Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion On time babies have higher intelligence?

I don't have a link to the article, but I've been reading some lately about children born earlier having a lower IQ and a higher chance of developmental delays and learning disabilities. I find this interesting, because DD14 was born right around the premature mark (3 weeks early), and is gifted. (I have another son who was born later and is also gifted). I guess the theory is that the 3 weeks would be time that the baby would be still developing mentally, but I guess it depends on the baby. DD14 was born a bit heavier than average, with no lung issues, and given her intelligence, it doesn't look like being born early made any difference for her.
I'll try to find the articles, I'm doing a google search right now.

http://news.health.com/2009/03/31/babies-born-only-2-3-weeks-early-may-face-development-delays/
Here is one article. It claims that even only 2 to 3 weeks early babies have a higher chance of having developmental delays, and once you get down into the 4+ weeks early category, it gets even higher.
http://www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2010/06/babies_born_even_a_week_early.html
Here's another one, claiming that even 1-2 weeks early babies have a higher risk for Learning disabilities.
This one mentions that late babies have a higher risk as well.

I've certainly heard that there is a statistical tendency for early babies to have lower IQs and more developmental delays, but I think this is not believed to be because the brain would have gone on developing. It still develops very rapidly after the baby is born, and although it's not out of the question that there could be some important benefit to that being in utero, I haven't heard it. Rather, I think it's that babies who arrive early are more likely (just statistically, again) to have had some problem affecting their development, whether genetic or environmental, that both increases the chance of being born early and decreases expected IQ and development speed.

It's a very small effect, though, barring serious prematurity and recognised brain damage - not useful in explaining individuals.

My DS was born 4 weeks early with an APGAR score of 0. I shudder to think what he'd be like if he hadn't been deprived of oxygen at birth :-)

Really, it's not funny because he could have been seriously harmed by complications and he did have a rough start, including 10 days in the hospital. I think back to how many doctors told me we'd be lucky if he ever talked, that he most certainly would be on the spectrum (due to head size) and that he'd likely never attend regular school.

Both of my sons were born 3 weeks early. One is verified PG, and the other shows signs as well. I agree that this is just a statistical tendency. It's like saying that the average baby has an IQ of 100.

I did worry about this with DS2 because I went into premature labor beginning at 26 weeks. Since I had nothing to do but read up on all the potential issues with premature babies, I was watching the IQ-statistics rise while all the other medical concerns declined as we made it week by week towards his due date.

My mom is a teacher. She told me that when children are being moved into an LD program, one of the first questions the school asks the parents is whether the child was born prematurely. There is a correlation, but luckily many make it through without any adverse learning issues.

PS CAMom, I'm so sorry you went through such a scare, but your DS is such a miracle story! I was thinking along the same lines on the humorous side, though. I don't think I could handle my DSs at a higher level than where they're already at!

Okay, thanks for the clarification ColinsMum.
Of course, I forgot to mention what you are saying, gratefulmom, that obviously this didn't have much of an effect on our kids.
I guess there is a higher chance for a lower intelligence/learning disabilities, etc, but that's not to say that everyone will be dragged down.
I think that the real problems begin once you get into the 2month+ range, as that really does come with a higher risk for issues down the road, not to mention the potential for a lot of NICU time.
From what I've read online, I'm surprised there was no trouble with DD14 (other than the C-Section, which honestly didn't really matter much at all), it seems like other people have even had problems with the baby's lungs at 3 weeks early.
It's kind of ironic, though, 3 weeks early, and then the tallest in her class all through elementary school, and even into middle and high school she is still extremely tall, just not the tallest. I don't think there is even any correlation between the two unless you are *really* early, but it is still kind of a funny thought.

My big girl was born 3 weeks early and was term by date but premature by exam. I was told by the Dr not to worry if she was behind a month on developmental milestones. Well, she was never behind and though it's not "official", I'm very certain she is moderately gifted. I don't believe she has any LDs either.

My daughter was born at 32 wks (8 wks early) through a very traumatic placental abruption. She was in the NICU for over a month and was quite anemic for the first year of her life. None of that bodes well for great brain development. I am a neonatal nurse practitioner and I work with premature infants. I was well aware of the statistics but I am very happy to say that, lucky for us, it is not always the case! While DD does have ADHD, she is also PG.

<My DS was born 4 weeks early with an APGAR score of 0. I shudder to think what he'd be like if he hadn't been deprived of oxygen at birth :-)>

DS11 makes a similar joke about his birth, which happened exactly a month before his due date as a result of placental abruption.

I'm not sure how much oxygen deprivation he endured. Though he was awfully gray when he emerged, his APGAR's were 9 and 9; he weighed 6 lbs. 15 oz. (When I heard that, I was glad he was early!) and didn't need any time in the NICU.

I don't remember seeing it, but apparently he held his head up in the hospital; a few years ago he met the criteria for DYS.

So I guess all these bright, early babies are statistical outliers; brought together by the 'net, they seem more significant than that, though.

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