How Paediatric Physiotherapy can help your premature baby

How Paediatric Physiotherapy can help your premature baby

Is Your Preterm Baby Reaching Their Full Potential? How Physiotherapy Follow-Up Can Help

Bringing a baby into the world is an exciting experience, but when your little one arrives early, it comes with unique challenges. In Victoria, over 7% of babies are born prematurely each year—that’s more than 5,000 families navigating the journey of preterm parenthood.

If your baby was born prematurely, you may have concerns about their development. Research shows that around 50% of preterm babies experience some neurodevelopmental challenges by school age. The good news? Early intervention, including physiotherapy and developmental follow-up, can make a significant difference in helping your child thrive.

Understanding Prematurity

A baby is considered premature if they are born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. You may hear your doctor use terms like postmenstrual age or gestational age to describe your baby’s age. Both are calculated based on the first day of the mother’s last menstrual period. In general, the earlier a baby is born, the more support they may need.

Why Does Being Born Early Matter?

When a baby is born too soon, they miss out on critical development inside the womb—a safe, quiet, and controlled environment. Instead, they are suddenly exposed to bright lights, loud noises, and touch before they are fully ready to process these stimuli. This early exposure can make it harder for preterm babies to adjust and learn new skills at the same pace as full-term infants.

Understanding Corrected Age

To track a preterm baby’s development accurately, healthcare professionals use corrected age—calculated from their original due date rather than their birth date. For example, if your baby was born 8 weeks early, when they are 12 weeks old, their corrected age is 4 weeks. This ensures a fair assessment of their milestones.

At Unbreakable Physiotherapy in Moorabbin, our highly specialised and experienced paediatric physiotherapists are here to help with all of your premature baby questions!

How Physiotherapy Can Help

Our specialised paediatric physiotherapists are experts in assessing and supporting a baby’s motor development. We offer:

• Motor skill evaluations – Tracking milestones such as rolling, sitting, crawling, and walking.

• Early identification of developmental delays – Recognising subtle cues that may indicate the need for additional support. This early identification is known to promote stronger outcomes.

• Guidance for parents – Our team holds extensive experience working with premature infants, and are here to support you, answer your questions and help you feel calm and in control .

Early Detection of Cerebral Palsy Risk

A crucial aspect of developmental follow-up is screening for conditions like cerebral palsy. This assessment can take place as early as 3-4 months corrected age. Our paediatric physiotherapists are trained to conduct a General Movements Assessment, a specialised test that can detect early signs of motor impairment. Early detection leads to early intervention, significantly improving long-term outcomes.

We’re Here to Help

Accessing follow-up care doesn’t have to mean frequent hospital visits. At Unbreakable Physiotherapy in Moorabbin, we offer expert developmental follow-up in a comfortable and convenient setting. We collaborate closely with families and healthcare providers to ensure your baby receives the best care possible.

At Unbreakable Physiotherapy, we understand the unique needs of preterm babies and their families. Our goal is to help every child reach their full potential. If you have concerns about your baby’s development or want to learn more about our services, don’t hesitate to contact us today.