I could see the difference!

We went to a kids party yesterday and there was another 2 month old baby there.. but he was so different to Kayla. I know there is the whole corrected age thing, but I hadn't really given it that much thought, only about the bigger things.. like she might smile late, and she needs to start solids later etc. But comparing the 'normal' 2 month old with Kayla - she really is still like a newborn! Her corrected age is about 3 weeks now I think.

She's held her head quite well from very early on, but she still is a bit curled up and floppy a lot of the time. And of course this other baby was just all smiles and so much more 'awake'. So cute.

Of course good ol' mum comes out with the 'you sure she's not just slow?' comment. *sigh*. I had to explain to her that Kayla is really only a few weeks old. I'm tempted to tell people her corrected age when they ask so they don't think the same thing! (at least I hope it's not that she's slow! LOL)

Anyway.. just thought I'd share :) It was a little eye opener for me yesterday regarding prems.

Ahh, but then you will have people comment on how big she is! So you just wont be able to win either way LOL.

Well, we've had those comments anyway.. coz she was so huge for a prem LOL.

how rude and insensitive of the other mother :hug: she will catch up when she's ready and that's all that counts :)

:hug: That wasn't very nice of the other mum. I hope she feels bad now.

no no - it was MY mum that said that. Not that it makes it any less rude LOL.. she was probably worried that her granddaughter was behind.

I might have a chat to the MCHN at some stage about what to expect actually, coz I hadn't really given it much thought.. just gone day by day so far.

Liz... Alexa was prem (7 1/2 weeks early) & her cousin was born 6 days after her (10 days early)..
Tyler is bigger than Alexa, but al the boys we know are, Alexa talks a heap more than Tyler, he speaks mostly gibberish, Alexa eats just about anything & Tyler is still eating tinned baby food... There was only a matter of weeks (like 2-3), between them crawling & walking etc...

So as you can see, even though she is a premmy, she is still 'ahead' in some things...

Just an examplefor you anyways :)

... I am sure Kayla will be astounding you with her rapid progress & development in no time :)

Yeah I know.. you can't really compare two 'normal' 2 month olds to each other either. hehe. They all do things in their own time. It's just that it made me realise how long she's been my newborn if that makes sense. 3 weeks in hospital growing up, and even the first few weeks at home were pretty non eventful, just ate & slept.

i feel for you! just remember that as they get older a few months doesnt matter at all! Plus you got to have your bubba for longer so really you win :)
Take care
xox

:hug:

I was going to say it gets easier, but it doesn't... it gets better. Brendan was 10 wks prem and he is now 10.5 months old and in the last 3 weeks he has gone from rolling to crawling to sitting and today kneeling. They do catch up eventually. I was always tempted to say B's corrected age, but you are only cheating yourself. i tell people that ask now thats he's 10.5 months but he is only actually 8 months. I get weird looks at first then just explain that due to prematurity he is lacking behind a little. people are always going to say thoughtless things, because they just do not understand the prem world. The best thing is to smile and nod :D or hit them back with "oh you know my child better than me do you??" sorry starting to rant a little :)

How is she going for weight?? Brendan only just hit the bottom of his chart for actual age last month WOOHOO!

Kepp your chin up, you are doing a fab job!
Take Care

How early was Kayla?

No matter when they were born..kids grow differently...

My girls were 3 days early and 5 days late. (ok so not much in reality)

But Chelsea at Jasmines age could do more things...they are 2 different kids....so at different level but same age bracket. Neither is slow or advanced...just not the same.

You know I was just thinking that same thing yesterday. I have a gf that has a little girl that is 6 months younger than dd. We took a photo of them sitting next to each other, because Zani just started sitting two weeks ago. It's the most addorable photo ever, but my first comment was: "Look how big Zani is" DD is just a tad bit smaller and thinner than Zani, but she is 6 months older.

I know what you mean about "normal" babies being more bubbly and awake than premmies. I thought I had the most unfriendly baby in the world :lol: She did not laugh at anyone and did not interact with ppl. I used to offload her at daycare and just stare at the babies that are WAY younger than her sitting there bubbling and giggling and making sounds. Just amazing. BUT, BIG BUT in just two weeks her personality has changed. She is laughing at everyone and gets sooooo silly that I can't stop lauging at her. She has just cut her first tooth and are on the verge of walking. I get ppl telling me that it would be the oddest thing to see this little person walk, but you know what ... I don't know any beter, so it wil not be strange for me.
Premmies should not be compared, you should just celebrate each developmental stage when it happens. And if someone makes a comment, shrugg it off and ignore. I NEVER tell ppl dd's corrected age, I feel that if they want to think she is "slow", or "tiny" or "underfed" that is their problem. And then she can just surprise them by standing up and taking that wobbely steps.

Nadine WoooHooo with walking :D (sorry for hijacking)

:lol: thanks! She only takes one step on her own, but "runs" along the walls and couches in the living room - it's bloody awsome

Kayla was born at 34 weeks (well the hossy calculated 33+5, but my calcs were 34 wks) but she was a whopping 3.5kg LOL.. so on the weight side of things she's the right size for her birth age hehe.

Thats an excellent weight! can you imagine if she'd gone to term :D

Yes I can imagine.. and I'd rather not! LMAO! ouchies!! If we go for 3rd bub my OB is planning on keeping a close eye on the size I think. Altho I think my body knew to get her out early anyway hehe.

Thats good that you've got a OB that will keep an eye on you :) Nature will always have its own course whether we like it or not!! Can I ask why she was born early?? Brendan was born early because my waters broke at 28wks.

We don't know. I had a night of vomiting and contractions, and I contacted my OB because I was feeling dehydrated. He admitted me and put me on fluids.. tried to stop the contractions with meds but the next time I was examined I was 4cm.. so there was no stopping it. I only had time for 1 dose of steroids for her lungs too.

That must've been scary for you... spontaneous labour. Obviously your body knew it was time to get Kayla out!!

Hey Liz,

Most has been said here but my first son was born at 33weeks, and his cousin was born FT (on her due date) 4 days later. we lived interstate but regularly visited and when the two were together you could really tell the difference. Not only size wise but she rolled at 3m, Nixon at 5.5, Sat at 6 months, Nixon at 9months, crawled at 7months, Nixon at 11months and walked at 13 months Nixon at 15months.
even now she said all these words under the sun, Nixon babbles but most is not clear.

some premmies (also depends on how prem and if they had any complications early on) take up to 2 yrs to catch up, some can take up until they start school.

i found when ppl asked how old he was i would say his actual but explain he was really only his corrected age. some ppl understand others just look at you with a blank face and have no idea!

Now i have a FT son also and there is so much difference. He started smiling at 5wks (Nixon was about 10wks i think) he started rolling a few days ago, holds his head up really well, something that Nixon never did.

Was Tallon a big baby when he was born?

Nic - I tend to tell people her actual age and then explain too. Mainly coz she's quite a big girl (over 5kg now) and still sits kinda floppy and curled up heh.

Tallon was only 2.7kg at 37 weeks, so we have no idea why she was so big!

He ha! I always used to say Gus's corrected age, because it attracted less attention that way. He has always been tiny for his age. He was born 11 wks early and weighed 1010g. He'll be 21/2 years old on 22 January and currently weighs 9.6kg! He has always been tiny for his actual age when he's met each milestone. For example he was only 6.4kg when he learned to walk at 14 months actual age, or 11 months corrected age. I found that it mostly took him a while longer than my friend's full term thriving children to reach milestones, but that once he reached one he seemed to master it more quickly than the other kids so then caught up to them and in some cases overtook them with relative skill competency. Eg went from walking to running fast in a matter of a couple of weeks, so that he could outrun friend's kids who'd been walking for several months. But I guess if Kayla isn't small for her age, then you can't as easily get away with fibbing. Generally I found people didn't really get what it means to be premature and that even strangers who seemed to "get it", didn't really understand that somehow you don't just catch up the three months that my son should have still been inutero by the time they are say, 6 months old.

Nowadays I don't fib about Gus's age. He's old enough to understand what I'm saying so I don't want to keep harping on about his prematurity and smallness for age. Generally nowadays he's so "competent" that people don't focus on his smallness, but rather how coordinated, fast, active etc he is and how he never stops talking. LOL!