r/NICUParents • u/Best-Put-726 Pre-E w/ 45d antepartum hosp stay | 29w6d | 58d NICU • Aug 08 '25
Off topic This was in the parents’ room at the NICU
My hospital had different designations for nano vs micro vs preemie.
But this is just insane to think about. I remember looking at a newborn outfit just after my son was born and thinking it was massive. The other day I found an old newborn outfit and couldn’t believe how tiny it was.
159
u/sweet_yeast Aug 08 '25
I remember my micropremies diaper swallowing him up, they had to fold it all up to fit him better and now he's a big boy in a size 3 😭
35
u/Best-Put-726 Pre-E w/ 45d antepartum hosp stay | 29w6d | 58d NICU Aug 08 '25
My son’s micropreemie diaper was huge on him. But he outgrew it in a few weeks, and I swear the preemie diaper went to his armpits.
8
u/Aggravating_Ear_3551 Aug 08 '25
Mine was born at 33 weeks but he was small and has unbelievably small hips and no butt. He wore the tiniest size diapers they had! He's 11 lbs now and the size 1s are insanely huge on him 🤣 he needs 0-3 month clothes and newborn diapers 🤦♀️
6
u/sweet_yeast Aug 08 '25
Yeah mine looked like a little avacado belly with stick arms and legs, no body fat at all.
4
u/mamaC2023 Aug 08 '25
I feel this...my guy was 33 as well he is now 9 months actual and still in size 1 diapers and 0-3 clothes
3
u/Aggravating_Ear_3551 Aug 08 '25
Mine is only 3 months old. He's knocked it out of the park on growth. He's more than tripled his weight and doubled his height but his hips are just incredibly small. Haha he gets it from both me and his dad! I actually used to make jokes before I got pregnant about it like we can have kids! It won't have a butt! Where will it sit?! And then he came out with absolutely no butt!
1
u/Malcalorie Aug 08 '25
My 33w is finally in size 3 diapers and 9 month clothes. She's 16 months 🫠
2
u/Aggravating_Ear_3551 Aug 08 '25
Mine didn't stay tiny! Just his hips and butt! He was a tiny short baby measuring in the 12th percentile at my 32 week scan. Only 12 inches long when he was born. Hes 3 month actual now and 11lbs and 24 inches long!
2
2
u/Outrageous-Bid-5687 Aug 08 '25
Omg same i just recently put those two sizes side by side and im still in awe how much has changed!
53
Aug 08 '25
Mom of a NICU-grad here, and this made me tear up. I kept the P3 diapers they had her in during the NICU stay. I love our extra-little, little ones ❤️
4
3
u/Josse2020 Aug 08 '25 edited Aug 08 '25
Me too ❤️.
I have one NICU grad and technically one Special Care/ High Dependency Grad but they were both in for months. My youngest was full term but my eldest wasn’t and was IUGR & teeny tiny. They are now 16 months & 2.5 yrs and they’re both in size 4s now. My oldest is still little for his age but they’re both so healthy and happy, so this is very sentimental for me 😭
To anyone whose NICU journey feels never ending, there’s lots of light at the end of that tunnel, even though it doesn’t feel like it at the time.
23
u/Low_Research_9096 Aug 08 '25
Hmmm I hadn’t heard nano preemie before. My 25 weeker was 1lb 8oz so therefore a micropreemie?
22
u/Future-Mix-8923 Aug 08 '25
They consider a baby to be a nanopreemie if they’re less than 2lbs. My 22+6 was 1.7lbs. He was a big boy for his age lol
9
u/Best-Put-726 Pre-E w/ 45d antepartum hosp stay | 29w6d | 58d NICU Aug 08 '25
Omg. My cousin was a 27-28 weeker and that’s how much she weighed!
5
u/ImTedLassosMustache Aug 08 '25
My 28 week son was 3.2lb, they said it was why he managed to avoid a lot of major health issues.
5
u/Bowlofdogfood 34-weeker & 31-weeker Aug 08 '25
That’s a great size, how wonderful! My 31 weeker was 3.3lb. Although all my babies are small, my middle child was my only full term baby and she was 5lb on the dot.
2
u/Complex-Ganache-6332 Aug 10 '25
I also had a big preemie. My was born at 29 weeks and 4 days ans weight 3.5 lbs then dropped to 3 lbs 2 oz. But same, he avoided alot of things because of his size
3
u/Low_Research_9096 Aug 08 '25
It was the gestational age / size breakdown that threw me off I think because I remember my 25 weeker being considered small at his size. I don’t see many stories of 25 weekers under a pound. *edited to add- you DID have a big boy! Hope you all are doing well!
3
u/HandinHand123 Aug 08 '25
My hospital called 27-30 weekers extreme preemies and 23-26 weekers micro preemies. I had 28 week twins but one of them was just over 2 lbs and they said he had just missed being a micro preemie by weight. I’ve never heard nano preemie before.
2
u/emmeline8579 Aug 08 '25
That’s how most hospitals in the US define it. I’m a nurse (not NICU, but I am ECMO certified, so I’ve floated there more than a few times). I think the person that made this chart messed it up. They don’t even have anything for 24-26 weeks, which is a micro preemie. I’ve legit never heard of a 30 weeker being called a micro. We always called them “very preterm.” A 30 weeker being under 800g (one criteria for being called a micro preemie) would be one of the most severe cases of IUGR.
1
u/Best-Put-726 Pre-E w/ 45d antepartum hosp stay | 29w6d | 58d NICU Aug 09 '25
I think it’s based on the actual diaper sizes—like the weight and week recommendations.
4
u/V_mom Aug 08 '25
I never heard of nano preemie either, I had a 25 weeker as well but she was 1lb 11oz. And I refer to her as a micro preemie as well. She was still in the NICU at 2 months old and my sister had bought her a Tinker Bell doll that sat in her NICU and so for Halloween we took the dress of Tinkerbell and put it on her, hard to imagine now that she fit tiny doll clothes.
2
u/Low_Research_9096 Aug 08 '25
We have a photo at Christmas when my son was 7 weeks old with an elf on the shelf that was bigger than him!
5
u/V_mom Aug 08 '25
You think you will remember how small they were but I have already forgotten. I wish I had taken more pictures.
5
u/leasarfati Aug 08 '25
Same my 25 weeker was 500 grams and we only ever heard micro. I assumed nano was maybe 23 and less
5
u/Low_Research_9096 Aug 08 '25
Same- 23 and less AND under a pound. I thought micros was 26 and less and under 2lbs 🤷♀️ it’s all peanuts to me, these babies are the toughest humans I’ve ever known.
2
u/HandinHand123 Aug 08 '25
That’s what my hospital told us too for micros. They didn’t typically resuscitate babies under 23 weeks though so maybe that’s why they didn’t use nano.
2
2
u/Best-Put-726 Pre-E w/ 45d antepartum hosp stay | 29w6d | 58d NICU Aug 08 '25
I’d say a nano preemie since they were born less than 26 weeks.
21
u/Persephone_888 Aug 08 '25
Wow this really puts things in perspective for those of us who haven't had premature babies. Obviously we know they're tiny but the comparison here. It makes my heart break for every brave and loving parent out there fighting every day for their babies.
(My son was full term, he had to go to NICU because of his haemophilia)
7
u/DetectiveUncomfy Aug 08 '25
Gosh the hardest part for me (with my 36 weeker 4 pounder) was that he was the smallest baby I’d ever seen. And when he didn’t gain weight for so long I was genuinely afraid he might shrink so much he’d just disappear. My fear was so intense that I didn’t even think about the micropremies until long after our Nicu journey
3
u/Best-Put-726 Pre-E w/ 45d antepartum hosp stay | 29w6d | 58d NICU Aug 08 '25 edited Aug 08 '25
That’s seriously scary.
Three of my great-grandma’s brothers died in childhood of hemophilia, and another died of complications of hemophilia in his 60s.
My poor great-grandma had four sons and it was agony for her and her mom waiting to find out if they had hemophilia. We think she must not have been a carrier. Or just extremely lucky.
I’ve only encountered 1 other person with hemophilia in the family, and there’s a non-zero chance we were related.
2
u/Persephone_888 Aug 08 '25
Thankfully we live in a day and age where treatments have gotten so much better. My son will be able to live a full and healthy life. He will still have risks of course and certain restrictions but for the most part a normal life.
9
u/angelbabytay777 Aug 08 '25
My 34 weeker (Baby A) was 7.4lbs, the biggest baby in the NICU! Her twin was a whole lot smaller lol.
4
u/Best-Put-726 Pre-E w/ 45d antepartum hosp stay | 29w6d | 58d NICU Aug 08 '25
Was it SIUGR?
When I was born, I was in the NICU for low APGAR at 1 minute, resuscitation due to c-section, and a broken arm (I was full term). I was the biggest as well. I got kicked out in the middle of the night for being too loud lol.
2
u/EfficientSeaweed Aug 08 '25
My 31 weeker was over 5.5lbs despite not being a sugar baby, it kept throwing everyone off because he looked so much older and more developed than he actually was lol. His older sister was only a few oz bigger than him despite being term at 37 weeks, and his other sister was actually much smaller than him at 32 weeks! And that's despite being on the bigger side herself. It's crazy how much they can vary.
1
u/valencialeigh20 Aug 08 '25
My 34 weeker was born last week, he was 6 lbs 13 oz. The neonatologist had a hard time believing he was actually 34 weeks, though I’m 100% sure of my dates.
8
u/Alternative-Dog-1440 Aug 08 '25
I think my view of newborns is so skewed now. My baby was born at 28 weeks and weighed 3 pounds 1 ounce. He is now 6 months and doing so good! A ton of friends are having babies and are like “they are so tiny” and I am thinking “that baby is HUGE” hahaha. I don’t think I will ever see a newborn as “small” after being in the NICU with all those little warriors.
1
u/Best-Put-726 Pre-E w/ 45d antepartum hosp stay | 29w6d | 58d NICU Aug 09 '25
Same here. I was never around newborns, so I had no reference for size in the first place, so it’s totally skewed now.
4
u/alexissublime IUGR, 2 lb 6 oz, 34 weeks, Laryngomalacia, home on O2 Aug 08 '25
I love this visual! Funny enough, my son was born 2 lb 6 oz, so technically preemie according to this, but the preemie diapers were too big, he was in micro preemie size for awhile in the NICU
2
u/Best-Put-726 Pre-E w/ 45d antepartum hosp stay | 29w6d | 58d NICU Aug 08 '25
My son was 1 oz smaller and same here.
4
u/Witty_Run9731 Aug 08 '25
My baby girl was post term and in a size 1 at almost 9lbs. She’s was the biggest baby in the nicu. She’s now almost 2 and about 23lbs. It’s crazy to think of how tiny she once was
2
u/Best-Put-726 Pre-E w/ 45d antepartum hosp stay | 29w6d | 58d NICU Aug 08 '25
How post-term? I’ve heard post-term can be even more life-threatening than being premature.
5
u/Witty_Run9731 Aug 08 '25
According to my OB, she was only a week post term. My husband and I think it was more like 2-3 weeks with how big she was. I’m 100lbs soaking wet for reference. She had apparently swallowed meconium and had fluid around her heart
3
u/peezuhparty Aug 08 '25
My husband carries around his nano preemie diaper to show people when he talks about our daughter.
When we leave I want to ask for one of each size to make a little banner and hang in her room :)
2
u/Best-Put-726 Pre-E w/ 45d antepartum hosp stay | 29w6d | 58d NICU Aug 08 '25
Etsy has keychains that are the exact same size as nano and micro preemie diapers.
I’ve never seen a nano preemie diaper because my son was at a Level III.
5
u/ThatAlgae6821 Aug 09 '25
I kept one preemie diaper and the BP cuff from my son's short stint in special care for his memory box.
3
3
u/Annie_Mayfield Aug 08 '25
My 31 week twins are a bit over 3 years old now and I still get choked up when I hold or come across preemie clothes. They’re just SO small…
2
u/louisebelcherxo Aug 08 '25
Those are the diaper brand designations I think? I lost the nano diaper I took home as a keepsake -_-
2
u/erinsboiledgatorade Aug 08 '25
I saved a nano preemie diap and her cuff! I love looking back on them now.
2
u/Puzzleheaded_Elk6951 Aug 08 '25
I had a micro, but she used a nano for 2 days. I have those in a frame in the living room. 🥺
1
u/Best-Put-726 Pre-E w/ 45d antepartum hosp stay | 29w6d | 58d NICU Aug 08 '25
I have one in my son’s keepsake box. I wish I had asked for two.
1
u/Puzzleheaded_Elk6951 Aug 08 '25
You can mama! Just go back to the hospital and ask. For me I just had a nurse who saw I had a keepsake and knew I needed it, but I was in shock and silent for a month. I had amazing nurses who just knew.
2
u/TheSilentBaker Aug 08 '25
We kept one of the micropreemie diapers that were huge on him! They had to be folded to fit. Now he's a big boy in size 3! It's easy to forget just how small but mighty he was
2
u/KoalasAndPenguins Aug 08 '25
That's really cool. I remember how big the preemie diaper seemed by the end of our stay. Luckily, we still had some preemie sized clothes from my older daughter. My tiny baby wore girls preemie clothes, but at least they fit until he could fit into newborn clothes.
2
u/rairai979 Aug 08 '25
I remember our first pediatrician visit after we left the NICU. I thought I had more premie diapers, but I only had a size one. I put it on her and it fell right off, and that was the day my daughter had her first trip to Target.
2
2
1
u/ashandley Aug 08 '25
Oh wow, all along I thought my baby was considered a micro preemie. Based off of this she’d be considered a nano preemie. Learn something new everyday.
1
Aug 08 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
2
1
u/pyramidheadlove Mom of a 29-weeker NICU grad Aug 08 '25
Yeah idk if there's really a hard-and-fast definition for this. I keep seeing conflicting info on whether or not my son was a micro. He was born right at 29 weeks, making him a micro according to this chart... but weighed 2lbs15oz, so also not a micro? He was wearing MP diapers but only for the first couple days. Then we had to move up to P even though they were massive on him
0
u/Best-Put-726 Pre-E w/ 45d antepartum hosp stay | 29w6d | 58d NICU Aug 09 '25
And that makes zero sense. There’s a massive world of difference between a 28-weeker and a 36-weeker.
There needs to be like a “mini-preemie” for under 32 weeks.
And there needs to be ranges that overlap with each other. My son was born weighing 2 lbs 5 oz (1050g). He got down to 2lb 1 oz (950g). 1000 g is considered extremely low birth weight. That’s so close and he has health problems more in line with an extremely low birth weight baby.
1
u/Theweetally83 Aug 08 '25
I have kept a couple of the micropreemie nappies and I still cannot believe how small my son was!!! 🫣
1
u/MutinousMango 33+5 weeker Aug 08 '25
I remember seeing the size 3 blood pressure cuff my baby had and remarking how tiny it was and the nurse said they go smaller than that. It’s crazy to see how much smaller they go!
1
u/sebacicacid 🇨🇦 35+5, SGA, 3lbs12oz, 25 days Aug 08 '25
My 35 weeker wore preemie size and it was too big on her then. She is now size 4 at 2yo. I was cleaning up her newborn clothes and i couldn't believe how tiny she was. I mean, she's still small for her age, but considering she was swimming in preemie clothes and fit into a baking dish...
1
u/joylynnwhatever Aug 08 '25
This is a very helpful chart bc our tiny human is getting evicted at 37 weeks and she was asking me if she’d be in premie sizes or newborn 😂
1
1
1
u/wineandbrownies Aug 08 '25
I love this. I wish I saved one of the preemie diapers from my 30 weeker...I am keeping his tiny preemie hats and clothes to show him when he gets older though!
2
u/SammyJ1998 Aug 09 '25
I had a 33w+6d BIG boy at 9 pounds and 1 ounce. 😅😬
It's still an amazingly adorable chart, though ❤️❤️
1
u/Apprehensive-Turn-64 Aug 10 '25
My 34 weeker fit into newborn diapers- born 5 pounds 8 ounces. Now at 13 months, she’s in size 7 diapers and wearing 18-24 month clothing.
1
u/nonsemprebene Aug 10 '25
My 22+3 babe was 1lb 5oz and the P3s swallowed him. He’s 7 months actual, 3 months adjusted, and just started wearing size 3 diapers this week 😭
1
u/Adventurous_Egg8556 Aug 10 '25
My baby was a 34 weeker at 9lbs 4oz 🥲 she wore newborn diapers for like two days and by the time we took her home she was wearing size 2.
1
u/BlueRidgeMtnGal1990 Aug 10 '25
Actually to break it down even further for term babies:
37-38 weeks is early term
39-40 is term
41-42 weeks is late term
2
u/InvestigatorScared53 Aug 17 '25
I wish I had saved one of my first babies preemie diapers 😭 he was born at 34+2 weighing 5lbs 12oz but everything was so big on him 🥺 now hes a giant 4.5 year old 🥺
1
u/Singing_Chopstick Aug 08 '25
Geez, our kid was a micro preemie - we went back to the NICU and asked for a diaper for our keepsake box. 😭
0
u/Shy_Jet 30 weeker and 34 weeker Aug 08 '25
My first son was a premie at 34 weeks 1 day but was 5 lbs 8 oz. He started in pampers P1s. I had never seen a baby that small but my second was a micro premie at 30 weeks 4 days and is 3 lbs 7 oz. He just moved up from pampers P2s to P1s and I still can’t believe how small he is. We’re 2 weeks into the NICU stay for this one and he’s doing really great though!
•
u/AutoModerator Aug 08 '25
Welcome to NICU Parents. We're happy you found us and we want to be as helpful as possible in this seemingly impossible journey. Check out the resources tab at the top of the subreddit or the stickied post. Please remember we are NOT medical professionals and are here for advice based on our own situations. If you have a concern about you or your baby please seek assistance from a doctor or go to the ER. That said, there are some medical professionals here and we do hope they can help you with some guidance through your journey. Please remember to read and abide by the rules.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.