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Babies: 9 - 12 Months
QUESTION FOR PREEMIE MOMS
OK, so my daughter was born at 36wks, technically a preemie. I don't use any kind of "adjusted" age, because, well, it doesn't matter. My pedi never brings it up, and I would never think to either. She was orn when she was born and that's that.
So my question is, to all of you who have it in your siggys, or make it a point to tell your child's "adjusted" age, why do you feel the need to express that information? Regardless of how early your LO was born, he/she is not going to go through life saying, "I'm 4 and half, but really I should be 4 and a quarter"...
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Re: QUESTION FOR PREEMIE MOMS
A 33 week preemie who is 8 months old is actually only at the developmental age of about a 6 month old. That is HUGE to a baby.
You're right though, as time goes on, the gap in development will close and there is no need to refer to an adjusted age.
I don't really use it unless someone comments on how little she is (and by that I mean skinny, not short!) because she was barely 4 pounds at birth.
Adjusted age DOES make a huge difference the earlier they are born. 6 weeks isn't a huge deal, so I don't really bring it up unless asked.
DD was born at 35 weeks. We use to adjust her but now she is pretty much caught up in size and development. She may be on the slower end of some development things but still in the normal range. Her doctor said at this point she is completely caught up.
In my state Early Development services will adjust until age 3 years.
I have typed up about 5 different responses but can't seem to put what I want to say into words. So I'll say this: Good for you. Apparently your daughter isn't developmentally behind. But some preemies are. So, and I'm just guessing here, instead of getting cranked up that their 10 month old isn't crawling, they adjust their expectations and track it with a ticker.
What is the point of this post, ffs?
I rarely mention it unless someone comments on how tiny she is because she was 2 pounds, 10 oz at birth (and has come a long way).
For me using her adjusted age is helpful when determining where she is with her milestones, etc. I think for parents of earlier preemies than DD it can make a huge difference... 7 weeks not so bad especially since she is pretty much caught up in most areas.
God, thank you. This post is irritating the fcuk out of me.
Seriously? It is common medical knowledge that preemies have the potential to hit some milestones later. This however does not mean that there is anything wrong with them. They are perfect for their adjusted age but may be slightly behind for milestones corresponding to their actual age. This is normal, and the gap in development will close with age.
That should not be flameworthy. I am guessing you are referring to people who just say "preemies are slow". This is not true, and they should be flamed.
Because I'm a preemie mom but I seem to be the only one who never took into account any kind of adjusted age. I'm certainly not agreeing with what has previously been brought up about preemie development, but bringing up a legitimate question about what's been said around here in the past.
But surely you can understand perhaps the need for acknowledging an adjusted age for say, a 32-weeker....but not so much for your 36-weeker? Is this really beyond your comprehension?
::nods:: ITA
Shween-
A baby born at 36 weeks is only one week away from being considered full term. A baby born at 30 weeks is not the same. They face unique challenges and an adjusted age just makes it easier to track milestones and can assuage a mother's fear about her child's development.
I'm not saying your daughter was not a preemie, but she certainly has a leg up on a 30 week baby.
Your daughter was obviously not behind on any milestones, but if she was I bet you would be referring to her adjusted age with your pedi.
Not beyond my comprehension at all. My original question still stands though - whether your baby was born at 36 weeks or 30 weeks, their birthday is their birthday. They are however old they are, and they develop at their own pace that's healthy for *them*. I totally understand when people ask because when she was younger, she was super tiny, and I had to tell people she was born early. But I just never thought to say, "she's 4 weeks old, but really she's only a week".
Not every 36 weeker is going to hit milestones on time either. Every baby is different. My 36 weeker totally acts like she's a month behind...but then again, the milestones have a wide age range as well.
Babies born after 36 weeks but before 40 were considered "pre-term".
Babies born before 36 weeks were considered "premature."
EXACTLY. You told people she was born early when they commented on her size. Now your DD is all caught up, no one comments anymore correct?
Now imagine you gave birth at 30 weeks gestation. You meet with friends and they comment all the time STILL that DD is so small, they express their surprise that your DD isn't sitting unassisted, can't crawl etc etc.
You are saying you wouldn't inform them that your DD was born at 30 weeks? I think you would.
You're being completely dense here. And I'm STILL not sure what your point is, except to make preemie moms feel kind of bad.
My daughter was born just shy of 33 weeks. She is 5 months old today - and she is not close to doing things that her older sister was doing at 5 months. She can't be expected to, and I would never see it as a "flame" for that to be pointed out. I have no idea where you are getting that from.
When I think about where she is developmentally, I HAVE to take into account her adjusted age. Do you get that?
And I actually have gotten double-takes from people when they ask how old she is and I give her chronological age. I don't really care, but H will sometimes hasten to say, "she was born early."
This was NEVER my intention, and I apologize if it came off that way.
Totally. I wasn't saying that a baby born at 36 weeks will hit all milestones "on time". But you have to agree that they have a leg up on a baby born at 30 weeks yes?
Some of the "late pre-term" infants need the adjustment and some don't. I am really glad your daughter never needed "credit" for her prematurity, but plenty of 36 weekers do (as my 35+4 weeker does), and obviously the earlier the baby, the more likely they will need their age adjusted.
People have all sorts of things in their ticker....why does this bother you? Even a mild "hiccup" after your baby is born is a huge deal and terribly traumatic for parents, so I would wager that the whole pre-term labor/NICU stay that (some) of these moms endured loom large in their minds/memories.
I personally have discharged 34 weekers from the newborn nursery who were just fine. I have also intubated 37 weekers for HMD (hyaline membrane disease aka premature lungs). Every baby is different. You obviously know that. I don't understand your post and your questions.
Honest answer here, Shween.
I adjust back her age because I feel inadequate, like I did something wrong. I am trying to "explain, compensate, insert whatever world you'd like here" but the fact of the matter is I feel like I've failed my child by not being able to bring her into the world with a fully developed brain/lungs/other organs.
She was born at 34 weeks, and here's what the MOD says about this...
A baby?s brain at 35 weeks weighs only two-thirds of what it will weigh at 40 weeks (17). Because their brain development is not complete, these babies may be at increased risk for learning and behavioral problems (17). Most do not develop serious disabilities resulting from premature birth.
A recent study, however, found that late preterm infants are more than 3 times as likely to develop cerebral palsy and are slightly more likely to have developmental delays than babies born full term (18). Another study found that adults who were born at 34 to 36 weeks gestation may be more likely than those born full-term to have mild disabilities and to earn lower long-term wages (19).
So because I am constantly reminded of the fact that she was born prematurely--can't take her out during RSV season, no santa pictures, all the NICU trauma, etc.
I feel like I need to make people understand, so explaining her age is the easiest thing I can do.
OK. Maybe I'm being sensitive about this. It just seems like a weird thing to not be able to comprehend to me.
I'm so late to this post (thank you, DD for your catnaps today!) but I had to post... DD was born at 33 wks and, although I don't have a ticker for her adjusted age, sometimes I think I should because she is "behind" in a lot of milestones and when commenting on someone's post or writing my own, it's easier to have a ticker than to constantly have to explain (DD was early - adjusted age is "x").
::claps::
I was going to post something but after reading this I have no need to. You put everything I was thinking into words.
Mommas Little Yankee Fan!
Ok...well....
First, I totally agree with Toledo in wondering WTF the point is with all of this. You say you get it, but clearly you dont. I, too, had a late term preemie (born at 36 weeks exactly). For the most part, I didnt use adjusted age but because she was SO close to the full-term cutoff, it wasnt really necessary. But her gross motor skills were quite delayed, so when she wasnt even crawling at 11 months, yes, sometimes I'd mention that she was a preemie or use adjusted age. More for the benefit of nosey people than for anything else.
HOWEVER- as many people have mentioned already, there is a HUGE difference between a baby born at 36 weeks and say, 30 weeks. Yes, eventually (usually by age 2) the differences will usually be unnoticeable and they will have caught up to their full term peers.
But at 7 months, for example, that's a BIG DIFFERENCE. *MANY* 7 month old babies are sitting unassisted, are crawling, etc. But with a baby born at 30 weeks, they are FUNCTIONING like a baby who is only 5 months old. Many Drs give the OK to start solids at 4 months. With a full term baby, it's usually not much of an issue. But with a preemie born at 30 weeks, that would be the equivalent of starting solids at two months old. Clearly, you see that this wouldnt be appropriate, right? It's important for parents, caregivers, and even Drs to use the adjusted age to evaluate their development and growth.
Preemies are also more likely to have medical issues and developmental delays and learning disabilities. This isnt a dig at parenting or choices, this is just one of the very hard things that is a reality for some parents of preemies. Some preemies are lucky and are able to catch up quickly and some dont experience any medical issues associated with prematurity. Some are not as lucky.
I still cant figure out if you're trying to start sh!t (and why), or if you are truly this insensitive and dense.
I'm on the fence with adjustments, personally, for the boys. They were 36w4d, technically 'late pre-term.' I had one pedi said not to adjust them at all and another said defintely count back the 3.5 weeks for milestones.I also was told by the 'adjust them pedi' to consider an additional 3 weeks on top of that developmentally for Jake due to his NICU time which made absolutely no sense at all to me and still doesn't. We haven't seen that pedi again.
On the whole they seem average for milestones. On cue for some, late for others and not really 'advanced.' I don't bring it up in regards to weight because I know some full termers they were bigger than.But for some preemies, yeah I'd say adjustments are very important in terms of where their LO's are.
People are constantly asking how old DD is. When I say "5 Months" they ALWAYS say "oh, my - she's so small!" Or "Is she doingsuch-and-such?" when I say no, they follow up with "Why not??"
Since DD was born 2 months premature and the size of a 28 weeker, I feel the need to stand up for her and let people know that. My pedi talks about her adjusted age because she wants me to know it's okay if DD is not hitting 5 month milestones...but there may be a problem if she is not hitting 3 month ones yet.
I'm so glad you can brag that your preemie has no developmental delays.