[bmwhaley]

This is my first post.

My wife and I received a referral on a 5 month old girl yesterday. Our main concern is microcephaly (32cm at birth). She had an MRI done and all was normal. She was small at birth, only 2kg. Is 32 cm actually microcephalic for a 2kg baby? At five months of age, and a 14 day hospitalization for an infection, she is now 3.5kg.

I am a neonatal intensive care RN. I see these types of babies all the time. Unfortunately, all I have to compare with is American-born babies. Growth charts here don't match growth charts in India. When the conversation shifts to what may be your own baby, then you get nervous. I have neonatologists and nurse practitioners at work, but I want real-world answers from people who have been there and gone through it. Help!

Brian

[ll_bay]

Hi

Maybe looking at Indian growth charts would help. I believe there are some at I-Child's website, www.ichild.org (someone correct me if I got that url wrong)
We don't have any experience with what you're dealing with, but we did adopt a 6-year-old with concerns about growth delay, and the Indian charts really helped us see exactly what we were dealing with and what was "normal." (BTW, after an intense period of catch-up growth, growth delay is no longer a concern. She will always be on the small side for her peers, but not abnormally so.)

Peace and prayers
Laura

[denise marie]

Hi,
we are adopting a little boy from india with microcephaly.He is 41/2 and hc of 42cm.I have studied this alot and have joined a microcephaly group.Our son evidently is on the mild/moderate side as he is walking and talking.You may want to join its a group for parents of Microcephalic parents.They are very helpful and give you a wealth of information.I also looked at a growth chart.If you type in indian growth chart it should pop up.

[bmwhaley]

My wife and I are proud to announce that we have accepted the referral of Monami! We have spoken to several health professionals, are aware of what may be out there for us, and are very excited about knowing that she will soon be our daughter!

She is 6 months old, has grown very well and is meeting her developmental milestones. We are finishing up our dossier now (we didn't have it done yet because she was a newly waiting child when we asked for her information).

We joined a microcephaly e-group on Yahoo. I did find (thanks to a pediatrician we spoke with) a Indian growth chart at the following link.

http://www.webindia123.com/health/baby/immune.jpg

Blessings,
Brian

[ModernMother]

Congratulations Brian that's wonderful! :-)

I had to chuckle because mon ami means "my friend" in french. Do you know what it means in her Indian dialect?

I'm so glad you have found your daughter! I wish you a speedy and "bump free" process.

[bmwhaley]

Tamra,

We kind of chuckled too when we saw her name! Our caseworker at the agency has been using a different inflection in saying it - Mo-nah-me. That's how we've been saying it too.

We have researched over and over and have been unable to find a meaning for Monami. I think the Ayah's just gave it to her. We have chosen a name for her....Morgan Suvali (hindi for "full of grace"). I wanted to name her Grace, but my wife thought it was "old fashioned." So we found a Hindi equivalent.

We are flying through this paperwork as fast as we can preparing our dossier. Unfortunately, it's that "hurry up and wait" kind of thing. Thanks for your reply.

Blessings,
Brian

[denise marie]

Congratulations!
I am also hurrying things along but mine is on the packing end.My husband leaves in 2 weeks to bring home our son.I know how excited you must be and will pray for a very speedy process for you.

[denise marie]

Congratulations!
I am also hurrying things along but mine is on the packing end.My husband leaves in 2 weeks to bring home our son.I know how excited you must be and will pray for a very speedy process for you.