Issue: Will they ever grow?

When you first look into the isolette at your tiny child or wrap your baby with miniature premie diapers, it is hard to believe that they will ever be bigger. Joyce, a mother of premature twins describes, "I was afraid they'd be abnormally small and remain the funny -looking little trolls they were when they were born at 25 weeks. I really didn't believe they'd ever be "normal" looking."

• Our preemies start very small and stay tiny for quite a long time. But will they really "catch up" in size like everyone seeks to reassure us?

It isn’t possible to answer this question for each individual child, because there is so much variability among children and among factors effecting preemies growth and development. But there are some general rules which will provide some clues for your unique child.

First of all, eventual size is determined to a large extent by genetics. If you and your partner are tall, your baby is most likely to be predisposed to be tall also. And vice versa for those (like myself) who are shorter in stature.

In addition, food intake as babies and children grow is also a factor. This issue begins in the NICU. As many parents who have preemie babies, toddlers and preschoolers know - feeding can also be quite an issue for growing preemies. But there is some good news.

Many preemie babies and toddlers actually grow faster than average and seem to "catch up" with children who were born at normal development. "85% of premature infants have catch-up growth and land on the regular growth chart by two years of age," according to Dr. Raye-Ann deRegnier of Children's Hospital of St. Paul and the University of Minnesota.