weight gain??

Janet - posted on 06/30/2010

My daughter was born when I was 34 weeks and 3 days pregnant so basically 6 weeks early. She weighed 5 lbs 2 ounces and 17 1/2 inches long born March 7, 2010. Now she is about to be 4 months and weighs 13 pds and is about 24 inches long. She has grown fast!

Candace - posted on 06/30/2010

my son was born 7wks early and weighed 3lbs 50z he's going to be two months tomorrow and he's 7.5 pds

Tanya - posted on 06/25/2010

Aubrey was on the chart by a month- she was 36 weeks, 5lbs 7oz at birth.
Gabriel was on the chart at 2 months- he was 34 weeks and 5lbs 3oz at birth (he was actually big for his age at birth), and at 4 months he was at 25%.

Its not a fair comparison with NEC.

Michelle - posted on 06/18/2010

my daughter was 5 only 5 weeks prem but she really struggling to gain any weight she was 4lb 11oz(2.1kg) she is nearly 8 weeks old and has only gained 10oz since birth she was on the 25centile on the chart at birth and now s completly off the chart she has been admitted to hospital twice but they have failed to find a cause for her lack of weight gain

Brandy - posted on 04/18/2010

my daughter was born 2lbs 6oz and when she left the hospital she was 3months old and less than 5lbs. now shes 14 months old and she only weighs 17lbs and wears 3-6mth pants but we have her on a high cal milk supplement and she eats constantly! but her dr doesnt seemed concerned.

Rebecca - posted on 04/13/2010

Hi I am going through the same thing my daughter was born at 27 wks gestation. she is now a lil over 7 months and weighs only 8 lbs 14 oz we are having so much trouble with her weight even though she eats constenly and the doctors want us to test for genetic disorders and Cystic Fiberous. Its hard she looks like she is gaining weight to me but i saw her at her smallest she was only 1 lb 5 oz at birth. I would love to talk to other mothers that have or has been through this i am so worried about her

Kaitie - posted on 04/09/2010

Well my son was only 7 weeks premie however only weighed 2.15# at birth. He has yet to be at the 50th percentile in growth. He is ahead for his age when it comes to talking and everything but the docs are still trying to find out why at 15mos he only is 18 #s. My husband and I are convinced that he jsut has his daddys metabolism since his daddy is 5'8 and 140# and his mama(me )is 5'3 118#. He still is stubborn and refuses to walk, however he talks 2-3 word sentences and repeats like no other. I would say dont worry since the docs always told us that most premies are typically longer and skinnier than most kids... The docs will count him behind until he reaches the mark of a typical child of his age. Dont worry about it and do what your baby needs and dont worry about it unless there is an actual problem. Its sounds like your a good mama and you will know if there is something that needs help or not. Remember most doctors are only people that could pass the tests they need to and dont live with your child daily... they dont know everything most of the time. Good luck!

Hilary - posted on 04/08/2010

Cassana- was your baby put on reglan or something similar for GERD? They want to put my little one on reglan which can cause NEC. Just wondering.

Vivian - posted on 03/29/2010

My son was only 4 weeks early and weighed 5lbs 7oz 18in long we had a very hard time in hospital he wouldnt eat for anything he only ate 10ml so he stayed in hospital for about a week after I had him., at 4 months he weighed 12lb 3oz but he was on a special formula and I think that helped him gain. he is now off the formula and at 7months weights 14lb 0.5oz

Angela - posted on 03/28/2010

Hi There Cassana

My son Toby was born at 24 weeks and 4 days gestation weighing 669 grams (we use grams over this side of the world), he is 17 months corrected and weighs 9.4kgs (20.7lbs). He is about the size of a 12 month old and my hope is to get him to 10kgs by his 2nd birthday in June. Toby has always had issues with his weight even though he did not have NEC. He can go weeks/months without gaining weight even though he is on Calogen in his milk, which is a hospital only fat additive. I know it is really hard to see all the other babies, even other prems putting on weight, but you do soon come to accept that your baby/toddler is small. I have friends with prems at school now who were the same as your wee girl and my boy, and they were small until about 5 then suddenly grew so it does and will happen, but may take a lot longer due to the issues they had in the NICU. Toby has issues with Dairy/Soy although not allergic and has oral sensory issues with certain foods. If anything is going on such as teething, flu etc he stops eating, well just has enough to keep hydrated.



Hang in there, and know you are not alone in having a small baby!!



Take care

Angela

PS TOby is below the chat for weight but 50th percentile for height for is ACTUAL age!! Tall and skinny, we have been told he was probably always going to be tall and skinny!!

Zoey - posted on 03/28/2010

my son was born 9 weeks early and was 2lb 12oz spent 5 weeks in nicu, hes now 7 months and was 17lb 2 weeks ago!!hes doing great now but he did have a few weight problems at the beginning. i was always comparing him with term babies, stil do sometimes but hes a healthy happy boy sitting up rolling over eating anythin and everything!!as long as they are happy thats what matters xx

Naomi - posted on 03/26/2010

My premmie was 3lbs at birth at 8 weeks prem. She grew very slowly and stayed on the 3rd percentile. She was still in 3-6 months clothes at a year old and was so skinny. We had numerous feeding difficulties, tactile issues, sleeping difficulties and she had heart surgery and lung problems. She is now 8 years old, full of energy, tiny, has ADHD but is as bright as a button. Still skinny but she is fine. She refused carbohydrates as her tummy was too sore and she lived on mango and papaya until she was about 8 months old. She is now a healthy eater, chooses fruit rather than chocolate. I would like her to have a stronger build but she is ok. Just to encourage you that they are amazing little fighters and most of these precious little premmies do fulfill their genetic potential. A very helpful book for me is "Born Too Early". I can't remember the author, you will have to google it. It lays out what you can expect with the general development of the premature baby and child. I wish i had it earlier. Hope this helps. Love Naomi

Kylie - posted on 03/24/2010

Hi Cassana, I don't think it is fair on you to compare your child to other preemies. My son was a 23 weeker and had NEC at 5days old and at 3 mths old (this one due to a hernia). He only weighed 640gms at birth and it has taken for ever for him to put on weight. After 6 mths in hospital he at the time of release was only 2.3 kg! He is now @ 18mths old or 14mths corrected and still weighs just over 7kg. There are weeks were he doesn't gain much weight at all and it doesn't help when he has "Oral aversion" (doesn't put anything into his mouth, only chews on fingers, only takes pureed custard/ yoghurt and slowly getting him to take savoury). We average about 200gms every 3 weeks and are on a special formula for preemies to promote catch up growth.! I know it's very frustrating but if your baby is eating properly and taking her quota for the day it's just a matter of perseverance. Keep your chin up :) xx

Ramona - posted on 03/22/2010

My son is now 15 months old. After checking my photo album I see that my son was also 7lbs 8 ozs. He has ALWAYS been very well under the 50th percentile and still is. At 15 months he weighs 17lbs 11ozs and he weight gain has been steady. He came at 29 weeks birth and weighed only 2lbs. I had toxemia and a fibroid in the uterus with my son that was preventing him from getting all the nutrients from me. The fibroid was creating an imbalance in the placenta causing him to be underweight as a fetus. I won't tell you not to stress because I know I did and I still do. Talk to your pediatrician if you are concerned. Over the course of last year when my son was heavily on formula, I wasn't too stressed but after his first birthday came and he weighed wasn't where I felt comfortable I spoke to his pediatrician and she perscribed a liquid syrup to help stimulate his apetite. That was about three or four months ago. He was officiall taken off of formula two weeks ago and is on pediasure to help him gain weight. My advice is talk to your pediatrician and see. If you are not satisfied with the answer, seek other medical advice if you can. Because my son was a preemie and I was afraid to rush him too much on baby food. He did not start baby food until he was 9 months old and that was when the pediatrician oked him to start, Let me know how things are going and what you decide to do. My mother and cousin can let you know that of all the mothers who have ever been concerned about weight gain, I have taken the cake and completely STRESSED about my son not gaining weight as fast as I would like. By the way what is NEC?

Alexis - posted on 03/02/2010

hi cassana my daughter was only 6 weeks early n was 5lbs born she is now nearly 4 months old n is only 7lbs 9ozs we have had lots of problems with her weight she kept loosin it at the start but aslong as she is gaining at her weekly weigh ins the peds r happy they said she want gain as quickly as my other bubs did cause she is only little my older girls was massive wheneva i take bub out ppl think she is a new born but aslong as they r feeding and happy i dont think there is anything to be worried about hope this helps xoxox