Do preemies grow faster inside or outside?

Firefly9

For instance, if your baby is supposed to gain 1/2 pound a week in the last month or so of pregnancy inside the womb, are they supposed to gain approximately that outside the womb?  At 40 weeks gestational age, if they were born early, would they be about what they would have been when they were born, or more, or less?  I'm sure it varies depending on the baby and the circumstances, but on average, what is the comparison?

katie4253

Gabe grew an average of 1-2oz a day.  When he was in the NICU they said that 1-2oz gains are what they aim for.  Bigger than 2oz gains per day worried them because it could mean there was fluid retention (kidney issues).

sucrets4

Hmm, well 1/2 lb a week is roughly an ounce a day, which is pretty standard for a newborn.  I want to say that DD kept on gaining at that rate for a bit longer compared to term babies the same age as her.  

WaitingforGrace

Babies generally grow faster on the inside than the outside, but preemies have fortified feeds so I don't know how it works out.

My girls were born 3.8 and 3.12 and about 5 at their due dates which is about normal for twins. They were not put on feeding tubes until they were about 1 week old got TPN until then which babies don't gain as fast on.One of mine also had surgery and was NPO for a week.

IncogNeato

My guess is that, ideally it would be about the same but rarely works out that way. LO was 6lb, 10oz onher due date and I was 6lb, 11 oz at birth so that sounds about right!