Monday, Jan 7, 2019
ANDOVER — If a baby is born prematurely, he or she is likely to face health challenges.
The child may be underweight and lag in development of skills such as walking and talking. Many young children in this predicament have to follow a strict diet.
Ashley Mason, director of the local WIC program, mentioned an Andover child who was born after only 26 weeks. This child was much smaller than normal and lagged behind in walking and talking.
Thanks to the nutritional help her foster parents are receiving, "She's catching up," Mason said.
WIC, officially known as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, provides help to parents of children 5 and younger. The mother of a child born prematurely who earns a limited income may feel overwhelmed trying to figure out which foods are healthy and which are not, Mason said.