Monday, April 20, 2009

Ruth's One Year Stats

We took Ruth to the pediatrician this morning for her one-year check-up. She is on target for all developmental skills and a few advanced skills (putting an object in a cup -- like blocks into a case -- and scribbling with a marker on paper).

She weighs 19 lbs. 4 oz. and is 29.5 inches in length.

According to US growth charts, she is in the 25th percentile for weight and 50th percentile for height. But, US growth charts are based on formula-fed babies who tend to be heavier. If we look at the World Health Organization charts (height here, weight here), you get a better sense of breastfed baby growth. Converting Ruth's weight to kg (rounded to 8.8) and height to cm (74.93) you can see that she is at or slightly above the 50th percentile for both height and weight.

She had vaccines for pneumococcal disease, chickenpox, and the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella). She'll be see again in three months and receive the next dose of DTap, Hib, and polio. Then no more vaccines (annual flu aside) until she is 4-6 years old.

We also had to do a blood draw today. I know it was very hard on Ruth but I have to write, it was hard on Daniel and me too! The blood draw will test her for lead exposure (a neurotoxin) and anemia.

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