Growth

Having a premature baby results in a major shift in one's thinking on a host of issues. One such issue is growth. I recently read a comment in an online group for parents of preemies that while the growth of full-term babies is measured in ounces, we measure it in grams. In thinking back to Buzzy's days in the NICU, I certainly see the truth in this statement. Each day, the nurse would report a weight gain that would seem minimal to other parents. Thirty grams in any other context does not seem to be much. However, to the parent of a baby who weighs under 3 pounds, this number is huge.

Parents of preemies also see their babies' progress differently. No matter how early our babies or how low their birth weight, we strive to get on the curve. While it may be disheartening to parents of full-term babies to hear that their children are in the low percentiles for height, weight, and/or head circumference, those percentiles are what we aim for because they put our children in the same group as their peers. So far, Buzzy has not yet made on the curve for her weight, but as her pediatrician tells us, she is on her own little growth curve.

In this first full week of Prematurity Awareness Month, I have had to opportunity not only to share my story but also to hear the stories of others via the Internet, which is a great place to connect with others who have had similar experiences. In the online group I have joined, I have seen many moms proudly posting pictures of where their babies started and where they are now. One mom even shared a picture of her 25 weeker, who is now a teenager. His strong stature does not betray the fact that he weighed less than 2 pounds at birth. Of course, Buzzy has a long way to go before reaching adolescence, and I have no desire to rush her through her childhood. However, as she grows, her pictures are already telling a story of hope and survival.