Growth of Preemies
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Weight of Premature Babies
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Premature babies begin life a little behind the curve compared to babies that are born at full term. They are generally smaller and may grow more slowly at first. Medical and technological advances have enabled 90 percent of babies born weighing 800 grams or more (slightly under 2 pounds) to survive. Babies weighing 500 grams (slightly more than 1 pound) at birth have a 40 to 50 percent survival rate, though these children may experience complications with development and health. Preemies weighing less than 1500 grams will usually lose weight soon after they are born. Most of this is water weight, but some of it is also body mass. By the time preemies are 2 to 3 weeks old, they have usually returned to their birth weight.
Growth Rate of Very Small Preemies
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Preemies who are born extremely small and who are sick tend to have a slow growth rate. These babies are likely to fall far below the growth rate chart for infants and will take longer than larger preemies to catch up to the growth rates similar to full-term infants. But a preemie who continues to improve will soon be able to gain weight at the same rate as a baby in utero, usually 1/3 to 1 ounce per day.
Phases of Growth for Preemies
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A preemie baby's growth comes in phases. First the baby's head will grow, then its weight, and finally its length. According to Dr. Raye-Anne deRegnier, a neonatologist at Children's Hospital of St. Paul, Minnesota, "85 percent of premature infants have catch-up growth and land on the regular growth chart by two years of age." The child's doctor will check the baby regularly to make sure he's growing and developing at a good pace. Parents shouldn't worry about where the baby is on the growth charts in books. Premature babies often grow in spurts.
Nutrition
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Premature babies have a faster metabolic rate than full-term babies, so nutrition is highly important. Feeding the infant its mother's breast milk frequently and in small amounts is the best course of action to encourage steady growth. When the baby is strong enough to suckle, the mother can breastfeed her.
As the Child Grows Up
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Although preemies grow more slowly at first than full-term babies, they have plenty of time to catch up. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, most children born early eventually reach a normal size for their age. Many premature babies also reach major developmental milestones, such as sitting up at 6 months of age, right on schedule. A few babies who are born prematurely will remain small for their entire lives. This is most common among babies who weighed less than 2.5 pounds at birth or who suffered from a long illness.
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