Preemie Growth Chart

A newborn is always greeted with many questions from nervous parents. The common questions asked are, 'Is my baby okay?' and 'Does my baby have all the fingers and toes?'. The most important questions of all is, 'what is the weight and length of our baby?'. When the doctor says the baby is a preemie and needs to be kept at the NICU for a few days, parents are full of worries. The length and weight of babies and toddlers is the best indicator of the health of a baby.

The common word used for a premature baby is preemie. When a baby is born around 40 weeks of pregnancy, they are known as full term babies. Whereas, babies born before 37 weeks are called premature babies. If a baby is born before 26 weeks and weighS less than 1¾ pounds, they are referred to as micro preemie.

This shows how important it is to keep track of the babies growth progress, as the baby is developing outside the womb. Parents remain apprehensive and worried, till the baby does not reach the milestones, during the first few years of life. These babies are many times delicate and need a bit of extra care and attention as they grow. Preemie growth charts helps parents keep track of the growth of your baby.

The Advantages of using a Preemie Growth Chart
It is not only a difficult time for parents to accept the fact that their baby is a preemie. This period becomes even more difficult, if the baby develops physical or mental challenges. These charts work as a ray of hope for parents. It helps them see the development in the child and celebrate the milestones the baby achieves. If they are concerned about certain aspects of the child's growth they can note it down and speak to the pediatrician on their next visit.

Premature Baby Growth Chart Statistics
The pediatrician will follow specific growth charts to monitor how well your baby grows. These charts are divided into many categories as follows:

• Pounds and ounces
• Length (inches)
• Length (centimeters)
• Grams
• Gestational age

You can search the Internet and find many premature growth charts for your use. Many of these charts are blank, as they help you fill the baby's height, weight and other measurements. Many charts have the measurements filled and you can compare those charts with your baby's measurements. The measurements on these charts are just average measurements, so do not worry if you find your baby is not developing according to these charts. Each individual baby grows at a different pace and any significant difference should not depress you.

Most of the measurements for babies under 19 weeks are measured from the crown to the rump. When your baby is about 20 weeks, the measurements are taken from head to toe.

How to Measure Premature Babies?
The wait period for parents between doctor's scheduled appointments may seem too long. This is because they are totally concerned about their baby and want to know how well their baby grows and develops. Thus, you can follow the preemies growth charts at home to monitor the progress of your baby. You may not be able to get the accurate readings at home like the doctor, but it will be helpful enough to monitor the growth. Most of the doctors use the charts that is supplied by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and The American Academy of Pediatrics. When you begin to measure your preemie, you should follow the guidelines below:

• Length: You can measure your baby from the top to the head to the bottom or even up to the feet. You need to lay your baby flat on a firm surface. Stretch the legs out and hold the measuring tape against the baby. You can take help from your partner or someone from the family to help you measure the baby.
• Weight: You need to place you baby on a weight scale and measure the weight. You should use the digital scale, as every ounce counts for a preemie.
• Head Circumference: You need to wrap the measurement tape on the baby's head, just above the ears and eyebrows. This will help measure the largest part of his head.

Basic Preemie Growth Chart Statistics
The premature growth chart is a basic gird on which the measurements are plotted and compared to the statistics charts. The samples help determine the percentile group in which your child falls. It also helps to learn if the height, weight and head circumference are showing a consistent growth pattern. If your baby falls in the low percentile group, the baby is smaller than average and if the baby is in the high percentile group, it shows the baby is larger than babies of similar age.

You should not worry much about the percentile you baby falls under. Instead focus on their percentile on the chart. The measurements should point towards an even growth. If the baby's weight is suddenly lower than the normal percentile on the chart, it may ring alarm bells to the doctor. The long-term changes in weight measurements plotted may also help the doctor track any potential health issue beforehand. Do not worry if the dots and curved lines on the preemie growth chart are plotted in the highest percentile or the bottom 10%. What is important that your baby shows consistent growth and development.

This was some information on premature baby charts. You will find many charts on the Internet for your use. You should always show your home preemie growth chart to the doctor. This will help him know the development of the baby and help clear your doubts if any. Remember, the chart is only a tool to help monitor your baby's development. It is in no way going to display the intelligence, health and appearance of your baby in future.