Re: preemie-l Introduction
DUNN Family (nightowl@centuryinter.net)
Mon, 17 Jun 1996 15:51:41 -0400
Welcome Florence;
We have a son named Mackenzie as well...born at exactly 33 weeks (12/31/91)
along with his two identical sisters, Rebecca & Jessica; {and *his* ID
brother Griffin (died in-utero)}. Mack was 5 pounds even...big for
gestational age, big compared to his sisters...and even on the big side of
most charts. Becca & Jessi were 4#7 and 4#6 and considered big for
gestational age as well. In fact...the latest ultrasound, done just about
18 hours before their birth estimated them to weigh 3.5 to 4.25 pounds!! So
much for accurate estimates! :)
Much of what you described for Your Mack's first year was like ours...except
we had a long run-in with RSV. :-( Our Mack's weight was not much of a
concern...the little guy ate like a horse and grew very well...in length
especially! But his sisters were a big concern for all of us. The ped even
ordered testing for FTT (failure to thrive) and several genetic disorders
(all scary and none good) and came up with nothing!
At 12 months the girls weighed just about 12/13 pounds. At 24 months they
were up to about 18 pounds. At 36 months they were 24 pounds. At 48 months
they were 30. The last time one of them was in to see the doc...and
weighed...maybe a month ago...the weight was 32 pounds. They usually stay
within ounces of each other...and often are exactly the same weight.
By the end of their second year, with numerous tests, changes in formula,
changes and monitoring of their diets to make sure of proper caloric intake,
and lots of frustrations and worries for us...we found a specialist in FTT
that reviewed everything and told us, "Your daughters are petite people!"
with a smile. There aren't words to describe the feelings I had then all at
once! All this time (and expense) just to be reminded to look carefully at
our family tree (both my mother and my dh's mother are petite...only ones in
the family, it seems...One's 5'1" and the other 4'11" and all their
brothers, sisters and cousins are taller than they are). It appears now
that our two youngest girls will take after this facet of the gene pool. ;-)
They haven't yet risen above the 5th %ile for weight or height! Their
co-quad brother is 50% for height and 30% for weight...he's almost 6" taller
and about 8# heavier.
Just something to say...don't worry too much about your Mack...he may be
doing just what he's suppose to be doing.
As for your fear of another preemie; it's normal, it's natural, it's
possible AND then again, it's not likely, it's more due to the reasons for
the prior prematurity, and many of us here can help to talk out your fears
until your ready...or must be ready. ;-)
Andee: MOM to six: 5 girls, 1 boy; 1 twin, 3 quads, 2 singles; Disorders -
Past or Present as follows: 6 speech; 6 asthma; 6 vision; 4 DD; 4 Seizures;
4 A-B monitors for assorted breathing disorders; 3 Hypotonia; 3 Gifted; 3
Hearing Loss; 3 VSD; 2 Tactile Defensive; am I forgetting something? :) and
I have to try to keep this straight for all their teachers and therapists???
No Wonder we decided to homeschool! :) Looking forward to a lower stress
level this summer! :)
(oh, and four were preemies!)
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Andee MOST-MOM | Miracle Kids: Bryana-13, CJ-10, Allyssa-7, & *triplets*
Shawn COMP-WIZ | Mackenzie-4, Rebecca-4, & Jessica-4 (1 boy & ID girls)
Now in Sparta WI | EMail nightowl@centuryinter.net for ALL of us! :) :)
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