One twin seems behind; could it be the IUGR? *worried*

They're only 5 wks, but for the last 2.5 wks or so, Ainsley has started making great eye contact, really focusing on me while she's eating. Annika isn't doing this yet, her eye kinda wander around unfocused. Their adjusted age is less than a week.

Do you thing because Anni had the IUGR that she could be a little behind developmentally?
At what age, adjusted or otherwise, did your babies start gazing at you?

I don't want to worry or compare, but of course I am!

 

They're only 5 wks, but for the last 2.5 wks or so, Ainsley has started making great eye contact, really focusing on me while she's eating. Annika isn't doing this yet, her eye kinda wander around unfocused. Their adjusted age is less than a week.

Do you thing because Anni had the IUGR that she could be a little behind developmentally?
At what age, adjusted or otherwise, did your babies start gazing at you?

I don't want to worry or compare, but of course I am!

 

Congratulations on your babies! I don't know much about IUGR, but I do know that my girls are never on the same milestone schedule. I was always worried about my little one being so far behind, but she is just going to do things when she is darn good and ready. I would just watch your baby and mention it to the pedi at their next check-up. I bet it's nothing to worry about!

 

I wouldn't worry about it quite yet, they are only a week old adjusted age. I would bring it up with your ped at their next appt. If your like me, you see them pretty often. Also, here in UT we have a program called Welcome Baby. The program has nurses that can come to your house, play, look, evaluate your baby and tell you what to watch for and what you can do to help them. I hope this helps.

Also, I have noticed already that each baby develops at their individual pace and one baby will do something quicker then the other. I wish you the best, it is hard being a mom of a preemie baby.

 

Sounds normal...alot of people have one baby a little behind the other. I know its hard but dont compare them. ANd with their adjusted age being only a week, they sound on target, at this point they get over stimulated really quickly and may just not be ready to make contact. My babies didnt make eye contact for quite a while

 

Oh goodness, Hannah was a couple months old before she made eye contact. I was so worried. Then Ben stopped making eye contact, and I was so worried. The thing is, they are always growing and changing, and it is ALWAYS on a different schedule. Bring these things up with your pedi when you visit, but otherwise, I would just chalk it up to normal baby behavior. They certainly are a mystery to us, aren't they??!!!!

 

Congratulations on the arrival of your babies!
I think worrying is part of having twins!
It seems like Nefeli was looking at us in the eyes from day one. Iris did this much later. I remember worrying she can't see and crying. She did started looking straight at us at about 2 months old.
Since then I have seen that each of them moves in their own pace with everything. It's so difficult not to compare and not to feel one is falling behind although I try to think that maybe it's that one is moving ahead quickly!
Our pedi said we should expect about 20 days differences in any development and so far that's pretty much how it's been. Each girl has her own pace.
Try not to worry and ask your pedi next visit.

 

I have found that Sophie has always done things first and she was the smaller baby.From the start it was like she made eye contact and held her head up. Where as it took Jack a couple of months. I try not to compare them (very hard not to though!)but as my midwife said yes they are twins but really they are just babies born on the same day. I dont think you have anything to worry about. I would just keep an eye out and if your still worried in a while contact your doctor. x

 

Our ds was very similar. It took him a while to even "wake up", he was soooo sleepy all the time. When he was awake he wasn't alert like his sister, making eye contact, etc... I was a little worried at first, then our ped told us, especially me, try not to compare! Some babies take a little longer to develop, be fair to him and give him time. At about 5/6 weeks, he started interacting more. It wasn't until 7 weeks when he started smiling that I noticed a difference. Ours were also full term and it still took him a little while. Try not to worry about it now. Give her some time and who knows, she might be your little social butterfly!

 

This is such a normal worry, and I still do. My Ainsley was a pound lighter than Carter at birth and she just looked sooooo preemie. She had little fuzz hair all over her still, no fat at all, and she had a prominent forehead, she just looked preemie. Well, Carter has hit every milestone LOTS sooner than Ainsley, and it is hard not to compare them. But, Ainsley is making her milestones, just on a slower schedule. I remember being worried about the eye contact issue too.

Is early intervention an option? What does the NICU do to follow up? It is really difficult to know when to be worried.

 

Our girls are the same way. I know yours are identical, but even identical twins can have different developments and personalities.

For us, Ellie always seemed like a small newborn. We have never had to adjust her age for development. Allison was born a preemie! All of her developmental milestones are hit at the slow side of adjusted age. She still is uncomfortable with eye contact and smiling. She will do it, but she is just not as social or outgoing as her sister.

Just keep an eye out for it and ask your pediatrician if you are worried! For our older children, our son hit all the milestones early and our daughter was a little slower. Now, our son is the one with autism where our daughter is developmentally normal. You do worry at this stage, particularly with things like eye contact and tracking, but it doesn't necissarily mean anything!

Angel

 

Thank you for reassuring me! I don't want to be one of "those" moms, who is always pushing and comparing. It's just so easy to do when they're right next to each other all day.

I'll try not to worry about it. I really appreciate your messages!