Very poorly baby can they catch up

[LolaFerrariswhirlwindadventure]

Hello I should possibly post this on sn but I'm going to post this here... Going on the postive presumption that now his medical needs are addressed they is no reason why he should not begin to develop typically (as suggested by professionals).

My son is six months and has spent four of them in hospital, often in intensive care.

He struggled to breathe until he got a tracheostomy in January, up until then he didn't grow very much as all his energy seemed to go on breathing. He also couldn't sleep due to severe obstructive apnea. He has always tracked with his eyes (people and toys) , recognised our voices and had expected reactions to people hurting him.

He didn't smile properly till 4 months and is only beginning to hold his head up now. He loves being in a sitting postion but needs a lot if support. His head is massive compared to his body also (born on 50th centile now head still there but body under 0.4th)...

In the last two months he has started putting his hands to his middle and also putting his hands and everything he can grab into his mouth. He is very fascinated with his hands...

I am just quite worried he will never catch up. If anyone has had a baby who was very poorly / spent a lot if time flat out in hospital bed would appreciate knowing how hard it was to catch up. I am prepared for the fact he may not achieve any milestones but keeping positive for now.

First of all, I'm glad he's improving, hope he'll keep going in the right direction.

I haven't had quite the same experience as you, hopefully I can help though.
Dd1 was 11 weeks prem, very ill for a few weeks, but well enough to come home at 7 weeks, albeit with issues. She was very slow to develop at first - 12 weeks for first smile, 10 months to sit. She has regular checks until she was 2 1/2, then she was discharged as she'd caught up and they were happy with her. She's now a normal stroppy 12 year ol, and you'd never know.

Ds1 has been ill since birth. Regular admissions, ventilation, massive doses of drugs, failure to thrive, etc. His first 18 months ish were a constant battle to keep.him alive. He's now 8, and developing normally, just approx 3 years behind where he should be. By the time he's an adult, there should be no difference between him and others his age, but there's a massive gap between them just now - he finds it really difficult to socialise with his peers, and much prefers younger or much older children. It's difficult at times, but he's as healthy as he'll ever be, and he's generally happy, so we just go with the flow.

I know that probably doesn't help much, but hopefully you can take something from it.

Thank you

Sorry to hear your ds is having issues with his peers but it sounds like he has done so well to overcome all that. Thanks for reassurance. I know nobody can tell me how ds will develop and if I could fast forward to that point I would miss all the fun along the way

We are getting some good help now in the form of physio, salt etc so what will be will be.

Dd is three now but has spent a good 100 days of her life in hospital after being born 13 weeks early, and subsequent re admissions for acute mineral deficiencies and pneumonia. She was on a vent for a while, oxygen for six weeks or so, had brain bleeds and was a candidate for a cp diagnosis for a while. She also fell to the 0.4th centile after being born on the 50th (albeit she was only 855gs) but is now back on the 50th. She's amazing, she was faster crawling (dragging one leg) and walking than her term brother, although she had left sided weakness for a while she's caught up really well and you'd never spot it these days. Her language took longer than her brother but again by three she's caught up, her memory does seem a little squirrelly and it's harder teaching her letters and numbers because it seems to go in one ear and out the other but her playgroup have no concerns about her. They are such tough little critters but they blossom as soon as the difficult first two years are over.

We haven't had nearly such a tough time as PPs, just that DS (now 2.7 years old) was 10 weeks prem and weighed only 1070 grams (2 lb 6 oz). He spent first 9 weeks in hospital, although very luckily had no major health issues besides his size. He hit all milestones and was described as very advanced in language and cognitive skills at 2 year assessment, although only just reached average for gross motor skills.

Regards his growth, he has had a bit of a spurt in recent months and is now on 10th centile, having been

Ds was prem but only 5 weeks ds was 5lb 13 but looked very swollen at birth after two days he was probably half a pound lighter.

I keep asking one of his consultants about his head when it gets measured but they seem to be happy that it is growing on same centile. Said body puts most energy into growing the brain so big head not a worry only if it gets way too big then may indicate hydrocephalus.

I think the main thing is seeing positive steps. People keep commenting "oh he is just like a normal baby" and I am 50% insulted 50% reassured.

Thanks so comments some tough little ones out there.

My DS went in hospital with a serious illness for 2 months when he was 5.5 months, he had to have a trachi which he had for 3.5 months. He was slightly behind but seeed to have caught up by 18 months, hes now 22 months. I sometimes wonder if he would have done things sooner and if his speech would be more developed if it hadnt happened but its impossible to know because they all develop so differently.
Sounds like he's doing well so I think he will catch up over time with lots of physio ect.
one thing which I think helped my son was cranialsacral therapy with an oesteopath, he had treatment before because of a tongue tie but when he came out of hospital his head was so tense and the trachi had affected muscles in his neck. The treatment relaxes all of the tight muscles and allows them to work correctly so I would highly recommend looking into that.

Not my experience but my friends. Her DS was very poorly and most of his first year in hospital, with frequent admissions since.

He also spent the first 2.5 years of his life without contact with other children.

He's now a very active boy, loves football and is showing some real talent.

There is hope