If you had preemies

[linz]

Were they behind on milestones? As in did you go off adjusted age rather than actual?

My twins were born at 33 weeks. I read that they might not crawl etc when they books say since they were early, which is fine if they do or dont. But I wasnt sure in my head what to think.

Right now they are 5 weeks but 38 adjusted so even though they're over a month I feel like they could have just been born too.

This might be more me rambling and a FTM question. I just dont want to fall behind on anything. And I feel like them spending the first month in the NICU has me lost sometimes. (And maybe I need to just calm down and quit worrying )

[nomad]

My girls were born at 31w6d and spent almost two months in the NICU. We definitely have been saying their adjusted ages to people and looking at developmental milestones for their adjusted age. For most of the first year I followed a week by week book and they were exactly where they should be for their adjusted age. Not their actual age.

They are working on catching up developmentally now at 14 months. We were told premies are typically caught up by 18-24 months. They were rolling around 6 months, sitting around 7, walking around 13.

Does your NICU have a follow up program? Ours has had us come in a few times and we'll continue going until they are all caught up. Each girl sees a NP and they run through different activities they may or may not be doing at that time. It's in addition to peds appointments and its a great time to make sure they are doing what they should be.

Im sure you are doing great. Right now is survival mode. Just try to go with the flow and not over think things.

[linz]

Which book did you like? We dont have any follow up with NICU.

[demandypants]

I don't have any personal experience yet, but my friends twins were born at 34 weeks and spent some time in the NICU. She usually talked about their milestones with their adjusted age. Also, there is really a range where full term babies meet those milestones too.
You are doing great! Trust yourself!

ETA, my friends boys (and another friend who had a singleton preemie) qualified for the state early intervention program as well which helped them in areas where they did truly fall behind the "normal" spectrum. But they are all grown now (4 and 6) and you would never know they had an early start to life!

[Narwhal]

Mine were born at 29 weeks and spent 64 & 65 days in the NICU. Because they were so early we qualified for the state early intervention program. When they had their 6 month (adjusted) check, they were really closer to actual age on their milestones, so we oped out of the EI knowing we can start again at anytime.
From what I can tell, they have been closer to actual age on their physical development like, sitting, rolling, crawling, etc., and closer to adjusted on their "speaking". Babbling I didn't start until they were 10 months, so 7.5 adjusted.
I was really worried about the big preemie issues like cerebral palsy, but eventually I realized/decided it is what it is and stressing about the what ifs wasn't going to help anyone. And, like the pp said, there is such a range for the milestones for a term a baby anyway.
At this point, I really consider them their actual age and only take into account their adjusted on their verbal things (because I can get myself worked up with worry) and for sleeping recommendations (ex: I didn't do any CIO until they were 6 months adjusted).
Try not to worry even though I know it's hard. I feel like moms of twin preemies get a double whammy, your worried about all the preemie stuff and then you have double the worry, stress, exhaustion, crying, etc on top of it!
Enjoy your little ones! I already can't remember my boys ever being that small.

[josieposy]

Well every kid will be different but in the general sense it all evens out eventually for many kids.

I had 29 weekers and by age 2 they were basically on par developmentally with their peers. We did have to go by adjusted age for awhile but at almost 4 I can say that the only reason anyone knows they were preemies is because I told them.

[fryjack2]

My boys were 33 weekers as well. They were appropriately delayed for some milestones for the first 18 months, although Henry walked at 11 months uncorrected age. His gross motor skills have always been on target or ahead.

They are 2.5 now. The biggest delay we have seen has been speech. They started therapy at 18 months. Just in the past 2 months has there been a dramatic improvement.

I have also noticed that while most preemies catch up by 2, ours seem to be doing things about a month behind other kids their age.

I remember taking a picture of them on their due date and thinking how it was amazing that they had been around for 7+weeks already instead of being born.

Your pedi will use a preemie scale for measuring things so you won't fall behind on anything. Just focus on loving those little ones and surviving right now

[nikki25]

Mine were born at 33 weeks exactly as well. They will be 10 months on the 27th. I really never used adjusted age as they have always developed very normally and are exactly where they should be if they were born term. One twin was a little slower to sit-up and crawl but honestly think it was more out of laziness and being content to just hang in one spot.

They were automatically signed up for early intervention and the social worker first came out around 3-4 months. She didn't feel the need to come back for a follow-up but routinely sends a check-sheet for me to fill out to ensure they are where they should.

I do agree with others. I think if they are a tad behind it may just be because ever child is different and necessarily indicative of them being a preemie. But, your pedi will keep an eye out on them. Good luck and congrats!!

[kershnic]

I read somewhere that babies mostly catch up by the time they are the number of months that they were weeks early. So, for example, my 34 weekers were 6 weeks early and therefore according to that "rule" would be caught up developmentally at 6 months. I'm not sure what the source on that is though. I have also read that very premature babies may not fully catch up until age 2.

As they get older the range of "normal" expands so it seems like it starts being more dependent on your kid and less on their exact age.

I have always talked about their actual age, but for early milestones (smiling, giggling, rolling) kept their adjusted age in the back of my head. Those first few they were probably closer to their adjusted age. They both sat almost exactly at 6 months, and I think more recently have been pretty on for their actual age. Honestly though, I tried to stop myself from reading too much about developmental expectations because it can drive you crazy.

[katfco]

I'm lurking, but my daughter was a micropreemie, and just like everyone else said, they're expected to catch up by age 2. Depending on delays and state programs, they may qualify for therapy.

If you and the pediatrician think they're exhibiting delays beyond adjusted age, you can request an evaluation. Five weeks is still pretty young, so keep an eye on the range of typical development for the adjusted age.

[stretchad]

Hi I'm not a mom of multiples, but I accidentally clicked this board and saw the preemies title. DS was born at 33 weeks and spent a month in the NICU. The approach that his docs have taken have been to always adjust for his age when considering how 'on track' he is with milestones. That said, most of the major developmental milestones have been right on track with his actual age. The only one I'm keeping my eye on now is speech, but that is just me...docs have not given me any cause for concern yet.