Our Growing Baby

Lil Shauna is a preemie. She was too eager to meet us and decided to come out at 34 + 5 weeks, way before her expected arrival date. Plus the fact that I suffered from pre-eclampsia, she was really a tiny baby, weighing merely 1890g at birth. At her lowest, she was barely 1600g. -.o" I can still remember how we kept asking about her weight gain, hoping that she will put on weight fast enuff so that we can bring her home from the hospital. By God's grace, she grew big and healthy.

Bcos she's a preemie, she was scheduled to go back to NUH for regular checkup. She was back monthly initially, then eventually 2 months and 4 months apart. I heard that preemies sometimes take up to 2 years old to catch up. She's indeed a little slower. She only started flipping when she's 6 months old and crawling only at 9 months. Thus, I wasnt surprised when we were scheduled to go back when I brought Lil Shauna to the NUH's PD at her 8th month.



I brought Lil Shauna back to NUH just last week, right after she crossed her 1 year old birthday. The PD asked a few questions, used a rattle on her, took her weight and height and announced that Lil Shauna is growing well. He then declared that Lil Shauna need not go back for further follow-up. Hooray! I do agree that Lil Shauna is catching up quickly. She started sitting, standing, criusing and walking early. :)



By the way, Lil Shauna is 9.5kg, 74cm tall and has a head circumference of 44cm. Accordingly to her health booklet, she is again at the 50%tile for height and head circumference but 75%tile for weight. I msged Daddy Lim of her growth updates. Daddy Lim replied.

Daddy Lim: So she is short and fat lah?
Mummy Lim: No lah, not short, just fat niah. Hohoho.

But seriously, Lil Shauna is nowhere near fat! I do hope that she has a little bit more meat. Babies that come with that few more ounces of meat are simply cuter. Hohoho.

Other than physically growth, Lil Shauna is also responding to show that she understands us.
1. After teaching her for a long time, she will pat at her tummy when we ask "Who is Shauna?". But of course that is highly dependent on her mood.
2. She will clap her hands when we say "clap, clap" and wave bye bye when we say so.
3. She will play peek-a-boo with us and will say "ah ta" while at play.
4. When we start singing "twinkle, twinkle little star" or "ABC", she will start opening & closing her little palms.
4. When we start singing "if you are happie", she will start clapping.
5. When we start singing "itsy wisy spider", she will start putting her palms together and rotate her hands (she cant imitate that spider movement yet).
It is just so sweet to see her responding. As a result, Daddy Lim and I kept singing the same songs to her. Hohoho.
Mummy Lim