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Preemies
Milestones
I was just wondering about milestones and when your preemies met them. Ours are 26 weekers that are 8 months adjusted they seem good cognitively, they play, laugh, recognize each other, pedi wasn't too concerned about that. But milestones wise they are sitting up and rolling over, not crawling or stading. My question is are preemies a little slower to meet milestones but okay? Please don't scare me too much! Thanks!
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Re: Milestones
He's hit language things at his adjusted age, and gross motor a little past his adjusted age. We're working with p/t on gross motor. He is between his adjusted and actual for fine motor stuff.
Just a little side note, "please don't scare me too much" might be a bit off putting to moms who have babies don't meet their adjusted age milestones. I am sure you didn't mean any harm. But, there are families on this board who have babies who struggle.
We'll miss you sweet Debbie Girl (4.21.12) and sweet Cindy Girl (8.9.12)
It's hard when you start mixing with gen-pop on TB. I'm sure it'll get easier with time, but for now it's hard not to compare. Have you gotten an EI assessment? They should qualify automatically because they were preemie - but especially because they were micros.
Like FT, preemies have a wide range of development but I think we worry more than FT parents ;D Try to take a deep breath and know they'll catch up either on their own or with a little help. DS is pretty advanced/on target when it comes to gross/fine motor skills, but I wouldn't say he's talking and he's slower with social skills - no waving or clapping, etc. He makes babble and says mamamama but it's not like "Mama!" Know what I mean? He's still considered on target for his adjusted age and EI discharged him.
Feel free to come here with any questions - we've all been there or are there now and I think we all need the extra reassurance from time to time (or, every day!
).
But that's why I wrote it, I am a mom who has a kid not meeting all of their adjusted milestones and have struggled with other things since they have been born. What I meant is I don't want to hear is my baby didn't meet their milestones perfectly and now this and this is what's wrong with him/her...looking for some positivity.
While I understand wanting some positivity, but this is hurtful. Plain and simple.
We've all struggled with other issues. It is pretty much the reason for the board. Like I said, I don't think you are meaning to be hurtful. But, you are....
We'll miss you sweet Debbie Girl (4.21.12) and sweet Cindy Girl (8.9.12)
If you don't want to hear anything "negative" then why did you post the question?
Also you might want to talk to your pedi or enroll in a follow-up program so they can track your LO's progress.
BPF May 12, 2013 :: EDD Janaury 22, 2013 :: MC Began On July 14, 2013 at 12W4D
Born at 34w2d:
Obviously I'm dense and don't understand what you are talking about! Especially when I continue to say that I am struggling and looking for an experienced mom who can give some widsom! Anyway if someone else has some advice it would be appreciated. (And I'm not saying this to get flamed or anything else!) Thanks!
Mostly everyone on this board has been through h*ll and back with their child/pregnancy. We are known here to be very open and honest with what we and our LOs have gone through.
When you post to a board like this, don't expect to get any sugar coating. We will be truthful, honest, and supportive. But when you say things like "please don't scare me too much" it makes it seem like what we went through/are going through is scary. When I was in your position, I wanted as much information as possible, good or bad. If you only want good news then stop worrying. If you want to hear the truth, then ask here... but you get what you ask for-- good and bad. Some people's experiences are that their LO's delays ended up being caused by some sort of challenge, and some delays ended up catching up.
But to answer your original question-- every baby (FT or Preemie) develop at their own pace. Like Urban said, it is an average for a reason. My son was a 28 weeker. He sat for the first time on his own at 9m/6m adjusted. He didn't roll over tho until 10m/7m and then once he figured out rolling, he was crawling. Literally within a week of him learning to roll. He never rocked or scooted or went backwards... he just started crawling. Now he is 14m/11m and is very close to walking. BUT.. he doesn't eat food. He only takes a few bites of puree and bottles. He doesn't clap or wave. BUT... he babbles a lot and has great receptive language. BUT... he doesn't have any words yet.
So, you can see that it all depends. Check with Pedi, check with EI, check with a developmental pedi... if they aren't worried, then you shouldn't be.
Good luck!
My MARRIED Bio
I think the simple answer to this is that if you are truly concerned, you should call your pedi and get a referral to EI for your LO to be evaluated. Your OP does not say you were looking for advice. It asked if preemies are slower to reach milestones than full term babies. There is no answer for this. Every baby is different, and preemies are no exception. Especially since a lot of their development can be based on what happened to them after birth, ie IVH and the likes. Did you baby experience any IVHs and/or did you get a brain MRI upon discharge? What did it show?
FWIW, my nephew walked at like 10 months and my cousin's son walked at 14 months. And they were both full term. So it just goes to show you how different all babies are.
Here is how I am reading your post. You've posted this twice now.
At what age did your LO meet their milestones? Please don't respond if your LO wasn't meeting their milestones and then you found out that something was wrong with them.
I only want to hear about how your babies didn't meet their adjusted milestones and then started doing it.
We'll miss you sweet Debbie Girl (4.21.12) and sweet Cindy Girl (8.9.12)
Yes, it can be totally okay. And it can also mean they might need a little bit of help from a therapist. I know that isn't the answer you are looking for but every baby is so different that is varies wildly.
For example:
My daughter was a 25 weeker and at 8 months adjusted she was was not sitting up on her own yet so to me it sounds like your babies are doing great.I would not expect them to be standing
Scarlette didn't meet any of her milestones for physical things like sitting up, crawling etc. There was nothing wrong, she just needed more time and now she runs around the house like it's no big deal.
On the other hand, Scarlette didn't meet her milestones for eating and we found out it is because she has sensory issues and needs both feeding and occupational therapy.
I think that as a mom of a preemie, it's a good thing to prepare yourself for either outcome knowing that your baby may need a little extra help. That's incredibly common with micro-preemies.
I know it's hard, I was very upset to find out about Scarlette's sensory issues and it's a very mild thing. But it feels big and scary to me. But it's part of what comes with the territory of having a preemie. If you are worried, I would ask your dr. for an EI evaluation so that it will put your mind at ease. While this is a great support group, our experiences run the gamut, especially in this particular area.
I wouldn't be concerned. My 35 weeker just started therapy because he couldn't sit at 10 months.
Preemies are often delayed,a little or sometimes a lot, in lots of areas. Sometimes it's more than a "delay" and there's a reason. In the case of my 26 weeker who had brain trauma at birth and now is 3 yrs old. At the time of his delay we did not know, but now we know he has apraxia, mild autism, and global delays. Sometimes at age 3 kids are caught up. Some kids struggle more than my son. Just ask your pedi as things come up and pray that any issues can be overcome with therapy.
I'm going to answer this in 2 ways...
As a preemie momma, I know that I obsess over little things. My guy has met all his milestones. Many have been early for his adjusted age. I should be rejoicing right? Nope, I'm obsessed with the fact that he doesn't use his right hand very much and has a gaze preference to the left. At one point I thought it was strabismus, now I worry he had a small bleed that they didn't see on ultrasound. He's probably just fine, at least thats what his doctors tell me, but I'm his momma and I know how much he went through with his early start so I worry, and I probably always will.
As a pediatrician, "milestones" are guidelines, there is a bell curve. If the milestone is "sitting at 6 months" then in a group of normal babies some will be sitting at 5 months and some won't be at 7 months. Meeting a milestone early doesn't necessary mean a child is "gifted" in that area (case-in-point, I walked at 9 months, DH walked at 13 mo and he was the division 1 football player). I don't worry unless a child is not meeting milestones in several areas (global delays) or has a significant delay in one area (more than 33% as this is what our state uses for EI).The expectation for preemies is that they meet milestones by their adjusted age if not a little before. There is no additional lag time afforded, except for the adjustment for prematurity.
Crawling and cruising are really more like 9-10 month skills, so I wouldn't worry too much if things are going well otherwise. Your babies were micros, though, so they really should have close developmental follow up no matter what, and it sounds like a full eval would also make you feel more knowledgeable and less worried.
Finally, if you're worried that your babies might have delays, wouldn't you want to hear all perspectives? All the reassurance is great, but isn't it also nice to hear from moms whose babies have significant delays but yet are still happy, loved and thriving. Wouldn't it be nice to know that even if your worst fears came true that there would be experienced moms out there to support you, guide you, and help you find a way through that too?
Edit: clarity
BFP#2 3/16/11, beta 138; 4/12 Baby/HB DS born 9/10/11 at 29w4d due to partial abruption and PTL
BFP#3 8/19/13 Another boy! 17P, modified bedrest and Nifedipine helped us have a termie! DS2 born 4/19/14 at 38w5d.