parents of preemies

[alison]

Dd2 is about 6.5 months old. She was born just short of 36 weeks.

She has hit like zero milestones, except for head control and smiling. She will occasionally grasp for things, but it's really jerky movements, and will bring things to her mouth, but isn't very deliberate about it. She doesn't roll over, doesn't vocalize much (very rarely giggles). I'm not super worried, because she seems very aware about what's going on around her, just super behind. Like even with an adjusted age, she seems a good 3 weeks behind that--so somewhere where a 4 month old might be.

I'm not sure I want to take her to PT, but am starting to think about it as a *maybe*. I'm 99% sure she'll hit these milestones at some point, but really?--almost 7 months and STILL not rolling over? Her head is HUGE (12-18 month hat size), and we were told that it's normal for the big-headed kids to have a harder time rolling a big noggin over.

Anyone have a preemie who hit milestones super late?

[PrincessFiona]

You should have her evaluated. Mommy gut should never be ignored.

Zoe was born at either 32 or 33 weeks (we were never sure). She hit her milestones mostly on time and even walked early, but she never crawled and had some peculiarities that were investigated by our NICU follow-up team. It turned out for us that it wasn't the milestones themselves but her personal adaptations to them that were the issue.

Now is the time for early intervention.

We got that intervention early and I'm glad we did. Zoe wasn't crossing the midline every with her hands. We were told she would have written z with her left hand and oe with the right without intervention.

Call.

Kris

[alison]

You're probably right.
Dd2 does cross her midline, and so that was a relief at her last well-baby 2 weeks ago.

[Michele]

Daegan was born at 30w5d and he hit every milestone either before or at his adjusted age...most things before. I agree with Kris that if you *think* something might be off, get it checked. It may just be that she's on her own slower pace.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

I feel like an evaluation can't hurt. You can always decline services if the evaluation finds nothing/very small.

[alison]

Ok. I'll take her in. I think the not rolling over is the big one for me.
Thanks!

[scrub-jay]

My dd rolled over at 9 months, she was born at 41w1d. Our Ped was never concerned bc he was content with her core tone? I'd still talk to the ped about it to be sure.

[oceanchild]

DH says rolling over isn't really a milestone. It doesn't matter. But I'd ask your ped what she/he thinks.

[migirl]

My daughter was full-term and was slow to hit a lot of milestones (didn't walk until 18 months, had an unexplained language delay, wouldn't self-feed for whatever reason) ... She's fine, just does things on her own timeline. Not saying that's what's happening with C, just that sometimes it's nothing to worry about.

[alison]

Thank you! So that is why the pediatrician was all "I'm not concerned about her not rolling over yet." Aha! And there I was thinking roll overs were one of the markers for greatness.

M was a late walker and we panicked like idiots around 16 months when it still wasn't happening. And then off she toddled, never falling, and taking stairs on Day 2. Yikes!

[alison]

I couldn't resist. Our insurance will cover the cost of someone COMING to our house to assess dd2. I think I need a little peace of mind that she's on the right track. I'm pretty sure she's just behind, but having a specialist in developmental delays have a look can't be a bad thing.

[JDAZ11]

Thank you! So that is why the pediatrician was all "I'm not concerned about her not rolling over yet." Aha! And there I was thinking roll overs were one of the markers for greatness.

M was a late walker and we panicked like idiots around 16 months when it still wasn't happening. And then off she toddled, never falling, and taking stairs on Day 2. Yikes!

Stairs on day 2! That's amazing!

[migirl]

I couldn't resist. Our insurance will cover the cost of someone COMING to our house to assess dd2. I think I need a little peace of mind that she's on the right track. I'm pretty sure she's just behind, but having a specialist in developmental delays have a look can't be a bad thing.

I would do the same thing. I was pretty sure there was nothing *wrong* with DD in terms of her speech delay, but we did a little bit of speech therapy anyway bc there was no cost to us so ... can't hurt, why not?

[alison]

Stairs on day 2! That's amazing!

Stairs on day 2, because the stinker didn't start walking until she was 17 months old!

[MrsC]

That's great that someone will come to your home! I do think it's harder for bigger babies to get moving. C never really rolled over until he got moving.