Preemies

Intro and Question

HI Ladies.  I've lurked on the bump boards forever but now decided to actually be interactive :)

I had my second baby on October 18th at 33w6d after PROM.  She was 5lbs3oz and spent 18 days in the NICU.  She was on oxygen for the first 3 days but then she was just a feeder/grower.  My whole birth experience was nothing like I had planned but I know it turned out way better than it could have. I have a 3 year old DD at home as well so our life was pretty crazy for a while but we are finally into a pretty decent routine.  

I am having a hard time with the adjusted age and reaching "milestones".  I feel like I am constantly worrying whether or not she is doing what she should be.  I try hard not to compare to my first dd at the same age but it's hard.  Did you all find that most of your LOs followed in line with their adjusted age pretty closely when it came to milestones/development?  

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Re: Intro and Question

  • Hi,

    CONGRATS! It sounds like you have your hands full with two little ones at home!

    As for my LO, he was 35 weeks IUGR.  Because he was a very late term preemie, he has reached most milestones on track with his actual age.  He rolled (front to back first, then back to front), smiled, etc around the 'average' age for each.  

    However, he is the size of the average 3 month old @ 13 lbs.  So, there are some things that are hard for him.  Example: he's been able to bear weight and stand with assistance since 4 months.  However, he can't really pull himself up or climb a stair like many 7-8 month old LO's because he's so small.  If he stands holding onto the sofa, his arms are above his head, whereas many babies would tall enough that they can kind of support themselves using their armpits.  

    And there are no signs of teeth yet:)  That's okay though, I love his gummy smile ha ha.  

    I think what you mentioned is something we all struggle with.  For me, LO's weight and size (thus eating) are my biggest source of anxiety.  I obsess about how many ounces he eats etc.  And I get very frustrated when conventional literature tells me how much he should eat etc, because they're referencing 18-20 lb babies!  So often I feel like I have to just figure it out on my own, which is frustrating.

    Also, he didn't STTN until 5 months, when I finally felt comfortable sleep training him.  So, there were just some things like this that just happened later for us.  

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  • My 26-weeker and 35-weeker both are falling very close in line with their adjusted ages.   Just keep that in mind, and also remember there is a huge range of normal even for term babies.  :) My 35-weeker is so laid back I'm sure that is why he lags as well.
  • Congrats! and Welcome. These our my 1st so I can't answer your question.
    Married to Brandon since 2/14/06
    Twin Girls born on January 1st 2012:Brooklyn Avery(Brooke) & Eliana Meredith(Ellie)
    Ellie and Brooke both have Juvenile Diabetes
    Adopted a Brother and Sister in January of 2012
    Levi Ryan-October 25th 2007 and Caroline Paige(Carly)-July 23rd 2009
    Jonah Samuel born April 21st 2013
    Expecting Baby #6-June 2014!
  • Congrats!  DD was a 35 weeker, and she met her milestones according to her actual age.  I think the only one that she didn't was rolling over.  She did it once I think around 4 months, and then never again til closer to 7 months.  Once she got older, I was concerned about her speech.  She was always on the lower end of normal for her age.  Now she's 3 and never stops talking, haha!  I was always worried about her hitting her milestones on time.  I don't think I ever stopped until she turned 2 and said more and more words and sentences every day.  They'll get there on their own time, but they will get there!  :)
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  • Congrats and welcome!! My DD was born at 33w5d on Nov. 2nd, so they were born at around the same GA.  Your DD is obviously older than Violet, but I've found so far that she falls somewhere in the middle.  She was 4lbs 11oz at birth and dropped to 4lbs 3oz, and she was slow to grow.  She lost for two weeks but now is gaining steadily.

    It seems like in terms of eating/sleeping she's much closer to her GA than her actual.  In terms of head control and such she's closer to her actual age but still not quite there. 

    I think I'll always worry about whether she's hitting milestones or not, but I know I don't need to.  She'll get there eventually and so will your LO. 

    Congrats again!

    <a href="http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="Pregnancy"><img src="http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt1d1425" alt=" BabyFruit Ticker" border="0"  /></a>
    DD1: November 2011
    DD2: December 2013

  • Welcome!  DD was born on Oct 16th at 31 weeks and is reaching most of her milestones around her adjusted age, however, some have come closer to her actual age. She started rolling over two weeks ago, at 2.5 months actual. She just started cooing and smiling (which is more in line with her adjusted age of 1 month.)
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  • Congrats and Welcome!
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