I can't believe it has already been two weeks since the babies were born. Then again, it seems like forever ago that I was having the babies. Sometimes it feels like they have been in the NICU for a very long time, but maybe it's because I spend most of the day there.
Here's how the second week went:
Alivia started out the week really well. They started feeding her milk again. By Thursday the doctors were concerned about the valve in/near her heart being opened. They wanted to treat it with Ibuprofen. The started her on it and she wasn't having large amounts of urine which was a concern because Ibuprofen can damage the kidneys, among other things. They had to wait a little while before giving the second dose. I was very apprehensive and told the nurse I didn't want them to give her the 3rd dose. The Dr's re-evaluated her on Sunday and determined that she didn't need the 3rd dose because her murmur seemed to be gone, indicating the valve had closed. Also, she hasn't had a bowel movement in days even after plenty of suppositories (TMI, I know). I worry about her bowels and hope that everything is working properly. They have started to slowly increase the amount in her feeds. She came off her cpap today but it might be short lived as her levels kept dropping today and they had to keep turning her oxygen up. She might be back on the cpap tomorrow.
She is such an alert little baby. She very often has her eyes open. She loves to snuggle and we are able to hold her everyday for long periods of time. She also likes it when I hold her hands and it seems to calm her down when she isn't very happy (usually during her daily assessments).
Adalyn is doing really well in the food department. She has really increased the amount of milk with her feeds. She has now passed her birth weight. She is a lot more sensitive than her sister and does not tolerate being handled very well (especially during her daily assessments). Sometimes I just sit by her incubator because she doesn't want to be touched or talked to. It stresses her out and then her oxygen levels drop and they have to keep turning up her cpap. The numbers are constantly going up and down all day long, but she tends to need more oxygen. I worry there could be problems with her lungs but a nurse today said it is too early to diagnose that and it would take time to see what will happen (but that it could be a possibility). She also doesn't tolerate being held so I either don't hold her or she only makes it about 10 minutes. We don't have a lot of pictures of her from this past week because she is usually covered up, on her tummy and sleeping with the lights dimmed.
We still are very grateful for prayers offered in their behalf. They are doing great but still have long road ahead of them. We feel very blessed to have them in our family and hope that everything will work out in the end.
5 comments:
I just think it is amazing that these lil' teeny, tiny ones already have their own little personalities and know what they like. It is just amazing to me. Glad to hear that they are both doing well in their own little ways. Love these updates. Wish I could be there in person to hear about them.
Your posts about the ladies always make me so emotional--they're just working so hard! I was thinking the same thing that was just said--I think it's amazing how such tiny, early babies have such strong and distinctive personalities already. Also, I have a question--do they both sleep on their tummies? Is it easier for them with all of the tubes and stuff, or do they just rotate them around periodically so they're not always laying in the same spot? I was just curious because here they always emphasize back sleeping for babies because of SIDS risks, even though I've always found my babies seem more comfortable on their tummies (and Jake and I think that they don't really know what reduces risk for SIDS, since they keep changing what is advised every few years).
They rotate them around but Adalyn likes to be on her tummy or side. It also helps to keep the cpaps from blowing air into their bellies. Once they hit 35 weeks, or when I would have been 35 weeks pregnant then they can't sleep on their bellies anymore. They say preemies really don't like sleeping on their backs but Alivia doesn't really seem to mind. I'm hoping Adalyn will get to be more snuggly once her respiratory system isn't so fragile.
I love all the updates on these precious babes! I have to say what everyone else said. It really is amazing that they know what they like and don't like already. (True girls ha ha). They are so adorable.
Sweet little babies! I just want to love them! They are looking so good! I hope all the inside stuff works out so they can be totally healthy and come home! Way to be strong J and A!
Post a Comment