I was 36 when I gave birth to my 3rd child. At the time my older two girls were almost 6 and almost 3. My pregnancy was uneventful. Bailey was due on 2/16/2000. Having lost a brother growing up who was born on February 15th, I was nervous about my daughter's due date. My mother wanted her born on my brother's birthday and I didn't. The doctor agreed to induce on February 11th. On the night of February 10th I went into labor and Bailey was born 15 minutes before her scheduled 7am induction.
Bailey hit developmental milestones early, sitting and crawling at 5 months. The pediatrician told us she might walk by 7 months if she continued to develop at that rate. She took pity on us and she was 9 months old when she walked. Bailey didn't babble. Starting at around 7 months she started refusing to breastfeed. The only way we could get her to take her formula was to put her in her crib with her bottle, turn off the lights and close the door. With 2 other young children, this was sometimes a relief and it didn't really throw up any red flags, Bailey was happy and would play in her crib, swing, playpen or bouncy seat.
When Bailey was 2 years old I became concerned because she wasn't speaking. My other 2 daughters were speaking complete sentences at 18 months and the doctor said I needed to stop comparing Bailey to her sisters and that she wasn't talking because she had 2 older sisters to talk for her. Bailey started talking at age 3 and went from not talking to full sentences.
Her tantrums continued to get worse and the pediatrician recommended behavior modification. At the age of 4 she was diagnosed as ADHD.
When she was 9 we finally got the diagnosis of PDD-NOS after 2 years of trying Bailey is now 14 and is an amazing young lady. She is at or above grade level in school and does well in her small charter school. I wouldn't change a thing about her.
Medford, OR
