mental retardation

How soon can you tell if a child will have mental retardation by appearance alone?

[Want2BeMama]

hey hun sorry i havent been here to answer any questions earlier...i have had a really busy 2 weeks! but thank god everything is fine!
how is the little man doing??? any news?? why are you asking about the mental retardation??? is somenthing wrong?

[drmommy]

How is Gabrieles, I looked at his photos he Looks GREAT. I was asking about the retardation  because I know that you are able to tell by appearance sometimes. I guess Im just worried because I cant tell who Micheal looks like. When could you tell Gabrieles looked like you. Micheal is now 30 weeks old. Hes putting on weight and has had no setbacks other than being ventalated again THANK GOD. Hes now on the high flow. what are they looking for with ultrasound on his head other than bleeds?

[Want2BeMama]

im so glad everything is ok..dont worry about the vent..he will eventually come off it..he might just need a little longer and he might come home on oxygen too...and if he does thas ok too.
Really Gabriele started looking like a normal baby when he was about close to coming home..so between 36-39 weeks...he came home one day before my due date...its amazing how far hes come today..he weights 16 lbs this morning...and already fitting into some clothes that are 6-9 months!!! hes 4 months adjusted today and 7 months corrected...how much does your little guy weight now?? is he getting full feedings??
have they checked for brain bleeds..does he have any?? basically when they do u/s in the head they check for brain bleeds or the valve...or the fontanella  ..i know Gabriele fontanella...well they look for a certain size or somenthing...and Gabes measured the max..they werent worried they just keept checking it every now and than...he had an u/s like 2 days before he came home and it was still measuring the same...so they wanted to repeat an u/s after 1 month he was home...so we did...and it was still the same size...so my ped. told me not to worry and to repeat an u/s if we see like an abonormal head growth...but hes just fine!!

i hope everything goes well...wow 30 weeks..time flys!! hell be home before you know it!
keep in touch!

hugss!!

[drmommy]

Micheal weighs 2lb. 3oz ,( slowly but surely) he"s feeding well and as yet no bleeds.Hes actually doing great I guess I shouldnt look for trouble but as you know its just so hard to see them so helpless and not be able to help them except thru prayer. Thank you again for taking the time to answer my posts, Bless you and your Family

[kimzef]

Nobody really answered this mom's question.  I don't know the answer either because I don't know what exactly this baby is accomplishing.

As a nurse who takes care of trachea/vent babies and toddlers,  I have encountered children who are quite obviously severely brain damaged, but somehow the parents think that maybe when the trachea/vent/gastric tube are gone,  that child will start progressing and catch up to his/her peers.  Doctors and therapists don't seem to want to level with these parents and just say something like--"it's a slow process."

Just because a child has a hole in it's neck and stomach, doesn't mean that child will not make certain developmental milestones.  He/she will probably be quite a bit behind schedule with some things--especially speech and walking,  but they still  make progress and may catch up later.  Catherine Zeta Jones was a trachea/vent baby!!!  One of my fellow nurses was a trachea/vent baby!!!

However,  it is downright mean not to level with the parents of a premature baby that is 18 months old and who is not grasping and playing with toys, interacting with people,  and trying to sit or stand.
I work with a child like this and the parents won't get a straight answer from doctor or therapists and therefore assume he will suddenly when the trachea, vent and g-tube are gone when he is two.   The father asked me one day and so I gave him a straight answer.  I also told him that God had given them this a baby for a reason,  and that their job was to give him unconditional love and care and to make his life as happy and productive as possible.  They are very religious so this made sense to him.  The mom is still in denial.  Maybe it will be easier for her to just slowly realize and accept her child for what he is.