Development of prems

Hi girls

Lots of our babies came quite early right?
Are you as paranoid as me re possible developmental/behavioural problems later on? I watch these poor babies like a hawk! So far their milestones seem just fine, falling somewhere between their corrected and actual ages. Poor Rachel thought her mom lost her marbles when she rolled over for the first time, and I got so excited I was actually in tears!
My SIL's sister, a paed, tells me though that as long as they had no brain bleeds, they should be 100%. They didn't (in fact they had no complications) so I guess I really should relax!

Hi Paula

I am concerned - mainly for Grace who was and still is so very tiny. I have a few concerns - the first being that on discharge our hospital always have all prem babies evaluated for hearing problems by an audiologist. Michael was fine but with Grace they were not able to get a reading at all. The audiologist put it down to the fact that her ears were still so tiny and the fact that the probes could not properly be inserted in her ears. We have had two more evaluations still with no readings. The paed does not seem too concerned as he thinks it is a technical issue with their equipment and the fact that her ears are still so small. We are going back in 3 weeks for another evaluation and if still no readings then they will perform some other tests. I am constantly looking for signs that she is aware of noise and sound - I think she is - but am still worried until they conclusively tell me my daughter's hearing is 100%.

My other concern for now is her weight gain. FEeding her is a battle and she won't take more than 80 / 90ml feed at a time - just pushes the bottle away after a bit. At our last visit the paed was not happyw ith her weight gain so has prescribed a supplement to add to her feed in order to increase the calories. she is basically now only the size of a newborn (about 3.6kg) and she is 14 weeks old! (adjusted age 8 weeks) She is only now starting to smile and lift her head in a very wobbly fashion - whereas our son lifted his head when he was about a week old!

On the plus side neither had any breathing problems or brain bleeds so hopefully that counts in their favour!

Sorry for me cipping in; A few years back when my little niece was born, her mothers water broke the evening and when she told the nurse they tell her no she imagen it, so she layed there the whole night in labour (labour was not really progressing) and early the morning when her dr came to see her she told him her water break the evening and the nurses wouldn't beleive her so when he check, he saw it was true, so all hell break loose, my niece was delivered with a emergency c-sec, but a day after she was born, the same stupid nurse told my niece that the LG might be deaf because she swallow so many amonic fluid but they have to wait to get her tested as she is to small.

My niece of course was in a very bad shape about this and when her parents when to visit her, her dad saw something was not right so he drag the story out of her he told told her she must look at her child he moved so the LG didn't see him so he was standing at her head and clap his hands just once and the LG got such a fright that she start screaming blue murder and she also open her eyes.

So just try this maybe she is just developing slower than her little brother.
Good luck I hope its nothing serious.

I am also concerned regarding development. My LG doesn't seem to be as strong as her brother, when you hold her upright she stands for a few seconds then falls, on the other hand you can hold her brother and he stands firmly, no problems.When they were 6 weeks the doc. did check their reflexes and said they were fine. I don't know if i should wait and see or have her checked out.

C was born prem and did reach all her milestones a little late but she is fine now in school and with a little extra help and attention from me.

They also suggest that premmies go to an "arbeidsterapeut" sorry cant think of the english now to help them get up to date with their peers. But that is if there is really a problem with their motor/gross skills and not taking a little longer to walk etc etc.

They usually do an assessment of 1 & half hours - play therapy

As far as I can find out, one can have them evaluated by a neurodevelopmental peadiatrician at the time when they can sit, or by an occupational therapist by the time they are 4. I think I will do that. They have their 6 months pead appointment next week, so will first hear what he thinks too. It is so difficult, one doesn't want to "miss the boat" and do nothing, but I am very very reluctant to have them labelled as "behind" or somthing like that. It sucks.

That is good Paula just remember it can be fixed with lots of attention and us mommies tend to think they will be behind for the rest of their lives it but that is not true!

My problems started at 27 weeks and we tried to keep baby in my tum for as long as possible because of this!

But once again not all premmies are behind, some cope very well!!

How prem was she? I assume she was in the NICU too?

Well I know how you all feel and I am still trying to get them out of the hospital.

I think I will also be watching them like hawks and have started already making sure they are alert.

Regarding the ear tests... They could not pick up on Erin's hearing in her left ear as she was still too small. I also panicked but then they checked after she weighed over 2kg and all is fine. They do struggle if their little ears are too small.

paula she was born 33 & half weeks & was in ICU for 2 weeks

You did well to keep her in that long if your problems started at 27 weeks already! Mine started and ended on the same day - hehe.
How are the babies doing Joleen??

Hi ladies

I also watch them like a hawk but must say that everything they do differ about 2-3 days. They head are very steady, no hearing or sight problems. They know their hands are their, suck the hands and thumb, look at you when you talk to them and start to push on their arms now if I put them on their tummies, so I am possotive that they are on track with the development.

When did yours start to roll over Paula and do they have any signs of teething yet?

Hi Melanie! Long time no see!
Olivia started around 4.5 months and Rachel only at 5.5 months. They are eating their hands and arms terribly, and drooling all over the place but no signs of teeth in the gums yet. D only got her first tooth at 7.5 months so I guess it will still be a while. Yours??

Twins are gaining weight - Erin weighs 2.120kg and has put on 240g since birth and Wade weighs 2.820kg and has put on 320g since birth. Both drinking bottles very well. I am hoping that they will come out over the weekend.

Hi Paula

Mine is eating their hands and are in the mouths the whole time, over the weekend I put some stopyne on Montinique's gums and she was not so irritated. This is going on for about two weeks now. Not one of them are rolling over but I think Montine is close, lifting head very nicely when she is on her tummy and pushing on her arms, so nice to see!!!