At what point if a baby was preemie

Do you stop using the exscuse "well they were early".

Kids I'm talking about were 6 weeks old and are now over 2. I get it that they could still be somewhat behind. Bit I feel like their mom will still be saying it at 18!

Re: At what point if a baby was preemie

I have a feeling she probably will too!

Re: At what point if a baby was preemie

my son was born 10 weeks premature and at 3 years old he pretty much "caught up". However, that being said, there are TONS of long lasting effects of being born premature - everything from developmental delays to attention issues to physical delays. Maybe I'm overly sensitive to this bc I am a preemie mom and I saw firsthand how delayed preemies are, but I wouldn't fault a mom for saying this, JMO

Re: At what point if a baby was preemie

My DD was born at 33 weeks!
She "officially" turned 2 yesterday (EI stops adjusting age at your original due date)!

She's a peanut! She's not even 20lbs yet! She's not walking yet!

As a lot of people know here on the site know she has T21, so, that also slows down her development.

When people do comment, my answer is "Yeah, preemie"! I try NOT to get into the whole T21 part of it, because, if it's a stranger, it's Not their business!

So, Yep, My DD will ALWAYS be "Early"!

Message edited 6/22/2011 4:57:54 PM.

Re: At what point if a baby was preemie

Dawn I don't mean to offend you or anyone else. My SIL constantly uses that excuse but yet doesn't provide much stimulation. So I wonder for her when she will eventually think they're caught up!! Lol

Re: At what point if a baby was preemie

My dd was 7 weeks early and while she will always be considered a preemie, her ped stopped treating her as a preemie at about a year. She's little, but she's growing on her own curve and hit all her milestones at the appropriate age. Fwiw, at almost 4, I don't realy mention the preemie thing. What's the point at this age? Kwim?

Re: At what point if a baby was preemie

When you say stimulation, what do you mean?

Is your SILs child behind? Do they recieve EI?

I'm sorry, just curious!

Not really offended, just saying, I'll probably be using that "early" line for quite a while (or, at least til she decides to get up and walk) LOL

Re: At what point if a baby was preemie

Re: At what point if a baby was preemie

After the first year. There is a true delay but our neonatalogist said a year is the catch-up point for our 34 weeker.

For someone under 34 weeks, it could be longer. There are studies that show preemies have a higher incidence of ADD/ADHD, among countless other complications so I wouldn't discount the effects.

At 9, my son still gets croup (weakened lungs) & does have ADD. Whether or not it's from being born early, we'll never know.

Message edited 6/22/2011 5:26:14 PM.

Re: At what point if a baby was preemie

Sorry guys it was more of a vent against my SIL. This is why I rarely post anymore.

Dawn- they need EI - they get a very limited amount and have a nanny that does nothing with them all day.

Again, no offense to anyone, guess i should've known better.

Re: At what point if a baby was preemie

Re: At what point if a baby was preemie

My dd was 8 wks early. She is now 14 months. They say they usually catch up at 2. I find that ppl will say she is so petite or so small so much. Usually I just agree, but they keep at it. So then I say well she was 8 wks premature, & then you get the "Oh that expains it." DD is thin, she is also very tall which makes her look tiny. She weighs just under 18lb. Maybe she uses it like that? I know we have had to return to the hospital at 6 months, 1 year, & will go again at 18 & 24 months. It is a follow along clinic for preemies. They evaluate them & determine if any services are needed. It is great. I wonder if they do it in NY. I am oos.

Re: At what point if a baby was preemie

There are some pople out there that will always say it but as a mom of a preemie, I believe once DS hits his adjusted age of 2, I will not be saying it. People don't believe me anyway when I say he was 8 weeks premature bc he is so big!!!!!

Re: At what point if a baby was preemie

Posted by nickipa

Posted by CaseyGirl


Again, no offense to anyone, guess i should've known better.

I didn't take any offense, just offered my POV

Re: At what point if a baby was preemie

I understand you wanted this to vent on this post but when you vent about something on here it usually backfires.....I dont like the fact she is using him being a preemie as an excuse...My triplets were born at 36 weeks...and will be 2 July 31...and as of now none of they have any delays or issues...I am NOT bragging but I am just trying to make a point bc a baby is a premiee it doesnt mean there is always going to be issues...I am sure some people will get annoyed by my response...I am sorry I am NOT trying to hurt anyones feelings or anything.... I am greatful my kids are all healthy and I give so much credit to the Moms and Dads out there that have to deal with their kids having health issues..

Re: At what point if a baby was preemie

my twins were just about 5 weeks early. they are 19mths and have no delays at all at this point. the first year they were a touch behind in doing things but not anymore.

Re: At what point if a baby was preemie

No offense taken but here is my view:

My twins were born 10 weeks early weighing 2 pounds each.

By some miracle the only issue is that they get tons of colds/coughs. The reason is that they were and are preemies. Their lungs were not fully developed at birth. And although they were in the hospital for 6 weeks, NICU cannot simulate an in utero environment that would develop a preemie's lungs equivilent to that of a full term baby.

They will forever get an statitically higher number of colds/coughs for the rest of their life compared to an individual who was born full term. I will forever explain that to people also.

In addition, I am proud of the fact that they beat all the odds by being born 10 weeks early and escaped without serious medical issues. So I PROUDLY tell everyone that they are preemies.

Again, I do not take offense to your posting..

Re: At what point if a baby was preemie

I take no offense to your post. DS was 8+ weeks premature. I was told by peds that at the age of 2 is when they should be caught up.

At 15 months, DS is at average height and weight, and in fact some people say he looks older than his age. A huge change from the first few months when he was just tiny.

I stopped going by his adjusted age once he turned 1, but I do mentally know that I should subtract 2 months from his age when I look at his milestones. Thankfully, for the most part he is reaching milestones at his regular age, but I know that might not be the case for everything.

They will ALWAYS be preemies, nothing can change that. And some effects can be life long. I feel that right now, DS is one of the very lucky ones that doesn't seem to have any major issues, but who's to say that in a year or longer we don't find something that can be attributed to him being a preemie, you know?

I'm sure you're frustrated with your SIL. Like I said, I'm not offended by your post at all. I think most people will respond with information about preemies more to educate those that are not familiar. I know for sure that if it wasn't for the fact that I HAVE a preemie, I wouldn't know much at all about all the repercussions that can come from being a preemie.

Re: At what point if a baby was preemie

Posted by LoveyQ

They will ALWAYS be preemies, nothing can change that. And some effects can be life long. I feel that right now, DS is one of the very lucky ones that doesn't seem to have any major issues, but who's to say that in a year or longer we don't find something that can be attributed to him being a preemie, you know?

I'm sure you're frustrated with your SIL. Like I said, I'm not offended by your post at all. I think most people will respond with information about preemies more to educate those that are not familiar. I know for sure that if it wasn't for the fact that I HAVE a preemie, I wouldn't know much at all about all the repercussions that can come from being a preemie.

Re: At what point if a baby was preemie

LOL, DS will be 3 in August and I still say it as an excuse to his being a skinny minny!

Re: At what point if a baby was preemie

Message edited 6/23/2011 11:16:56 AM.