Normally, babies have a 2 month checkup, but since ours were preemies and spent 2.5 weeks in the NICU, we came in in the middle, for a 6 week checkup. I’m glad we did it this way, too, because they were “scheduled” to get 4 shots — each! — so I made them get 2 today and they will get 2 more in 2 weeks, at their true 2 month point.
Abby now weighs 7lbs 3oz and Emily weighs 6lbs 12oz. That means Abby has gained 1lbs 7oz in 6 weeks and Emily has gained exactly 2lbs! Keep in mind they both lost 1/2 a lb the first week and Abby lost another week’s worth of growth due to the pyloric stenosis. The Dr. was pretty impressed with me that BOTH babies exclusively get breastmilk and that I CAN actually nurse them both at the same time! 🙂
They are both 20″ in long now though, so Em is catching up to her sister in length now!
I thought Em had a big head, but it technically only measures .25 cm more than Abby’s. Abby was recorded at 34.5 and Emily at 34.75. Their shapes are different, probably more because of their position in the womb — a positional difference — that will change naturally over time.
Emily is “suffering” from some baby acne on her cheeks right now. Apparently, this is a hormonal thing and will go away on its own with no intervention.
Both girls have been officially removed from the monitors (yeah!) and deemed free and clear — even though technically they already were. Dr. didn’t mind hearing that though.
They both have had the Reglan removed from their daily medicinal routine as well, but not the Zantac. Dr. didn’t want to take everything away, but will let them grow out of their Zantac doses. So, she didn’t increase there doses based on their weights, but the will continue to take it for another month or so. It’s only a twice a day thing, so not too hard to remember to do!
We are also “zeroing” out their weights and size. This means that their current length and weight will be their starting point. Since they were preemies, it’s not fair to judge them against other full-term babies from that point. The 6-week checkup was technically only 1 week after their official due date, so everything will be measured from that point now — from comparative purposes.
Developmentally, they can each hold their head up — for a bit (Abby quite a bit more than Emily), like to make sounds (especially Emily!!), respond to voices and sounds (both girls equally), but don’t track with their eyes much yet — they still look “through” you generally. All pretty much on target for a 6 week old baby.
And, the close out the wonderful appointment, they each got 2 of their vaccines. 🙁 Needless to say, they both screamed their heads off and were in some pain well afterward that a little Tylenol helped to calm.