Do all preemies need PT/OT?

[Anonymous]

Our DD was born 4 weeks early, she was released but then readmitted and spent 2 nights in the NICU for jaundice. The pediatrician only used adjusted age for weight reference. Actually unclear what the adjusted age is. Anyway. Baby is doing great - born at 5 lbs and at her last appointment she was up to 7lbs. She will 1 month next week.

Baby seems fine during tummy time. Hates diaper changes but we were recently told from two friends that she will need PT and we should do it preemptively.

Anyone have thoughts? We will ask pediatrician but we don't see her until the 21st. Should we be doing any exercises? We knew about suck exercises if trouble eating but this kid eats like crazy.

Side note- does the poop ever end? Rare we get a just pee diaper.

[Anonymous]

Mine was 8 weeks premature, was diagnosed with a global developmental delay, and needed extended therapies. DS will have lifelong issues due to his prematurity.

Keep a close eye on milestones and don't be afraid of checking in with your ped, and going to a developmental ped if necessary.

[Anonymous]

4 weeks early, so 36 weeks? Jumping in to PT when there’s no actual issue sounds crazy to me. Keep an eye on milestones, and jump right into early intervention if she’s missing them. Which is exactly what I’d tell anyone else.

My niece was a 34 weeker. NICU for 11 days. Never needed any PT, totally healthy, typically developing six year old now, and tallest in her class.

[Anonymous]

33 weekers, 7 weeks in nicu, no PT or OT other than an assessment to see if they qualified (they didn’t)

[Anonymous]

I was born 5 weeks early 50 years ago, and have 20 year old twins who were also born 5 weeks early. None of us had any delays at all.

[Anonymous]

My kid was only 3 weeks + 1 day early (almost 37 wks), but also only a drop over 4 lbs. No delays or PT/OT thus far, age 4.

Don't worry so much about it, but don't hesitate to get early intervention if any milestones are missed. It can help that.

Poop ends, at some point, or at least consolidates to 1-2 a day

At 1 month, there are so few milestones, but you can absolutely get an evaluation if you have any concern. You dn't need pediatrician referral. I would definitely wait a bit before you get concerned. hang in there, and congrats on the new member of your family!

Hang in there.

[Anonymous]

My preemie is in OT, but that is 100% due to a genetic condition that causes low muscle tone. He would have had to get OT even if he had been full term. I would say wait and see and ask the pediatrician. Keep doing tummy time; that's basically what OT was for us for the first couple months anyway. Our therapist was able to give us some useful tips (different positions to try, ways to support him using towels, etc), but honestly you can get a lot of similar tips from YouTube. (There's a woman named Emma Hubbard on there who seems to have good advice.) Now that our son is older OT has been more useful, but there's just not much you can do with kids that little. Don't judge your baby's skills based on their birthday, but rather their due date. But if your kid is not progressing, discuss with your pediatrician whether you should check out Early Intervention. Your child has to be in the bottom quartile to qualify, though.

[Anonymous]

The nonstop poop could be a sign of a dairy allergy if that hasn’t been considered.

[Anonymous]

My 32-weeker had a developmental eval around 6 months and did not require any intervention at that time.

[Anonymous]

4 weeks is not that early.

Endless loose yellow greenish curds in water poo is normal for BF babies

[Anonymous]

My 35 weeker is 6 months and no OT needed at all. Off the preemie growth chart by 1 month old.

[Anonymous]

OP your baby sounds very similar to mine. We did PT but only for a few months due to torticollis. Was on the late side for walking and talking hit as a preschooler now you'd never guess.

I would just keep and eye and ask the pediatrician for the best sense of what's normal /in range vs late. You can also get a county assessment of in MoCo
Needing PT etc isn't a "bad " thing, the help teach parents what exercises to do with the kids as well.

[Anonymous]

8 weeks early, 2 weeks in NICU, no PT/OT needed.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think so at 36 weeks. I had a child born at 25 weeks and automatically qualified for county pt and ot. I thought the threshold for automatically qualifying was more like 32 weeks.

[Anonymous]

You can call your county to get a free evaluation. You may or may not need services but the evaluation is free and the providers look at all areas of development.