Both Hazel and Jude were able to wean a little bit off their breathing settings today. Hopefully they do well with slightly less assistance so that they can continue to progress to the next step (SIPAP for Jude, nasal cannula for Hazel).
Jude had another head ultrasound and the clot looks slightly smaller than 2 weeks ago. This is a good thing! The bleed seems to be clotting and reabsorbing naturally. His head has not had any swelling, which is really great. The neurosurgeon looked at his ultrasound 2 weeks ago and was "pleased" with the way things looked. Hopefully he will say the same thing when he looks at the one from today. We continue to pray that this heals naturally and that he will not need a shunt put in.
Hazel's billirubin level did go up a little bit today, but the doctor did not order phototherapy yet (under the lights). I think he's hoping it resolves itself in a couple of days. She'll have her level checked again on Sunday.
Hazel started on a 1 ml/hour continuous feed of Elecare (lactose free, predigested formula) today. We're hoping that she tolerates it and then can start alternating that with breast milk. We attended a parent meeting last night with parents who have been through the NICU experience and one of them was telling us that this formula costs something like $3000 a bottle! I haven't looked into it to see how accurate that is, but I'm sure our insurance company LOVES us right now. Good thing she still has several weeks to learn how to digest before coming home, because there's no way we're buying her that stuff (even though we do love her a lot)!
Jude is doing well with his feeding and was increased to 6.5 ml/hour today. He is completely off his TPN (vitamins and other nutrients given through the picc line). They are starting to fortify the milk with extra calories today. It will be so great when he gets rid of his picc line! It might be awhile yet since it's hard to get in and they don't want to remove it too early. Also, they've been administering his antibiotics through it, so it will not be removed until he's free from antibiotics and eating very consistently.
We're really praying that Jude can get off the vent soon. If he gets off the vent, he can be held, he can stop getting fentanol (a drug he's been receiving for pain), and he can get rid of another line he has in his foot that they draw blood from all the time to check blood gases. That will be a day to rejoice.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Our babies need a diet!
Okay, they don't really need a diet, but they both gained way more weight than they should have in one day. They are supposed to gain about an ounce each day, but they each gained 3-4 ounces. That means they are retaining too much fluid. Hazel looks puffy, but Jude does not. Noel says that if we just brought the doctor one of my baby pictures, he might think their chubbiness has just been inherited from their mom and there is no need to worry. :) The doctor is hoping they either lose weight or don't gain any additional weight over the next 3 days. They are both being given a diuretic to help get rid of the fluid (they have already been given this several times).
Hazel has completely stopped feeding again. The doctor tried the lactose free formula, but she threw that up (which, I think means that it's NOT the lactose she's struggling with). She was tested for infection, but everything came back normal (thank goodness!). The doctor wants her to rest overnight and they'll try a very small amount again tomorrow. She looked a bit more yellow today and we're anticipating that she'll be back under the lights tomorrow. Feeding would really help this problem, so we're really hoping she starts tolerating it very soon! She sure doesn't like the sunglasses that she has to wear with the lights on.
Hazel has completely stopped feeding again. The doctor tried the lactose free formula, but she threw that up (which, I think means that it's NOT the lactose she's struggling with). She was tested for infection, but everything came back normal (thank goodness!). The doctor wants her to rest overnight and they'll try a very small amount again tomorrow. She looked a bit more yellow today and we're anticipating that she'll be back under the lights tomorrow. Feeding would really help this problem, so we're really hoping she starts tolerating it very soon! She sure doesn't like the sunglasses that she has to wear with the lights on.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
31 weeks gestation
Not much new here. Hazel's struggling with her feeding again. She spit up 3 times last night so they are stretching out her feedings her over a longer period of time. If that doesn't work, she may be lactose intolerant (hopefully a temporary thing, which is common with preemies) and they'll try alternating lactose free formula with breast milk.
Jude's CO2 level was a bit high again this morning so they had to increase his rate on the vent. We can't wait for him to be off the vent so this was a little hard to hear. We just can't wait for his lungs to mature!
Jude's CO2 level was a bit high again this morning so they had to increase his rate on the vent. We can't wait for him to be off the vent so this was a little hard to hear. We just can't wait for his lungs to mature!
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