will my premmie always be behind with development?

Kristi - posted on 06/04/2010

I have a premmie, well she is 7 years old now, and she is not behind at all. She was at first, but she caught up. And she is very smart. Madison was born at 27 weeks, how early was your baby born?

Michelle - posted on 06/04/2010

Our son was born at 25 weeks and will be turning 2 in June. He continues to amaze us with his growth and "adjusted milestones".
However, he is NOT talking at all. He says "ahh" when he sees himself in the mirror and when we say "1..2..3.." he'll say "eh-bwa".
We're in the Early Intervention programs and will continue for as long as it's needed. It goes without saying that we feel truly blessed to have such a miracle boy in our lives and we'll continue to love him up each and every day!

Sandra - posted on 06/04/2010

My son was born at 32 weeks, due to my developement of sever pre-eclampsia. He was in the NICU for 3 weeks, and on oxygen at home for just about 2 months. He will be 5 this October and you would never know he was a premie. His development was behind other babies the same age, but by the time he was about 2 he was pretty caught up with the other toddlers his age. It did take him a while to walk, he was about 18 months by the time he tried. But once he got the hang of it he was up and running in no time, and now he is unstoppable!

Just have faith, it will take some time but your little angel will be running around with other children their age in no time!

Marlo - posted on 06/04/2010

Hello My daughter was born at 29 weeks, She was behind for the first 2 years then all of a sudden she started learning by leaps and bounds.. The doctors told me not to expect her to be on schedule like others kids her age, so I wasn't too worried...
She is now 10 years old reads on a 7th grade level and excels in math.. She plays basketball and football, she is the ONLY girl on all boys teams..

I think most catch up sooner or later..Just enjoy her..My prayers are with you and your family.

Helen - posted on 06/03/2010

One thing that I have learnt as the mum of 3 premmies (32, 34 and 30 wks) is not to stress at all about when they reach certain milestones. They will get there when they do and ignore all your friends who are telling you that their babies are doing this and that. Premmies do things when they are ready to and they can't be compared to any other babies. My youngest (and earliest) turns 5 this year and while they are all quite small kids they're all at or near the top of their classes at school and really starting to come into their own physically. Just keep talking to your doctor if you have any concerns about major delays. My eldest did end up having physio to encourage walking etc but was walking at 15 months (which would be 13 months corrected age) but this isn't unusual for full term babies.

Bianca - posted on 06/03/2010

my son was born at 26 weeks, he is now going to be 2 next month, hes still a lil behind with talking but other than that hes doing great. it really all depends on how early your baby was and how much help ur getting for the time that she/ he is behind. here in california there is this program called Early Start, and my son Joey was in it for the first year and a half of his life, and it helped out soooooooo much rather than just figuring it out on my own, they teach him how to lift himself with his arms, move around his head, just all the general motor skills. it was a huge help, and we became very close with his teacher. =)

Heather - posted on 06/03/2010

My daughter was born at 31 weeks. They told me she is considered "preemie" until the age of 2, at that time they measure her against other kids her current age and not her adjusted age. She seems to meet the milestones of her actual age and not her adjusted age. I have always treated her as a full term baby and not a preemie, BUT I also don't measure her against other children. I figure she will do things when she is good and ready and I don't really stress about when she is meeting milestones. But if you are worried talk to your doctor about it. We met with a specialist when she was at her adjusted 6 month age. They told us she was actually closer to her actual age than her adjusted age, just gave us a little piece of mind :)

Carol - posted on 06/03/2010

my daughter weight 3lb 6oz at birth she was 10 wks early, she has not had any set backs other than being just a bit smaller than other kids her age, she is the smartest kid in her class. just keep up with her and everything will be fine. i asked my doctor that very same question a year after my daughter was born, she told me she wouldnt have any problems.

Anitra - posted on 06/02/2010

Not all the time in all areas of growth. Each child is different just as full term babies and their own development that not everyone can see. There are physical, mental, learning developments that they face but not always an issue with every preemie. Have faith and Pray, that's what we have been doing fro the beginning. So far, we've been Blessed with his physical, however, now in 1st grade we've run into some learning developments that may cause him to be held back a year. We'll see how summer school session turns out and the admission exam for the second grade before fall. Keep your head up and faith strength strong.

Danielle - posted on 06/02/2010

Spencer was born at 29 weeks after his heart rate had dramatically dropped, he was resusitated at birth and was intubated for 3 days and Cpap for another 8. He has just been diagnosed with mild cerebal palsy. Not rolling over confidentally yet though can do it when determined enough. He also isn't sitting on his own. He can, however, wiggle himself all over the floor and I can find him feet away from where he started out! Also, his fine motor skills and hand movements are very good (has been clapping hands for months now!) If you are concerned with development and milestones I'd speak to your paediatrician.

Karen - posted on 06/02/2010

It depends on the child. My son Eddie is almost 10 now, he was 24 weeks gestation when he was born. As soon as he was home the hospital set me up with therapy, then early intervention, then he went to special needs preschool. They told me he was 6 months to a year behind in gross motor skills, fine motor skills, etc. It was hard for a while but he accomplished all his milestones. He still needs speech therapy in school but he's in regular classes. The therapy really helped him.

Alledra - posted on 06/02/2010

Maybe not. I'm the mother of two preemies. One 6 and the other 9 mos. My 6 year old, has caught up and passed. She's very smart (straight A's) and is actually big for her age. She was really small until about age 2. Now my baby is catching up slower. He crawled late, doesn't have any teeth and is on the small side for his age. But we'll see.

Jessica - posted on 06/02/2010

My baby, who is now 4.5, was 6 weeks early. She was 4 lbs. 9 oz. and had alot of medical issues when she was first born. We've had alot of developmental delays, even now. She's been in speech therapy for 3 years, still doesn't recognize all her letters and numbers, and still trips up over pronunciation of her letters. However, she does have an enormous vocabulary and incredible sense of handling responsibility and very mature for her age. We've encountered quite a few of medical issues since she was born, and she has come out of them seamlessly. She had chicken pox at 14 mos. that attacked her brain fluid and caused her brain to swell,but escaped brain surgery by 2 hours, then she contracted rotovirus at daycare, which landed her in the hospital for a week, then last year, we were in and out of Children's Hospital for 5 months due to suspected Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis, but she has since been redignosed with severe allergies. Preemie's do have their problems, but, given the appropriate opportunity, they do come out on top. I hope that this helps..

Jessica in Arkansas

Cindy - posted on 06/02/2010

My son was born 10 1/2 weeks early and weighed 2 lbs 12 1/2 ozs. He lost down to 2 lbs 3 ozs. before he started gaining and keeping the weight on. He just turned 29 on May 19th. He was completely caught up by 3 yrs. I think it depends on what kinds of problems the child is born with. Mine just needed some time to mature. His lungs were completely developed when he was born, so he didn't have to have oxygen. He also was pretty healthy all his young yrs. Hardly ever sick and only 1 or 2 ear infections. enjoy your child while he is small, they grow up way too fast!!

Cindy Buckskin

Jessica - posted on 06/01/2010

Oh I can agree that my preemie is a miracle. She was 31 weeks. And still is behind in many physical aspects of development but makes up for them in verbal. At 2 she can talk up a storm to us, but just mastered independent stacking. You have to look at the whole picture and work with them on where they are falling behind. It takes some work, but that work is also fun. If you have more specific questions I can tell you how I worked with mine to build some of her skill set.

Annette - posted on 06/01/2010

IF you have any questions you should write them down and ask ALL of them to your pediatrician,never be afraid to ask them. I go in with loads of ????'s (I'm so sure they love me)..I have always been told that in most cases the babies catch up..my little chica is doing beautifully except she's a born thief because she has stolen my heart and any common sense when in her presence.

Susan - posted on 06/01/2010

hope it helps :) my son was a 32 weeker (2 pounds 10 ozs,) IUGR ............ Your baby is beautiful!!

Megan - posted on 06/01/2010

hey just wanted to say a big thanks to everyone!! u have all made me feel so much better about my daughters development!!

Susan - posted on 06/01/2010

they almost always are caught up by the time they start kindergarden. my son caught up by two with the exception of speech. thats the purpose of early intervention,,,we just graduated from EI as my son just turned three...but we were transitioned into the school district and my son qualified for speech through the schools pre-k program. dont worry..just keep on top of EI and your transition will be just fine.......your baby will catch up fine...and dont forget...go by corrected age for milestones!

Laura - posted on 06/01/2010

My little man was born 8 weeks early and has not really been behind with anything! Was rolling over at 4 1/2 months crawling at 8 months and is now trying to walk (was 1 on Sat) I think it depends on how early they are born to be honest as each day inside the womb is precious.

Tina - posted on 05/31/2010

when your baby is a preemie, those developmental stages and ages pretty much go out the window. It just depends on the circumstance they go at their own rate, mine was born at 29 weeks, they told me he'd "catch up" round 2 yrs.. He is 10 yrs now and you would never know, he's a little short for his age, but my family is short.. and as for intellegence, he was placed in the gifted program at school this year.. so no worries there.. He walked later than his brother, and talked a little later... but otherwise he was just small :) every child is different, specially when they are early.. you kind of just go with it :)

Grace - posted on 05/31/2010

My daughter was 6 weeks early when she was born,due to me having pre eclampsia, but she was not behind on development. Her cousin who is 2 months older then her was born 2 weeks before his due date and was behind on some of his development. I think it just depends upon the child.I wouldn't worry to much

Kylie - posted on 05/31/2010

Joseph rolled for the first time when he was about 7 months actual. He didn't roll confidently until about 9 months actual. I wouldn't worry too much, she'll get tehre in her own time.

Debbie, you sound like me! I had pre eclampsia too. Joseph was due when I was 37, but born when I was 36 and I'd been told I would never have babies too.

I didn't gain any weight though! I didn't get the fluid retention until after Joseph was born!

Melissa - posted on 05/31/2010

Ah bless that really is a miracle.I my case the sperm donor was kicking me in the stomach which caused me to go at 27weeks..he was born dead and they had to revive him

Debbie - posted on 05/31/2010

the reason she was a preemie was because I had pre-clampsia, clamspia and toxizemia I had gained 100+ pds of water... At age 37. Doctors told me all my life that I could never have kids, she is my miracle.

Melissa - posted on 05/31/2010

god debbie you got it very lucky,..wel were all lucky and blessd to have our kids with and without complications

Debbie - posted on 05/31/2010

my Tomi Jo was born at 26 1/2 weeks just turned 4 we havent seen any delays infact she is a fast learner an taught her lil cuz to walk, the only thing she is extremely shy... we got lucky

Melissa - posted on 05/31/2010

Megan my son didnt move at all and when he did he was very delayed. he never crawled and didnt start walking till he was 3.the same with talking he was just over 3 when he done that. but my lil man has mild cerebal palsy so that played a big part in his delayment of walking but i also no premmies who were doing it from earlier.maybe next time with her neonatologist you could ask her

Megan - posted on 05/31/2010

wow thats early.. nikiah was 8 weeks early.. she is now 23 weeks.. should she be rolling by now?? i see all these other children the same age as her and they are all rolling, however none of them were prem

Melissa - posted on 05/31/2010

My son was born at 27 weeks and they told mehe would have caught up[ by the age o3, he is 5 now next wek and still very behind with a great deal of medical issues. It depends on how early they were and what there complications were. Like theres a boy living across the road from me he weighed only a pound Hes now 20 and 6foot in height. So you cnt just go by one babys progress. Hope this is helpful to you.

Kylie - posted on 05/31/2010

In England where I am, the advice is they will be fairly caught up by 2 years old, and completely caught up by 5. Sometimes any baby, and especially premature babies, might have other problems which cause delayed development, so you should get any concern checked out.



How early was your baby? My son was born at 27 weeks, and he is one now. He can't crawl yet (but boy is he trying)!