6 week prem baby...some questions

[Megs87]

My little man is now 6 weeks old and finally at 7lbs, he is doing really well overall :) I just wondered if premmie babies are behind in there development? My antenatal group have all had there babies now and they seem a lot further ahead than Kian with being alert/active and things like smiling. Kian is finally awake and busy a little bit during the day but we are no where near any kind of facial interaction. Just wanted to check its normal as my HV is useless! Thank you :) x

[BumpAndGrind]

MY DD was 9 weeks early. She is doing things in the late side of normal, smiled at 8 weeks corrected. She is 16 weeks corrected now and only just started to grab for things.

If your baby is only just at their due date I wouldn't expect them to 'wake up' for another 2-3 weeks. DD 'woke up' about 2 weeks corrected.

HTH

[Parsnipcake]

Hi, I have fostered lots of preemies and I find their development is generally delayed a bit and they catch up once they become mobile. Just enjoy the extended new baby time :)

[neversleepagain]

My twins were 6 weeks premature. They took a while to get out the sleepy stage and were still having three naps a day at 6 months. All they seemed to do for the first 3 months was sleep.

Both of them smiled late, at 11 weeks (5 weeks corrected). Mine were behind developmentally (slightly) until around 12 months.

Congratulations on your new baby

[Megs87]

Thank you everyone. He is 6 weeks today and its his official due date so i guess we have a few more weeks to go :)

[NotSoMiniPops]

My DS was born 10 weeks premature, he's nearly 2 now, he was 'late' doing most things - smiling, rolling etc... but he got there eventually with everything. The only thing which he was much slower at was walking, it took him until Christmas (so 19 months actual) to start taking his first unaided steps and that was after 10 weeks physio. You wouldn't actually know to look at him now that he was so premature. Good luck with your little one, you may find he starts becoming much more alert now he's reached his due date :)

[plentyofshoes]

Both of mine were 7 weeks early.
Ds was always slightly delayed with milestones, dd (so far) was at first but has caught up faster.
It is hard, but try not to compare. All babies are different and they all get there in the end.

[minipie]

Hiya, my DD was also 6 weeks early, and she has hit most milestones according to "corrected age" ie when she should have been born, rather than her actual age.

So for example a full term baby would smile at 6 weeks on average, but my DD smiled at 12 weeks, which is 6 weeks corrected age.

I remember it felt like a very long wait to get those first smiles, but it makes a big difference when they do come. You will get there

Well done on getting him home and to 7lb.