Long term effects of prematurity twins

[Albaba]

I have twin girls born 7 weeks early. We got them through neonatal and everything was great or so we thought. They were just behind because they were premature and that it would take them longer to do things. Twin 2 started walking first at 19 months so we thought Twin 1 wouldn't be far behind. Attending physio religiously which we thought was just a bit of a kick start to get her going. Still no walking and the was referred for a MRI which I thought in my head would be clear but wasn't and she was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy which was obviously a huge shock and devastating but she is a great wee girl, smart and just gets on with things and doesn't let it hold her back.

Anyway twin 2 has no physical difficulties but has struggled in School. Went in to P1 and left at the end of P1 behind her peers, same in P2 not keeping up to the standard of were she should be. It was highlighted in her reviews in P1 and P2 her difficulties. So now in P3 and they want her referred to an Educational Pysch. I had a meeting with the SENCO and seeing everything wrote done makes depressing reading. Very poor at literacy, very poor at maths, poor attention span, difficulty concentrating and then there was inappropriate behaviour like being cheeky to the teacher and telling her that the class was boring.

They both are going to extra booster classes at the schools request for literacy and numeracy which we hope will help. I try with her at home but she gets frustrated and then I get frustrated with her. We have talked about it at home with my DH and I think we are going down the ADHD, maybe dyslexia route.

It just feels so rubbish when you have done your best and you end up with two kids with SEN. Anyone else in the same boat or have we just been unlucky?

[TeenTimesTwo]

My (adopted) DD (age 14) was born at 32+6. Because there was neglect and also learning difficulties we can't quite unpick what is the cause of some of her issues. She struggles with some motor skills, gets extra time for exams, and is mid-low sets.

I think you can go crazy trying to work out causes, you just have to accept that your holiday to the beach in Southern Spain has diverted to the Mountains in Italy. So, not what you were planning, but equally enjoyable and rewarding in albeit a different way.

As a parent, you can help your DC to make the most of what they have, and to be resilient, kind, and optimistic.

[Raederle]

Yes I do think it’s unfair to have gone through all that worry and stress and to get your babies home and then for the worry and stress to continue and grow.

But teentimestwo is right you can go crazy trying to work out all the reasons why. You’re probably at the worst time now because you don’t understand everything that is going on with DT2. Hopefully the educational psychologist will have some strategies to help her.

DS2 was born at 30 weeks and developed hydrocephalus due to bleeds on the brain. He has severe dyslexia which we thought was due to this. It turns out that he has a rare chromosome disorder and the dyslexia has nothing to do with his prematurity. It makes no difference why and I would worry about him anyway.