Posted on 02/08/2006 8:11:13 PM PST by neverdem
CHICAGO (AP) -- Many premature infants appear to play catch-up by early adulthood, reaching levels of education and employment that are similar to those of normal-weight children, a study found.
The mostly reassuring results are the latest installment from Canadian researchers studying the development of 166 premature babies born in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The babies weighed 2 pounds or less. The infants have been tracked from their birth in central-west Ontario into childhood and beyond.
The results contrast with less favorable outcomes in other long-term studies, but the Canadian children had benefits other preemies lacked, noted an editorial in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), which published the study today.
Most were white and from economically stable two-parent families, and their health care was assured by Canada's national health care system.
More than 80 percent of youngsters in both the preemie and normal-weight groups graduated from high school; about a third of each group were pursuing college or other postsecondary education when the study was written. Nearly half the preemies and slightly more of their peers had permanent jobs.
More of the preemies were unemployed and not in school in early adulthood -- 39 versus 20. Those results are explained by mental and/or physical disabilities related to their premature births, the researchers said. Forty of the preemies had a disability, including cerebral palsy, blindness, mental impairment and autism.
Still, roughly equal numbers in both groups lived independently or were married or living with a partner.
"Against our expectations and many odds, a significant majority of extremely low-birthweight young adults have overcome earlier difficulties to become functional members of society," said the researchers, led by Dr. Saroj Saigal at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
The results "provide surprising..."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
They do even better if their brains aren't sucked out through a turkey baster by the Kervorkian Left the minute before they are born.
Pings to ya!
I know a girl who was 2 mos. premature and she was almost the biggest girl in her grade all through grade school; and not fat, just tall and a little stocky and very robust looking. You never would have guessed she was premature.
They've made great improvements in preemie care. Back when my 26 yr old was in kindergarten, an old man used to carry his grandaughter into class. Her glasses were like coke bottles, and her skin was scarred. I learned later that it was due to excessive oxygen.
Well in Logan's case........we could tell anyone that this baby ...ooops! Big Boy.... is normal in every way.
While it's true that modern medicine has improved, care is greater, and understanding the needs of micro preemies has grown by leaps and bounds in the last 10 years.... our family attributes Logan's miracle also to the thousands who prayed for him on a daily basis and a little guy born with the fight of the mightest warrior in his soul.
With every day that passes, Logan teaches us the meaning of "miracle".
Hugs to all ........
Nana
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