Parents of iugr and preemie babies, how are y’ll doing?

[catrinabrosko]

My baby was born at 33 weeks weighing 1.67kg born early due to my extreme cholestatis!

My lo is going to turn 15 months actual (12.5 months corrected) weighs about 16.5lbs(close to 7.5kgs) we are super worried about her weight and height. Besides she’s super active, hitting all her milestones, walking, trying to talk meaning words. Her pediatrician has recommended high fat food and Pediasure. Although she’s taking all we don’t see a ton of a difference!

When did your lo catch up on physical growth?

 

[idahobangbang]

@catrinabrosko Kidseatincolor is an instagram account run by a registered dietitian. It has great resources. We used whole milk, banana, and peanut butter blended instead of pediasure. We added butter and olive oil to everything. We learned to make sure that constipation, which can show up around toilet learning, doesn’t become an issue. We still eat on a schedule of three meals and two snacks including fat, fiber, and protein at all meals and snacks. We only just started to see true progress on a growth chart at 4, but most important to us is raising a kid who will try a variety of foods and knows their hunger and fullness cues. You’re definitely playing a long game here, hang in there!

 

[jerrhhhhli]

@catrinabrosko Hi there,
My daughters were born 32+4, twin A with 1745g, twin B with 1045g.

The first 6 months we spent in and out of hospital (40days after births, 2x in due to RSV, 1x due to weight problems (she basically ate 1/3rd of what she should, out with g-tube, back in for hernia operation). It was hard. So so hard. Twin A always had to be with me in hospital because I was exclusively breastfeeding and couldn't leave her. Husband stayed home with our toddler. Due to corona, my toddler could not visit all the time, but I still saw her regularly (in Germany, you stay with your newborns in the NICU together).

So, all this is almost 3years in the past now. My twin girls will turn 3 in August and they are both doing so well!!! IUGR twin B is still smaller and reached the 3rd percentile with a bit more than 12kg now (first two years she stayed on the 1st) while her twin sister is over 15kg, but other than weight, she is hitting every milestone! We are not doing adjusted age anymore, doctors are happy with her and nobody knows why the f*ck she is not catching up in weight as is seen normally. But also, nobody cares anymore because she is doing so great!!! But it has been a big topic during her first 18months of life. We did so much to get calories in, went to a specialised dietician at 15months that changed EVERYTHING. If you have more questions, DM me and ai can go into detail

So, in conclusion: she never caught on and we will see if she ever will, bit everything is still fine, great, healthy and active and wonderful and no reason to worry! There are small and big babies/kids and all are great.

It was a rollercoaster, but with a super duper happy end

Edit: typos + some extra numbers + conclusion

 

[shirleymontreal]

@catrinabrosko Our LO is just over 2 and is about 21 lbs now. We struggled with weight since he was born, he was born a 26weeker at less than a pound. I don’t know if you’re already working with a dietician but I would recommend getting a rec for one if you don’t have one. We see one regularly and it’s helpful to understand how many calories he should be taking in and discuss different ways to achieve it. We were on pediasure for a while, nutren vanilla is an another good option. We stopped worrying about sugar, and also offered chocolate and strawberry flavors. Our LO got sick of the pediasure and we switched to Carnation powder, which has worked great, mixed into Ripple. We also struggled with a dairy intolerance, so if you’re seeing spit up continuing to happen, look into switching off dairy to try. We also add a calorie add powder to all his foods and drink except water, duocal. Ask about it.

I second the Eat in Color recommendation. We have her cookbook and it’s helpful to try a variety of flavors. However, we choose not to do her homemade pediasure since we needed the nutrients in real pediasure/similar products whereas her homemade version focuses on calorie count (as she specifically calls out herself and says to use pediasure if your ped recommends it for med purposes, not just weight gain).

We were at your weight around the same time. I know it’s super frustrating and feels like you’re not making progress. But it will come, slow and steady. They may be little, but as long as they’re healthy, that’s the important thing.

 

[johnredeemed103]

@catrinabrosko My toddler is 18 months actual (16 corrected). Same place as you, same weight also! Definitely losing my mind some days about weight and being a poor eater , but trying to keep it cool and letting her figure it out.

 

[nancytailor]

@catrinabrosko Hi, my IUGR kiddo (born 1580 g) is now 16 months (15 actual), weighting around 8 kg (it was 8,2, but he lost some due to surgery and hospital stay). He is also very energetic and active. Wy try high fiber foods and generally try to feed him well and often, but we still have some catching up to do. He is actually around 50% in height, but he seems very petite compared to kids around his age.