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Premature birth

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Original poster

Preemie baby still under weight?

10 replies

bigbabushkas · 01/02/2011 08:04

Hi, I wondered if I could have some advice from any mums of premature babies.

My DS1 was 6 weeks premature in August at 3lb 4oz but has been gaining weight steadily since then. The past month though, he has stayed the same at 11 - 11.5lbs (on my own digital scales).

I phoned HV and she is coming round on Thursday anyway for check up and she said not to worry.... but has this happened to anyone else? Should I be worried?

He is eating normally and is a happy contented baby but I can't help worrying...any advice?

OP posts:
missjulie · 01/02/2011 18:12

Hi big
I have a 9 1/2 m old DD, who was 7 wks prem last April @ 4lb 11oz.

She gained weight steadily too, but like your DS, hit a plateau in the summer too. I was worried too. My HV was still coming on regular visits at that point, and weighed her, and said that there was nothing to worry about.
She too was eating well, and was a happy, contented DD, but i know exactly how you feel. You DO worry. Esp with them being prem.

Hope this helps. xx

missjulie · 01/02/2011 18:14

P.s, the growth spurts are AMAZING!! He will SOON catch up, don't stress! They make up for lost time! x

Original poster
bigbabushkas · 02/02/2011 08:31

Thank you so much Miss Julie!x

OP posts:
missjulie · 02/02/2011 10:19

NO probs! Keep me posted!!!
x

Original poster
bigbabushkas · 02/02/2011 15:06

Okay, another question, had a different HV round yesterday to talk about weaning, and she suggested putting DS1 on baby rice as he is ready, but he is only just over 5 months? Gave him some this morning and he liked it but all the info I have read says not before 6 months?x

OP posts:
missjulie · 02/02/2011 16:11

Yes, confusing. Everyone tells u dif things! soz 4 typing, DD on knee!
What was your actual estimated due date??
Our due date was 1st June. They told us in scbu to hang fire with weaning for as long as we possibly can as prem babies can end up with bowel obstructions if started too early (not meaning to worry u at all here). I have another friend who had prem DS, she started weaning him at 5 months as he showed signs of needing it too & they have had no probs. Just depends on the baby. If the health visitor said it is ok, then it prob is. Did scbu/hosp give u any guidelines???
We started weaning 9th Dec! DD almost 8 months, 6 months corrected.
xx

MichaelaS · 04/02/2011 17:47

hi, weaning with prem babies is the one thing you do on their actual age - everything else including weight, development etc is on corrected age (when they should have been born).

Some prem babies need weaning even earlier if they have high calorie needs (e.g. breathing problems).

Bliss have a leaflet on weaning your premature baby - on their site www.bliss.org.uk under publications somewhere, it's free to download.

Don't forget that 30 years ago the advice was to wean at around 8 WEEKS so there is no hard and fast right/wrong here.

I'm afraid i've never heard of the bowel obstruction thing missjulie - is this something they warned you about for after they came home? Early babies can be prone to dangerous gut infections (NEC) but that's something which is a danger in the early days and certainly not by the time you go home. Interesting....!

missjulie · 04/02/2011 17:51

Hi MichaelaS, yes they told us in SCBU, before we got DD home to try and leave weaning as long as possible, until she showed signs, as apparantly they can get bowel obstructions, esp with porridgey like stuff.

slinkyfish · 12/02/2011 14:06

Hi

I have pre term twin boys born at 28 weeks who are 2 1/2 now. Jack has Chronic Lung Disease so had to work hard to breath so keeping his weight up was hard. He did loose weight but never dropped the 2 centiles for them to worry about it and roughly held his centile line
We were told to ween at 5 months actual so only 2 months corrected. I would read up about it on the BLISS website as weening prems is different to term babies www.bliss.org.uk/publications.asp?itemid=32&itemTitle=Weaning+your+premature+baby&section=578&sectionTitle=Download+or+order+Bliss+publications

I took it very slowly with baby rice to start with, then began to add fruits and veg, but only tiny amounts as they still need their milk to provide most of their nutrition. The idea is to get them use to different tastes and textures. Once we'd got to 6 months actual they were on meat, fish etc and I also added fats to their food to maintain and increase their weight. So full fat double cream, unsalted full fat butter, full fat cheese etc added to anything they would go in. This was the turning point really for weight gain and they are now on the 50th centile for their actual age xx

slinkyfish · 12/02/2011 14:08

Just to add here my one son had NEC but we were never told of any issues to worry about with weening and bowel obstruction. I made sure I asked too just in case but they said to ween with foods as I did with their term sister but just to take it slowly to start with xx

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