Milestones and Intro

jenniferraborn

My DD was born at 34 weeks exactly on Valentine's Day. She will be 4 months old tomorrow. We spent 13 days in the NICU as a feeder/grower with no real medical complications. Just working on weight/temperature and a few days of jaundice.

Anyways, the daycare sent home an ACQ evaluation form for 4 month olds and she doesn't meet many of the milestones. I know we are supposed to go by her adjusted age, I just can't help compare her to other 4 month olds and feel like she kinda behind. So far she smiles at you but doesn't roll over, hold her head up during tummy time, or grab for things really....Do any of you have LOs of about the same gestational age? How did they do meeting milestones? 

All the preparation/learning about babies you do while pregnant goes out the door with preemies....they kinda make their own set of rules. 

Also ,I acknowledge that we have been fortunate and many of you ladies have spent months in the NICU and  you all are complete superheros in my mind.

SBBBE

I assume your daycare knows your LO was 6 weeks early. Honestly I think that is really crappy that they did that to you. Of course she is behind for a 4 month old because she is really 2 and a half months old. My LOs were doing about the same things at 2 and a half months adjusted except DS didn't smile much and both did lift their heads a little during tummy.
I know it is hard not to compare her to kids the same age but try not to. If you are worried about her, not that you said anything concerning, I would talk to her Pedi. I would also mention to daycare that you didn't appreciate getting a form that didn't take her prematurity into account but maybe that is just me.

ETA. My LOs who were born at 33 weeks are turning 1 year actual and are meeting all milestones for their adjusted age.

brachysira

You know, even the pedi's office asks us to answer questions based on her actual age.  We have to say "no" to a lot of the milestone questions (and that makes me feel kind of bad), but our pedi knows our baby and never thinks she's behind.  Something I kind of like about having a preemie is being able to let go of all the comparisons and be happy about her own schedule (not that it's always easy to watch the neighbor's baby do everything early).  Check out the 2 month milestones.  The only thing that I think you might ask about is her head lifting, since I think that is something that they start to do pretty early.  But I wouldn't worry either, since the physical things are hard for babies that are crammed up inside you building muscles for as long.

jenniferraborn

Im not TOO concerned about the head thing. She can turn it from side to side just doesn't ever pick it up to look ahead if that makes any sense. I looked at the two month milestones and she seems to be pretty ok.

She is getting better with her head control when upright and is "cooing" more....I just think she's working on things that are for "younger" babies but I guess that is just to be expected. I just have to remember that she is really 11 weeks...not 17.  We have our 4 month well check next week and I am interested to see how the Pedi. thinks she is doing.....:-) Thanks ladies.