January NICU checkin?

[kate61487]

Any other mamas around with babies currently in the nicu? (Last checkin was about a month ago so many have probably graduated!)

dreadpiratebuttercup catmom hope you don't mind me tagging you in.

[kate61487]

My boys had a big day today. Born at 28w they are 33.5 GA now.

Sean moved into an open crib earlier this week and after being weaned to 1L high flow yesterday today he was off the cannula! Turns out last night he took himself off and since he was doing fine they left it I couldn't stop staring at his little face today. It looks so different without that hunk of plastic in the way, I can't wait until the stickers/tape all come off (he still has the ng tube and I think they were leaving the cannula tape for a bit in case they had to put it back on.)

Liam also had a huge change in that he was put in an open crib today! I'm so glad they think he's ready.

Their measurements tonight are also awesome (though Liam made such a huge leap in the last two days I'm thinking his might be partially fluid retention).

Liam went from 2lb 8oz at birth to 4lb 11.5oz today. From 14 in to 15.75 in.

Sean went from 3lb 1oz to 4lb 15oz and from 15.5in to 17.1in.

After around two weeks of very little progress (lots of floating on o2 sat) they have both made such huge steps this week I'm re-energized for another few weeks (I know we have a ways to go with feeding since we haven't even started yet).

[dreadpiratebuttercup]

I'm so glad your boys are doing well kate61487.

After a couple of setbacks last week and being placed on an event watch, we went home today!

[catmom]

That's so great kate61487 !! Baby steps but heading in the right direction

We are doing great over here too. After being born 1/6/16 at 35w3d GA Callie has been a champ. Her sugars were all over the place at first which had the doctors concerned. She was lathing but then tiring after about 10 MLs at a time. They said that was normal for preemies and we just had to work on it but not to force it so that she doesn't end up with nipple aversion. They decided to put her on a 24 hour feed and wean her off the D10(glucose drip) slowly. After a couple set backs we lost the IV yesterday! This morning we are going to try nipples and bottles again and mommy is very happy because she was still rooting even though she was on the feed and kept hunting nipples which we couldn't give her which made her fussy.

Tonight is our first night being discharged where she is still there. Not my favorite. Just called(after fussing with a down AT&T tower and having to figure out how to skype call. Not good timing AT&T) while I was pumping and her sugars were at 71 at her last check! We upgraded to every 6 hour pokes instead of 3 as she hasn't had any under 50 in a day.

Can't wait to get back over there this morning!

[kate61487]

Jan 11, 2016 0:59:00 GMT -5 dreadpiratebuttercup said:

I'm so glad your boys are doing well kate61487.

After a couple of setbacks last week and being placed on an event watch, we went home today!

That's fantastic, dreadpiratebuttercup!

[runningmommy519]

catmom Callie reminds me of my second! My graduate. I remember those pokes all to well. It took us 8 days to lose that IV! I hope it comes out soon!

[kate61487]

catmom how did your first night away go? I know for me physically leaving was awful, but I slept so much better at home I only called while I was up pumping. Hope you got some rest!

[wicked22]

Born at 32 weeks she is now 36 weeks. Her feeding tube came out yesterday and has been doing great with my bottle from home. Dr. said she might come home tomorrow afternoon and he's the same doc tomorrow. The nurses however think it might be another day.

[kate61487]

That's awesome wicked22! I hope the doc is right

[catmom]

runningmommy519, IV is out and we did 2 hour continuous feeds yesterday with one hour breaks where we tried the breast. Did not go well in the off hours because she was already so full. Very frustrating but worth it for the skin to skin time. Today we do 1 hour continuous and then can try bottles and boobs. I think bottles are te answer because she just doesn't like to work for it after being spoiled with the tube I think.

kate61487, it was rough! I was a mess all the way home and it was a snow storm and then I tried to calm down because I felt bad for my husband who has been such a champ through this. It helped that she had a nurse I loved that night so I felt free to call(and I did when I was pumping after the phone lines evened out!). Second night was a little better but I agree, I felt much more rested after spending five nights in the hospital and more human getting to spend the day with her yesterday! Thank you for asking :*

[motownthrowdown]

Jan 12, 2016 7:44:26 GMT -5 catmom said:

runningmommy519, IV is out and we did 2 hour continuous feeds yesterday with one hour breaks where we tried the breast. Did not go well in the off hours because she was already so full. Very frustrating but worth it for the skin to skin time. Today we do 1 hour continuous and then can try bottles and boobs. I think bottles are te answer because she just doesn't like to work for it after being spoiled with the tube I think.

kate61487, it was rough! I was a mess all the way home and it was a snow storm and then I tried to calm down because I felt bad for my husband who has been such a champ through this. It helped that she had a nurse I loved that night so I felt free to call(and I did when I was pumping after the phone lines evened out!). Second night was a little better but I agree, I felt much more rested after spending five nights in the hospital and more human getting to spend the day with her yesterday! Thank you for asking :*

My daughter never really took the boob. Bottles were easier for her so now I'm an EPer. Our very first nursing session, which was her first time with oral feeds, went perfectly. Then she never wanted boobs again lol. But I loved kangaroo time.

[catmom]

Jan 12, 2016 11:52:40 GMT -5 motownthrowdown said:

Jan 12, 2016 7:44:26 GMT -5 catmom said:

runningmommy519, IV is out and we did 2 hour continuous feeds yesterday with one hour breaks where we tried the breast. Did not go well in the off hours because she was already so full. Very frustrating but worth it for the skin to skin time. Today we do 1 hour continuous and then can try bottles and boobs. I think bottles are te answer because she just doesn't like to work for it after being spoiled with the tube I think.

kate61487, it was rough! I was a mess all the way home and it was a snow storm and then I tried to calm down because I felt bad for my husband who has been such a champ through this. It helped that she had a nurse I loved that night so I felt free to call(and I did when I was pumping after the phone lines evened out!). Second night was a little better but I agree, I felt much more rested after spending five nights in the hospital and more human getting to spend the day with her yesterday! Thank you for asking :*

My daughter never really took the boob. Bottles were easier for her so now I'm an EPer. Our very first nursing session, which was her first time with oral feeds, went perfectly. Then she never wanted boobs again lol. But I loved kangaroo time.

I'm thinking this will be our relationship as well and I'm okay with that. I wanted to EP but tried the breast because I said I would give that a shot too. Maybe when she is older!

[snd1231]

My triplets were born October 22 at 25w5d. My baby B Gracelynn is coming home today after 87 days in the NICU! But baby A Nolan and baby C Nataleigh will still be in the NICU for at least another month.

I'm exhausted and have no idea how I'm going to manage having one at home with oxygen and special needs and two still in the NICU. I hope with time I can come up with something that works.

[motownthrowdown]

Jan 19, 2016 10:52:38 GMT -5 snd1231 said:

My triplets were born October 22 at 25w5d. My baby B Gracelynn is coming home today after 87 days in the NICU! But baby A Nolan and baby C Nataleigh will still be in the NICU for at least another month.

I'm exhausted and have no idea how I'm going to manage having one at home with oxygen and special needs and two still in the NICU. I hope with time I can come up with something that works.

AHHHHHH way to go gracelynn! I was stalking you on paif the other day.

With visiting, I know that our nicu didn't allow visitors under 13 ever, and no visitors under 18 during September through like may for rsv season. With my daughter, they pretty much said she goes home and STAYS home to keep her healthy, since she made it one day into 3rd tri for immune transfer.

[kate61487]

snd1231 that is so awesome that G is coming home!! Is your dh taking time off now that you'll have a baby at home? (He was still working at the hospital right?) I've been trying to figure this out myself since I'm sure my twins will come home separately.

Currently, since I'm still working, we only go for one care session a day. We take temps, change diapers, and then snuggle for around two hours while they get a feed. I'm figuring when one is home we'll keep a similar schedule, just going separately instead of together. It's hard to leave them, and sometimes I feel guilty that I'm not with them more, but they are in excellent hands and I can only do what I can. You may need to adopt a similar schedule, leaving G with DH for a couple hours while you go visit N&N

[snd1231]

motownthrowdown my NICU actually has the same policy but since they are a triplet set they are making some exceptions. My other two are in private rooms so they were ok with us coming back up.

kate61487 my DH took off tomorrow just in case it was a rough transition (it's been relatively good). But he will be back full time until all three come home. Then he starts his paternity leave for 9 weeks (I think). I know I could leave G with my DH but it would kill me. I'm still in that super way over protective zone even with my family. I really want to try to make it up there every other day. But we will see how it goes.

[motownthrowdown]

snd1231, oh that's great!