[heikkila]

We just got home with our baby a month ago. Gabriela is wonderful and we are enjoying every minuter with her. I do have some concerns, though: Gabriela is 10 months old now and only weighs 15 lbs. She is not crawling and cannot get to a sitting position on her own.

We knew that at birth she was only 4 lbs. 12. oz., but we are really concerned about her development and perhaps the causes of such a low birthweight and delays. (She is below the 5th percentile on the weight and head circumference charts, and sometimes slips below the 3rd percentile.)

Is there anyone out there with advice or suggestions?

Rebecca

[VReed]

What does your pediatrician say? In Tennessee we have a program called TIPS which is an early intervention for babies with problems. It is state supported and free!!! Also it is excellent; used a lot with adopted babies. I do not know where you live, but you might check into whether your state has such a program. Best of everything to you; she is a doll!!! Vicki

[Devora]

Rebecca,

I'm sorry to hear that you're worried, but it's understandable. I don't have any clear answers, but am wondering what the doctor's reports have been like from her visits? Are you able to talk with the doctor who has seen her?

Also, about the crawling and sitting up -- do you know how much opportunity she has to practice these skills? If the fostermom carries her around a lot in a wrap/sling, of if others in the family are holding her most of the time, then she may just not be getting a lot of practice. This might be something to check with the fostermom on because it might be an indicator that there's nothing wrong and that she'll catch up quickly once she's able to move around more. I know that this is an issue a lot of parents adopting from China face because the kids are often swaddled and bundled up so much that they don't have much chance to move around, but they usually catch up quickly (sometimes in a matter of weeks) once they come home. It's a reminder that our understanding of developmental milestones is based on our own culture and childrearing practices.

I hope someone who has more experience with this than I do has some more detailed advice. Do keep us posted.

Take care,
Devora

[becky]

You need to address your concerns with your pediatrician. I wouldn't worry much about the weight...if she is in the 3-5% range it's fine...as long as she stays in the 3-5% range...if she were to experience a dramatic drop, then you would have a problem. Women from Guatemala are very small...so it's not really an issue, unless she falls below the curve...then you may have a problem.

As for the motor skills...that would be something to ask your doctor to check...as long as her muscle tone is good, then it's just a matter of practice and 'floor time'. As someone else mentioned, it is quite possible that she never got any time on the floor in Guatemala, and she just doesn't know 'how' to do these things. There are wonderful early intervention programs in almost every state...if your doctor is concerned he/she will surely refer you to one.

Good Luck....and she is just precious!

[kelleymac]

Oh, Rebecca...she is SO DARLING!!! How is she adjusting to the "great white north???"

I don't have words of wisdom to offer except to add that when we were in Guatemala visiting in February (Jonah was 4.5 months) when placed on his tummy, he would get exhausted and fuss in just a few minutes. He clearly hadn't had much practice. Plus, he's such a little monkey...clinging when you hold him, that we think his foster mom held him much of the time.

I agree about checking with your doctor though. Keep us posted on her progress. Maybe we'll get to meet you on a visit "home" one of these days.

Kelley

[alyssa&avery]

Rebecca,

When we adopted our daughter in 2002, she was 5 months when she came home. At that time she did not like being on her tummy and could not lift her head from that position or roll over. After being home for about a month and getting lots of floor exercise with us, she was able to lift her head, roll from back to tummy and even sit up (tripod of course) for a couple of minutes.

As for the weight and height, she was also in the lower ranges at first. Our ped was not concerned as long as she kept gaining consistently on the same curve (no big gains or big losses). Now, at 2 years, she is in the 80 percentile for both. Also, as others mentioned, the growth charts in the US don't necessarily reflect what is right for a Guatemalan child. She is also VERY physically active and has always surpassed the milestones for motor skills.

Gabriela is very beautiful and with lots of love and attention, I'm sure she'll catch right up. Don't hesitate about discussing this further with her pediatrician--it's what they're there for!

Keep us posted.

Lori

[sassafrass]

The floor time is HUGE.
I brought Erin home at 13 months old. She could not get into the sitting position on her own either. She could not even get in a crawling position.
Now she is 16+ months and can run around the house. I too was very scared at a couple visits in Guat. But I knew she had a sharp eye and just needed stimulation.
Talk to the doc. Then I would put her in the floor as much as possible. Put all her toys around and some out of reach. She will learn thru play.
I am amazed at Erins progress I'm sure you will be too.

Good luck!

[pmgor]

I don't have my baby yet from Guatemala but will tell you about my bio daugher. She was 8 lbs 14 oz at birth and 16 lbs at one year! She was more mobile at this age but was just tiny and still is. I tried not to freak because when i looked at the whole child she was small but active and healthy. I would have the doctor check her but try not to focus too much on the numbers unless there is an identified issue.

For there to be children in the 100 percentile some will also be in the 1 percentile

I would talk to the doctor if only to reassure yourself that she is doing well. S

She is precious!! Just beautiful!

[Lisa641]

I haven't adopted yet but I have a bio daughter and I have read a lot. I second what everyone else has said - talk to your pediatrician. And give it time. It is hard not to feel like your child is "behind" but as I've read so often, each child is a unique individual. And through this board and from friends who have adopted, children typically "catch up" before long. In the meantime, to give yourself some peace of mind, try to track her progress against where she started when you brought her home, rather than some average/percentile. It takes all babies some time to learn to sit up on their own, etc.
And here is the positive side of it - you will get to witness a lot of her firsts - you didn't miss them.
She looks very happy and healthy. Enjoy it all. It gets better and better.
Lisa

[Bassette]

Just wanted to say that your daughter is darling!

Also,... my daughter was about that weight at that age.

[heikkila]

Thanks for the assurances. It's good to know that I'm not alone. We have a great family practice doctor. One of the reasons I chose him is because he doesn't overreact the way I do. His answer to my concerns was, "She's yours. Take her home." His way of saying, realistically, even if there is a problem, we wouldn't be doing anything differently with her at 10 months old anyway - Just keep giving her the love and attention and play time she needs.

I forget to live one day at a time, and that's all you can do with any child.

Does anyone have a better growth chart than the CDC one? Since we are hanging around the 2-3-4 th percentile range, even small changes put us off the chart.

Becky

[Chrysanthemum]

You have gotten very good advice. My daughter came home at 7 months and 14 lbs. She was not sitting up yet. I had early intervention come in to evaluate her. My pediatrition wanted this as well. Early on came until she was 18 months old. It took her awhile but she eventually caught up.

Rena was 17 lbs at a year and now at 2 years 10 months she is 25. I think she waill always be on the small side.

Give it time, talk to your doctor and enjoy your sweet angel!

[Nahid]

My little girl was not getting the proper nourishment nor was she being stimulated enough. It was serious enough that the agency called and said they thought something was wrong with our daughter. We even pulled her case from PGN to check things out.

Long story short, she was moved to a better foster home and the foster mom was super great in working extra with her. She got better nourishment and started to stand and walk around furniture. I picked up my son at the end of May 03 and got to see my daughter at that time. I went back 7 days later to pick her up and she had started walking within that week. She was 15 months old.

My doctor (he is from Columbia) says that she is thriving. She is always going to be smaller than American babies, but she is very healthy now. She has turned from an "strange looking baby" into a very beautiful little 2 year old.

We freak out everytime she does something and we can't beleive that we ever considered not bringing her home. She is turning out to be very smart. She understands English very well and will do lots of things that I ask. Example - in the kitchen last night I asked her to take something to Mommy's bathroom and put in on the counter. She went straight in with my fiance following a little behind very slowly. She did exactly as I had asked her. She goes and gets things that we request, shoes, socks, diapers, and even those things for her little brother. She does it right every time. She is slow to talk, but the doctor is not at all concerned since she has been home less than a year.

Just spend lots of tummy time like everyone else has said, hold her hands and let her walk to strengthen her legs. Put some wild and crazy music and help her dance to it. You will be totally amazed how quickly they can catch up with a little extra help.

Your daughter's pic is adorable. You have yourself a little angel there.

[csw]

Hi
I dont have much to add to everyone's great advice..just had a question..her low birth weight..was she a premie? That could explain some things..I did tummy time etc.with our daughter every 8 weeks when I flew down...and I got there the 4th visit when she was 8.5 months old and stayed there until we got home...when I got there, she could not sit up without falling over...within 2 weeks she was sitting without falling...after we got home...she was 9 months, not crawling, but very strong legs and it has been 2 months since she has been with me, she is now crawling and is even walking a few steps holding my hands...she also qualified for "infants and toddlers" a free program through our state health department...we are starting physical and speech therapy this week..although now I have worked with her so much, I think she is on target physically, so we may just need the speech therapy now...I did 15 minutes 4x a day of tummy time..she whined and hated every minute of it..but I made her do it..she also only weighed 15.5 lbs at 8.5 months...mind you..she was 8lb 12 ounces at birth and 22 inches long..her weight had gone from 90%tile down to 75% down to 50% down to 25 %while she was in foster care. (her height was off the charts at birth and is now 80%tile). ..I was so upset! Our facilitator never responded to my concerns..none of the brilliant doctors they sent her to picked up on her poor weight gain.... now since March 16th, she has gone from 15.5 lbs to 21.5 lbs!
I would get an early intervention evaluation..doesnt hurt...she will catch up,,kids are amazing! Let us know how it goes... Cathy

[ruesugar]

We started out with a family doctor and he was really good. I liked the fact that he always looked things up to double check if he was not sure. We did not have any pediatricians close by that I trusted. I do believe we got good care. We relocated and started going to a pediatrician and I think we are getting better care now. Just something to consider. Most states do have free services for children under 3. Even if your doctor is not concerned and you are it does not hurt to check it out further. I had concerns about one of our children and our doctor did not. I did not pursue it and now I regret the time that I wasted. Please PM me if you have any questions.