MOST kids are completely healthy and bright, and they just are slow starters, nothing wrong with that!  If your doc is concerned, just keep an eye on it, but try not to stress, that doesn't help (and this is coming from a total stress monster, so I know it is hard!)  We all want perfect on time or ahead kids...

 

(Adding, Addie was born at 34w6d)

Mrs.DMC

I agree with everything mrs.amanda said. Milestones have such a big window it is hard to compare one baby to another. DS didn't really start to social smile until about 6 weeks ago. which would have been about 2 months adjusted. Don't stress yet. Your LO is only supposed to be 2 weeks.

Gamero

My DD was born at 35 weeks and is just now kinda/sorta smiling. We had her two month appointment last week, and I asked our pedi about the whole late smiling thing, and she wasn't concerned at all. She said to give her another month, which would allow for her adjusted age. I asked our pedi if we should expect other delays, and she said that late preterm babies hit some and miss others, but not to be worried because they eventually catch up. ?

jenerally

Julia, Grayson didn't smile until he was 11w old ... he was "only" 3w early (so considered full term).

milestones have a wide range of "normal." It may just be something that your pedi is noting, but it's def not something to obsess about. Not every baby smiles at 6w.

Ciarrai

Honestly, my pedi doesn't even mention it until the two-month appointment and doesn't start worrying until 4 months.  With DD#2 (36w2d), I was freaking out at the two-month appt (9 weeks) and she started smiling and laughing that day when we got home.  DD#2 is just not really a smiler.  She smiles, of course, but she's more of my observer and always has been.  Still, it freaked me out at the time.  Give it another few weeks and she'll be fine.

userdeleted

I'm really surprised that your pedi would worry you like that. DS was born at 35w6d, and didn't flash his first smile until probably 8 or 9 weeks. He wasn't smiling consistently until he was like 3 months I swear. When I asked my pedi about it around 6 wks he said it was not a big deal at all and all babies hit these kinds of things at different times.

RRHsMom

Pedi doesn't adjust for my 36 weeker but also doesn't stress about milestones.  Ryan did not smile until closer to 2 months.  He rolled a little late too.  He actually rolled back to tummy weeks before tummy to back which seems weird.  Don't stress.  Every baby is different.

CMDR513

DS is not on an adjusted schedule since he was "almost full term." I would not worry about reaching milestones later because some things your DC (as well as others) will be ahead of the milestone time frame and some later. All children are different. Now if there's a drastic difference (ie the DC doesn't smile until 6 months, etc) then I'd be concerned.

julia0402

Thanks ladies!  I wouldn't have worried except the pedi said things like "we've got to get you smiling at mommy!!" several times during the appt.  I feel better now, though.

keg

I am a little late, but definitely don't worry.  In fact, when my girls (born 35w6d) were at the pedi for their 2 month visit, she said they shouldn't be smiling yet.  They had started, but it sounded like she didn't expect it yet.