Babies born before 37 weeks gestation are known as “premature” or “preterm” and the earlier your baby is born the higher the risk of health problems. There are many causes for going into early labour, sometimes the reason remains unknown and it is often caused by a combination of complex factors. Prematurity affects about 8% of all births and most are between 32 and 36 weeks with 2% of births happening before 32 weeks.
Many babies born prematurely make good progress with their development but some babies can have difficulty with their physical development and require early physiotherapy intervention. Premature babies often have low (floppy) muscle tone and may be described as having “hypotonia”. They may also have weak abdominal muscles that need strengthening to help them achieve their milestones.
Our team of highly specialist physiotherapists will assess your child using the Alberta Infant Measurement Scale to chart and monitor their development. We will provide you with a developmental programme to help progress their gross motor skills, for instance, hands to midline (bringing hands together in front of their chest), rolling, sitting and walking.
Are you looking for a specialist paediatric physiotherapist to assess your baby? We are able to see your child at home and can often arrange an appointment within 24 hours. Contact us today on 0207 884 0374 or email info@physiocomestoyou.com.