34 weeks & corrected age

[STH1988]

I had my twins at 34 weeks and they're coming up to 6 weeks old. I know that we have to be mindful of their corrected age as it relates to milestones, but does this essentially mean the last 6 weeks have counted for nothing?

I know it sounds silly but everyone keeps telling me it'll get easier, and feel better at the 12 week/3 month mark and now I just feel like we're nowhere near that milestone versus being halfway there in terms of their actual age.

Im struggling alot and finding it very depressing to think were only just 'starting' now so to speak at day 0.

Does anyone have any experience of this? If your babies were early did you correct to 40 weeks or 37? Did your babies hit milestones at the corrected age or were any early?

Thank you - a very tired twin mum.

[throwawaytuesday]

Fellow twin mum here 😘😘

my girls were born at 33 weeks. You have to try and get the prem baby mentality out of your mind. It’s so so hard. We spent 3 weeks in SCBU and honestly I came home obsessed about how much milk they were or weren’t drinking. I felt very much how you did too, just so anxious about everything.

so until they are 2 years old they will always defer to adjusted age.

in terms of milestones, my girls have always been very different. One of my girls walked on her first birthday (or 10.5 months adjusted), my other girl didn’t walk until 17 months. It’s so hard when there is a direct comparison.

but they’re 5 years old in a couple of weeks and they’re both doing really well. The girl who walked at a year old is still very advanced but since starting school I’ve learnt that my other girl is absolutely where she needs to be and her sister is just very advanced.

be very kind to yourself, it does get better (or you just get more used to it), us twin mums are super heroes and don’t forget that.

[Caferouge]

I used my baby’s due date and corrected from there - ie 40 weeks. She tended to hit milestones for her corrected age, and followed that pattern until she was about 2.

[Cloudy0]

I had my dc at 33 weeks. Congratulations on your twins. The time they were born early was them catching up on the development they would have had in the womb, but you got to meet them early. I know it is difficult having a premature baby. Mine hit most of the milestones on her adjusted age at the beginning and then slowly caught up to start hitting them on her actual age, except rolling, she was months late on that even by her adjusted age. She is far quicker at running and more agile than all of her friends (2.5 years old) now. I know it is easy to say when we are past the baby phase, but your babies are special and do things in their own time.

[BellaTheDarkOverlord]

My baby was born at 29 weeks and had a corrected age. In the beginning it was like having a newborn for the first 6 months. She was behind on her milestones except teeth funnily enough. She got 6 teeth by 9.5 months. She’s 11 months now and still behind on a lot of things. She’s just done a lot of stuff later than normal. She’s very small for her age too and never got that baby chubbiness. Always been a little thing. Congratulations on your little angels! They will catch up eventually it may just be a bit slower.

[Scaffoldingisugly]

I had ds at 35 weeks. Tbh correcting his age was never mentioned to us. We started weaning after 6 months ish and he crawled and walked same as my 40 weekers.. He was still tiny for years... Caught up clothes size wise at 6/7 outfits! All dc are different whatever gestation ime. Try not to worry... Can't imagine having 2 at any weeks op! Congratulations...

[Bookbeb]

Hi, fellow twin mum here too. It's really hard, twins, especially in the beginning and with premature babies. I can't remember the exact words someone used but it helped me to think along the lines of that the weeks up to 40 weeks didn't not count, they were just continuing the growing they would have done inside just as extra time with you on the outside instead.

It is disheartening when people say about them 'waking up' more around due date and starting to act like a newborn when you've already had a newborn for 6 weeks I can remember feeling very similar. In the first few months they will most likely be a little behind where other full term babies are, but they do catch up. I remember thinking it was ages before they smiled, and was annoyed that others with full term babies seemed to be getting things quicker. But after first few months they did catch up, only thing I can definitely remember is that one of mine walked at 1 year (10 months corrected) which was quite early, the other one was a few weeks from 2!

Sending some solidarity, once they reach a few months and start getting into a natural routine it gets a bit easier. Also would point out Twins trust charity and advise to check them out if you haven't already, loads of great resources, possibly virtual groups every fortnight and they have twinline too where you can call and speak to someone for anything. X