February 2008 Expecting Club

nak

I think you just need to give baby some time to mature. My DS was a day late, DD was 2 weeks early, and I too noticed a difference. She was sleepier, and is taking longer to have good head control. 38w is full term, but fo the first few weeks I sort of condidered her *adjusted age* for things too.

hugs
Rebecca

At one week post partum it's common to analyze everything and diagnose your child with things without warrant....and if it's not normal then i guess i'm 'not normal'! lol  I tend to compare my kids too.  My first was overdue and very mature and always way ahead of his peers.  My second was very sleepy, not alert, seemed 'weaker'.  But he's 2 now and sharp as a tack and very athletic for his age!  My newborn, Phoebe, slept 22 hours a day at one week - she was never awake!  When her eyes were open she was cross-eyed!  She is 1 month now and what a difference.  I still 'diagnose' her sometimes and go through phases of worry but i think we all do with newborns.  After all, they are very weird! 

nak

i thought the main risk for cerebal palsy was prematurity - and that wasn't really an issue for you.  can't it also affect the placenta?  but that doesnt seem to be an issue in your case either b/c he was obviously getting enough based on his size.

hang in there...i am sure time will reassure you as it will all of us!

Thanks so much for your reply, Melissa --

CP is not only a result of prematurity -- it's generally a result of some sort of injury to the brain during pregnancy, birth, or the period soon after birth (early infancy) -- I keep trying to reassure myself that he hasn't had any injury but I am still nutty...can't seem to shake it.

I think it's mainly that I was so sick ... it's hard to imagine that it DIDNT affect him.

He looks like a frog in his limbs -- the way he sticks them out -- that's the best way I can describe it and it's rather cute, but unfortunately I think I know too much about hypertonia that it makes me worry to death. It was almost easier NOT knowing with my dd. KWIM?

Thanks again for your post...and your willingness to share your experience with your kiddos. It helps. And to think, I always said I would NEVER be one of those parents who compares their kids. YEAH RIGHT...already doing it.