Low birth weight babies - how are they doing now?

[MumToEva]

My LO was born at 37 1/2 weeks weighing 5lbs, but she was healthy and strong. No known reason why she was small, just meant to be that way!

She's 7 months now and still a little titch - has remained on the 2nd percentile for length and weight for onths now, although I suppose she was off the bottom of the chart for a while, so she is climbing a little. She's all go all the time (what I would give for a lazier baby sometimes! ), and is trying her best to crawl - wouldn't be surprised if she crawls in the next week as she manoeuvres herself half way across the room with all her squirming and wriggling as it is. She can sit up herself, but doesn't seem that interested in sitting as crawling and trying to stand are so much more appealing - she locks her legs to get standing every time i try to get he to sit. She has had a couple of bouts of diarrhoea and a cold since she was born, but seems generally quite resilient. She has always been a bit rubbish at taking her milk, but loves feeding herself now that we have started weaning.

Was worried about how she would get on when she was born, but she's doing just brilliantly! So proud of my poppet!

Just wondering how other low birth weight babies are doing? Are they catching up in terms of length/weight? Do they have any health problems as a result? Are they more susceptible to illness? Are they meeting their milestones?

 

[Mrsmitch80]

Hi my 3 year old was born at 38 weeks weighing 4lb 13oz. She does have other problems but nothing that would affect her physically or mentally. She was tiny for ages, she walked a little late but she's really clever, now that she's 3 she's one of the tallest in her class at nursery, she's slim but not too much so x

 

[steph.]

My lo was born at 37.5 weeks weighing 5lbs13oz, so just on the borderline to be classified as 'low birth weight'. She was on the 10th centile. She has done really well, now weighs 18lbs which puts her on the 50th centile. She has had a few colds and a really bad episode of gastro but is generally really healthy. She's never been a keen mover- only started rolling consistently a couple of weeks ago,not crawling, and not walking when i hold her hands but is very alert, happy and cheeky!

 

[.rollinn.]

My son was born 5lbs 12oz at 41 weeks 1 day! I believe the medication i was on during my pregnancy caused this so do the doctors. He started playing catch up with weight around 2months. Now he's 18 lbs

 

[taylor197878]

brook was 5lbs 14 at 38 +6 she is now 21 months still in 12-18months clothes and only a size 4 in shoe but it didnt hold her bk she sat unadited at 5 and a half months crawled at 9 months and walked at a year.

she still looks small but looks like a toddler now.

 

[LuckyYem]

Laeyla was 5lb 10.5oz born at 39+2. At her last weigh in at 18wks she was 11lb 9.5oz. She went up massively, so she is now between the 2nd and 9th percentile so we can go back to monthly weigh in . She has reflux though so that didn't help. She is 20wks today and this week she learnt to sas roll/shuffle from on end of the living room to the other!

 

[OmarsMum]

My nephew was born at 38 weeks. He was 5 lbs 46 cms. He was crawling at 8.5 months & walking at 13 months. He's 20 months now. He's still small (22 lbs) but he's healthy, & very active. He reached all his milestones on time, & he's doing well in terms of speech.

He had several infections when he was a baby & he dropped to below the percentile line between 2-4 months, so he was put on special formula & he was weaned at 4 months. He started to put on weight at 5 months.

 

[Amber4]

Brooke was born at 6lb 3oz at 41 weeks. Not the smallest I know. She's still really small now though and weighs 11lb 7oz. She's around the 0.4th-2nd percentile but very long. She's defo reaching all her milestones and doing fab though!

 

[Jaylynne]

LO was 4lbs 4oz born at 32 weeks and is now 13lbs at 6 months so I'm pleased.

 

[1liz9]

LO was 6lbs at birth which put him in 6th percentile. Now he's over 16lbs, in the 75th percentile and in 12 month clothes. Not sure if it matters but he's formula fed.

 

[Moti]

My LO was 5lb, 6 oz at 36 weeks.

She was just at the doctor for her 12 month visit. 19lb, 10oz. She's usually in the 25th percentile but her growth is always consistent so her Dr. is happy with that. He just describes her as petite.

 

[Babyd14]

My little girl was born 5lb 5 at 39+2. She was identified during pregnancy as being small so i was induced. Sophie was fine birn and stayed around the 2nd centile her weight starting to slowly drop down so we were referred.

She has had numerous tests done and everything has come bk normal, it just appears she is going to be small. She sat unaided at 5mths crawled at 7mths and is now 11mths and cruising around all over. Her weight at the moment is 13lb 14.5oz. We are currently under a dietician too which we saw yesterday for the first time ive been told to add cheese, butter and cream to whatever i can.

 

[bubbles19]

Poppy was 5lbs 14 born 3 days late due to the placenta dying from getting septicema at 30 weeks which doctors failed to notice at growth scans
she's caught up though and weighs 16lbs at 5.5months x

 

[ellie27]

My LO was born at 37.5 weeks, 6 lb 4 oz

He is breastfed

His weight gain was poor to start born 9th centile, dropped to 2nd by 2 weeks old, then 0.4th at 6 weeks old then his weight went right off the bottom of the charts around 10 weeks old.

He bounced back onto the charts around 4 months old and then finally got back to the 9th centile at 8.5 months old.

He is 9.5 months old now, 18 lbs.

He is great!!!

Sleeps well, eats well and is a very happy boy!

His new trick this week is clapping his hands!

He has both bottom teeth too.

He can sit perfectly well, but other than that he is not rolling/crawling/pulling up. He is not taking any weight at all on his legs, but can bounce on them eg in a jumperoo but doesnt stand his bodyweight - mentioned this to HVs but they are not concerned.

9.5 months old and he has only had a couple runny noses but thats it!

 

[Seity]

My son was born at 38+3 at 5lb 13oz, but he wasn't classified as 'low birth weight' that I know of. After all, that's still like the 5th percentile.
He dropped off the weight charts due to low milk supply and had to fight his way up to the .3rd percentile where he stayed for almost 2 years before moving back up to the 5th percentile at his last appointment. He's 2.5 and has his next appointment on Sept 5th. He currently weighs 25.5lbs, so he's still just a little lightweight, but his height did climb percentiles over the years. He's always been 100% healthy. Never gets sick (He's had 3 minor colds in his entire life, that's it) and he's met every milestone on time or early. He talks better than most 3 year olds and is too smart for his own good.

 

[Mickeyc]

My DD 1 was born at 41+1 weighing 5lb14. She has congenital heart disease and had failure to thrive at 6 weeks old and she dropped off the charts.

She has had 2 open heart surgeries, and since then has slowly gained weight and is now sitting happily on the 25th centile.

She didn't crawl till she was nearly a year and didn't walk till she was 18 months, but she is now a very healthy, lively and chatty 3 yr old!!!

She has been through a lot and I am so proud of her

 

[volley1980]

My LO was 4 pounds 5 ounces at birth (37w2d -

 

[volley1980]

Oops - pressed the post key... There were problems with the placenta. At 4 months he's 11.5 pounds and the doc is happy he's hit all his milestones and has never been sick!

 

[topsy]

Our little man was 5lbs 2oz when he was born @ 38+ 1 we were under the transitonal care nurse as we were told anything under 2.5kg was classed as low birth weight, he was on the 0.4th centile he is now just under the. 9th, 2 weeks ago he was 14lbs 8oz , he can almost sit up on his own and rocks back on his knees and arms to crawl but dosnt go anywhere.He is still in some 0-3 month clothes, but is very long. He is FF.

Xxx

 

[Fiona100912]

Our LO was 4lbs 14.5oz when he was born at 36+1, he has gained weight well and I don't think being small has held him back. Last time he was weighed he was 19lbs 4.5oz, that was at 11months. He will be 1year in 2 weeks time and he is wearing 6-9 month clothes!! Last night he started walking-and I felt equally proud and terrified!!