Child Development Watch

The state of Delaware has a program for per-term babies to watch their development and growth. They see the NICU doctors and physical therapist and whatever other doctors are needed. It's a free program the state runs and often they can detect problems/developmental issues before parents and pediatricians can. Because Emily and Kyle had no significant issues at birth, they didn't need to be seen at CDW until they were 4 months old.

Emily is 9 lbs 4 oz and is 21 1/4 inches long, her head is 39.2 cm in circumference. She is in the 25th percentile for the adjusted age for her head circumference, but is below the 5th percentile for her weigh and height. Emily has good range of motion in her arms and legs and very good head control. She is going almost everything a normal 4 month old should be doing (which means she is doing everything she should be doing for her adjusted age of 3 months). There were two concerns with Emily. The first is that her one foot tends to bend in. When she was born, both of her legs bent in (as if she had been breached) because of how Kyle was sitting her on her in my belly. There has been great improvement, but they said we need to help her by having her put weight on her foot while holding it in the correct position. They are pretty sure the problem will correct its self without having to use braces. The other concern with Emily is how stiff she is. She can move, she just likes to be all tense. When shes on her belly, she tends to pick up her legs and butt instead of her upper body as a result of this. They gave us some exercises to do with her to help and told us to hold her butt down when she is on her belly to help build the muscles to pull her head and shoulders up.

Kyle is 12 lbs 3 oz (he had his diaper on when the cardiologist weighed him) and measured at 24 1/8 inches long, his head circumference is 42.0 cm. Kyle is in the 50th percentile for his weight for his adjusted age and is in the 5th percentile for his actual age. For his height, Kyle is off the charts for his adjusted age and in the 75th percentile for his actual age. His head circumference is in the 75th percentile for his adjusted age and in the 50th for her actual age. So, Kyle is long and skinny with a big head! His is doing everything that he should be doing for her actual age. The only concern with Kyle is that he has a flat spot on his head, but it's really not that bad and will get better and he starts sitting up and moving around more.

Over all, both my babies are happy and healthy and right where they are supposed to be developmentally. We go back again in three months to get all checked out again.