To ask when you first knew?

[mypoormumx]

Sorry I'm the worst for posting for traffic but nobody replied when I posted in SEN.

My baby girl is only 4 and a half months old. She was born 8 weeks early and had a bleed on her brain when she was 3 days old. Doctors told us that the size of the bleed would have killed an adult  but as she is a newborn her brain is growing at its fastest so she can make a recovery from. They told us it is almost certain she will have Cerebral Palsy however they won't know the severity of it until she's a bit older.

My worries:
She can't hold her head up
She sticks her tongue out A LOT
She will focus for a little bit then her eyes roll to the bottom corner, sometimes she goes a bit cross-eyed.
She doesn't reach or grab anything and isn't slightly interested in her play gym.

I suppose she is a premmie baby but I'm just expecting and waiting for the diagnosis

She is a chunk so I sometimes forget she's behind! She weighs 15lb and is 1ft 10inches long!

Thanks for reading x

My DM says they found out my DB had Cerebral Palsy when he was about 6 months, but didn't find out the severity until he was older, when he didn't hit his milestones, but she says even then it doesn't mean she won't at a later date. Sorry I can't be more specific, my DM says it is just a waiting game.

@Duskqueen thank you x

It's ok. I should say my DM went through this 42 years ago, my DB has it in all his limbs to a degree and can't talk, he lives in a bungalow with 24 hour care, but is very happy and considering everything has a good life, they take him on holidays abroad, horseback riding, he used to have college classes, played football until he threw himself out of his chair to stop the ball going in the net, he goes swimming and has lots of friends there. It is harder as he can't communicate properly, but he manages to get across what he needs. He is also very cheeky with a wicked sense of humour. I am telling you this so you know she can still have a good life either way.
I can't say I hope she doesn't have it, as you know she will, I just hope it isn't too severe for her. My DM told me to wish you all the best as she knows what it is like to be in your situation.

You will just have to wait to see if she hits her milestones unfortunately. I know it seems really drawn out and annoying, but just keep going and be patient. Sending lots of love and well wishes

Have you been given any tips on encouraging her to hit mile stones? The department for education have good tips on what a baby may be able to do and how you can help. I know it's a waiting game but you may be able to encourage some things x

Is she 4.5 months from birth or 4.5 months gestational age adjusted? (I.e. 6.5 months from birth.)

Up until about age 2.5 preemies are a little bit "delayed" because they have to develop outside the womb. So a baby born 8 weeks early would display typical newborn behaviours at 8 weeks of age. That's quite normal.

When doing a developmental assessment health care professionals will adjust for prematurity. So it may take your baby "longer" to do certain things but if you calculate her age from when she was due, she'll actually be "on time".

I knew my girl was a delayed when she still wasn’t sitting @8/9 months. Then, I suppose I started getting support also from health professionals. It’s a very worrying time. Cant offer much more in terms of advice. I wish I could because it’s tough.