Hi All,

Just wondering if any of you lovely people can help me out with a few things. My waters broke at 30 weeks, DS was born at 32 weeks. He was in the NICU for about six weeks. His weight wasn't too bad, 1.9kg and he had no issues other than reflux and slight jaundice. He did have a testicular hernia operation when he was a couple of weeks old the poor bugger!

He has been quite good so far but some things just keep 'niggling' me. His development is quite slow, even if I adjust him to 10 months. He is sitting and crawling but not standing or walking. He doesn't say anything. He does laugh a lot and has great eye contact with lots of smiles. He is still spoon fed. He doesn't do finger food and doesn't hold his bottle. The doctor has said he is a bit behind developmentally and has referred me to a physio and we have seen her a couple of times, she just gives me exercises to do with him to encourage development. Nobody seems overly concerned.

His health is not too bad but he has had two bad colds in the past three months. He gets very congested and doesn't shake them off easily. He hasn't had anything worse yet and hasn't been on antibiotics.

Should I do anything or take him anywhere or just accept that his prematurity will always be an issue? Should I be looking out for anything else? His birth was a bit traumatic as well, emergency c-section due to cord prolapse which didn't help matters. He was in distress for a bit.

Anyway, nice venting to you. It is quite hard as I worry about his immunity. Thanks for any advice and just for listening.

One thing I've learned about our little prems is the mantra "they do it in their own time". And because you're always being monitored and your watching for milestones to make sure they "catch up" I think we get a little paranoid if they don't hit a milestone "on time". FWIW the FT bubs in my family and monthers group have walked between 7 and 15 mths - there's a massive range in "normal" bubs so at 10 mths corrected I wouldn't say your DS is necessarily behind.

If you are worried get a 2nd opinion - is your Dr a GP or paed?

Hi Dimondiz.

My DD was a 32 weeker, IUGR and then FTT.

I agree with Razman than because you have way more visits to professionals with a prem you get very focussed on achievements.

Your little guy sounds like he's doing great.

"Still spoon fed" LOL my 5 year old would still be spoon fed if he had his way. I think at 10 months this is no biggie at all. Some babies are independent, others want mummy to feed them.

DD didn't crawl until the day after her first birthday and walked at 17 months. This was still within the "normal" range. It did worry me but that was a waste of my energy.

Will you have a 12 month (corrected) appointment with a developmental paed? For our hospital (RHW Randwick) I think 32 weeks was the cut off?? We had a very comprehensive assessment which allayed my concerns as DD was at or ahead of her corrected age at that time except gross motor where she was assessed at 11 months so not too far behind.

I believe 32 weekers are corrected for 2 years so you should still look at milestones corrected at this stage. Not many 10 monthers are walking or talking much. I remember Abi's 12 month assessment the paed gushing about her language as she said about 6 words "with meaning" during the assessment and the paed assessed her at 18 months for language!! She was not talking at 12 months actual. So not talking at 10 months corrected is fine. I assume he's babbling, making sounds.

If you are having a 12 month corrected assessment I'd wait. If not, get him checked out for your peace of mind but try not to worry and enjoy the ride. Prematurity may always be an issue but also it may not. We had a rocky 18 months but now at 3, besides DD being small for her age, I would say we do not have ongoing issues that we know of.

His development sounds within normal range.

He is only 10 months. Not many babies are standing and/or walking then.

My daughter was just crawling by then. She wasn't standing. SHe wasn't waving or clapping or pointing.

I agree that we prem mothers stress a bit more about milestones and it is hard when our children's chronological age says "12 months" not to expect normal one year old stuff.

Best wishes

Thanks all, this really helps. Especially when everyone else just doesn't get it. I was very surprised the other day when a nurse from Parenthelpline told me that at 12 months he no longer needs to be adjusted. I think that's wrong Cheers xx

Many, many health specialists don't really "get" prems. Definitely correct until at least age two. Prems under 30 weeks often need correcting until school age. THere really is no universal "catch up" age.

Best wishes.