Re a query on breastfeeding preemies: Just over 11 years ago my son Peter was
born at about 25 weks at 720 grams.  He first breastfed at about 5 weeks
weighing about 2-21/4 pounds.  At that point he had not had bottles (nor did
he ever have a bottle, as fas as I know) and he was observed with jaw
excursion, suck and swallow, although not very vgorously, to be sure.  He
went on to come home at about 3 months breastfeeding exclusively and
continued to breastfeed for over three years.  He was the only one of my
children to have dietary iron and vitamin supplements.  I used to think that
he was probably one of the youngest, smallest babies to be allowed to go to
the breast, but since then I have talked to others who have allowed even
younger, smaller babies to give breastfeeding a try.
     As far as  follow-up goes, Peter was never rehospitalized.  He has minor
sequelae including slightly low muscle tone, slightly diminished lung
capacity (from respirator use for 5 weeks) with mild asthma, poor strength
and tone in the hands requiring some OT through the school system, and he is
blind in the right eye due to retinopathy of prematurity.  He is in the
regular 5th grade and tested higher than any other child in his grade last
year in reading on the standardized tests.  He plays violin and piano and
takes karate.  To talk to him or see him in school or with his family, no one
would guess about his premature birth or long hospitalization.
      As far as his growth goes-he was not on a growth chart for at least 5
years, but did follow the curve.  At around 7-8 years he began to show up on
the regular chart.   Now he is one of the  shortest children in his class,
but a little on the heavy side.  Of course, his father is only 5'4", and the
other two children are on the short side, too, so I think he is right about
where he should be.