Waist on a preemie?

[RamieBabyDesigns]

I've been asked to make a tutu for a 27-week preemie (which I assume will be wearing her tutu NOT right now, but soon?) She came out weighing 2.5 lbs a few weeks ago.
Now, my kids both came out just under 9 lbs, so I have perception issues here. What doll/object/item would I use as my model when determining waist size/tutu length for this babe?!
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Erika--Mama to Ramie (3) & Reese (0)

RamieBaby Designs--Where the Hip Babies Hang Out

Venus Vanguard

[MountianMama]

My littlest brother was 2.2lbs at birth. His thigh was about the size of my ring finger. So I would imagine using something about the size of a webkin??

I'm going to assume she's in NICU and won't be wearing the tutu until she's out. Some hospitals require a babe to be a certain weight before they can leave. I'd ask if that is the case so you have soemthing to go by.
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Megan

Mama to the negotiator, Everest (7) and loving wife to Radman (old)

"Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt". ~Shakespeare

[RamieBabyDesigns]

Holy cow. I can't imagine anything so tiny!

I'll ask for more details as I'm seeing the gift-giver tonight and would like to pass the tutu along then.
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Erika--Mama to Ramie (3) & Reese (0)

RamieBaby Designs--Where the Hip Babies Hang Out

Venus Vanguard

[ArchyMomma]

Coming in late....
My DD was 2 lbs when she was born (28wks) and what Megan said is correct. As for size - find out how long she is (now) and you can probably use that as a reference.
just found this - might be helpful if you can't get measurements from the parents.
http://reviews.ebay.com/Preemie-Clothing-Size-Chart_W0QQugidZ10000000005631703


She probably won't be wearing anything for a while and then just cotton nicu friendly tops/gowns (allows you to take on and off around the monitors lines, iv lines, central line, ng tubes etc ).

She may get to a point while still in the NICU to be able to wear whatever - my DD did but it wasn't for 9+ wks after she was born, when she came off most the central line and pretty much everything except the monitor and O2.
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Kathi Wife to Jay and Mom to Molly Josh
Chaco Creations
Lily Pad Landing

[mama2LilynDevon]

I'm late too but a lot of hospitals require babies to be 5lbs before they can come home. Beka was about 5lbs when she came home and her waist was 10- 10 1/2 in.
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Amanda, wife of 1, mom of 5

The Color Wheel on Etsy
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[ArchyMomma]

you know I hear that a lot - but they really didn't have a weight requirement at out NICU (at least that they talked about to us)- Molly came home at 4lb 13oz. Our NICU's main requirements were regulating tempeture, eating and gaining etc. She came home still on O2 but eating and gaining well and able to regulate her temp.
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Kathi Wife to Jay and Mom to Molly Josh
Chaco Creations
Lily Pad Landing

[mama2LilynDevon]

I honestly think the 5lb thing is because most carseats don't fit smaller then 5lbs and 19". Beka was actually too small for her seat. Adam's seat fit smaller and he was bigger so Beka road in Adam's seat and Adam in hers for a long time.
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Amanda, wife of 1, mom of 5

The Color Wheel on Etsy
Facebook

[ArchyMomma]

That is a good point. They actually made us (and everyone leaving the NICU) do a car seat test. We had to put M in the car seat for the length of time it would take us to get home (1.5 hrs) or 2 hrs if longer drive (telling people they had to stop at the minimum every 2 hours to let baby streatch, feed, change etc).
They had their car seat specialist come in and put her in the car seat and and showed us how to do it correctly.

I always wondered why they didn't do this for every new baby, not just those leaving the NICU.
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Kathi Wife to Jay and Mom to Molly Josh
Chaco Creations
Lily Pad Landing

[RamieBabyDesigns]

You lived 1.5 hrs from the hospital?!
That must've been interesting managing w/ your LO being in there an extended period of time. Did you have Ronald McDonald house or something to help?

The gal said to make it to fit a 7 lb. baby. I figure I'll do a little bigger than 10" waist mentioned for a 5 lb. baby. They stretch for days. I don't know anything about this baby's condition and would almost think it'd be better to just lay the tutu onto the baby for a pic. Such an itty bitty thing...
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Erika--Mama to Ramie (3) & Reese (0)

RamieBaby Designs--Where the Hip Babies Hang Out

Venus Vanguard

[ArchyMomma]

[RamieBabyDesigns]