What is so nice about spending time in the NICU is the follow-up care we receive. The girls are followed closely for the first three years by members of the Northwestern NICU follow-up clinic. They periodically test their gross and fine motor skills, speech/language and cognitive skills. Plus they are seen by a neonatologist which is just fine by us. It is always good to have another set of eyes evaluating our children to make sure they are growing and developing on track.
Today was the second visit to the clinic. The girls were little show stoppers in their strollers walking downtown to the clinic from the hospital. It was slightly raining, so we had to walk fast! It just so happened that one of the OBs that was at the delivery and one of the neonatologists at the delivery were in the clinic today and they loved to see the 'grown up' girls! That was one of the hardest things about working in a NICU for me, after discharge, we most of the time wonder how the children grow up and develop.
The all received excellent marks! Not a thing to worry about. The physical therapist had nothing by positive remarks about the girls--especially their nice round heads! PTs love round heads- haha! The only thing that was lacking was they should be saying a few consonants and they don't, except Anna does say the "D" in Dada. But, they were not concerned because growth and development happens in spurts and sometimes babies work on mastering one skill and will breifly lag in another area.
As far as their growth, they plot them on a preemie chart which is nice to see. Our pediatrician doesn't use the preemie charts. On the preemie charts, Anna's and Elizabeth's heads were between the 10th and 25th percentile, and Kate's was near the 3rd. Anna's length was 3rd percentile. Their weights weren't quite on the charts, but the growth curve they are growing on is at a good angle and they are catching up. The neonatologist said to have our pediatrician follow their weights because they are off the extra calories now. She was not concerned, however. She said preemie's heads usually catch up first, then the lengths and weights. So they are on track. They also did a "baby BMI" which compares their weight to their length. All three were on the charts for this one, Kate and Elizabeth were near the 10th percentile and Anna was 25th percentile.
According to this office, here are their stats:
Anna: 12 lbs. (with clothes), 23.5" long and her head is 42.5cm
Elizabeth: 10 lbs. 11 oz. (with clothes), 23" long and her head is 42 cm
Kate: 11 lbs. (with clothes), 23.25" long and her head is 41.5cm.
This office seems to measure the girls shorter than our pediatrician, but all that really matters is they are growing.
Here is a picture of the little superstars today in the clinic--the only one I had time to take!
Today was the second visit to the clinic. The girls were little show stoppers in their strollers walking downtown to the clinic from the hospital. It was slightly raining, so we had to walk fast! It just so happened that one of the OBs that was at the delivery and one of the neonatologists at the delivery were in the clinic today and they loved to see the 'grown up' girls! That was one of the hardest things about working in a NICU for me, after discharge, we most of the time wonder how the children grow up and develop.
The all received excellent marks! Not a thing to worry about. The physical therapist had nothing by positive remarks about the girls--especially their nice round heads! PTs love round heads- haha! The only thing that was lacking was they should be saying a few consonants and they don't, except Anna does say the "D" in Dada. But, they were not concerned because growth and development happens in spurts and sometimes babies work on mastering one skill and will breifly lag in another area.
As far as their growth, they plot them on a preemie chart which is nice to see. Our pediatrician doesn't use the preemie charts. On the preemie charts, Anna's and Elizabeth's heads were between the 10th and 25th percentile, and Kate's was near the 3rd. Anna's length was 3rd percentile. Their weights weren't quite on the charts, but the growth curve they are growing on is at a good angle and they are catching up. The neonatologist said to have our pediatrician follow their weights because they are off the extra calories now. She was not concerned, however. She said preemie's heads usually catch up first, then the lengths and weights. So they are on track. They also did a "baby BMI" which compares their weight to their length. All three were on the charts for this one, Kate and Elizabeth were near the 10th percentile and Anna was 25th percentile.
According to this office, here are their stats:
Anna: 12 lbs. (with clothes), 23.5" long and her head is 42.5cm
Elizabeth: 10 lbs. 11 oz. (with clothes), 23" long and her head is 42 cm
Kate: 11 lbs. (with clothes), 23.25" long and her head is 41.5cm.
This office seems to measure the girls shorter than our pediatrician, but all that really matters is they are growing.
Here is a picture of the little superstars today in the clinic--the only one I had time to take!
Anna and Kate below, I don't have one of Elizabeth. These were taken yesterday.
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