Mike's mother keeps calling him 'the miracle baby', and she's absolutely right. This little being has brought me so much gratitude and hope, and has made me so acutely aware of how lucky we are and how blessed our life is. For as much as I wish that he didn't have to be born so early and be separated from us right away, I realize how lucky we are that he at least made it to 33 weeks. He was as healthy of a weight that we could have asked for at that gestational age, and there were no other complications and he's otherwise totally healthy. He just needs a little more time to get his lungs in good shape, get some meat on his little bones, and learn how to use his mouth to feed.
Nonna getting to greet her new grandson for the first time
When we arrived in Luca's hospital room today, we had the good news that they were able to take his IV out! This means he's getting enough nutrients from the formula feedings and doesn't need to get sugar water through the IV anymore, which is all great news. They still have to increase his feeding dose one more time (tonight at midnight) but he's so close they just took out the IV earlier today. They did have to slow the feedings down and give more frequent, smaller doses of formula as he was spitting up a bit more once they started increasing the amount of formula. Give some time for his stomach to tolerate it! I just have my fingers crossed that he'll stop spitting up and he'll be able to tolerate the amount of formula he needs every day. Regardless, it was so nice to see one more piece of medical equipment removed from his body. They also moved the nasogastric tube from his mouth to his nose (this is the tube that delivers formula down to his stomach-as he cannot use his mouth to suck formula from a bottle yet). That means at least two good things: #1 they are sure that they won't be needing to use a cpap machine in his nose again to help him breathe, and #2 they are getting ready for him to start learning how to feed using his mouth!
Here we are yesterday, he still had the IV in his arm
1 comment:
Oh Lisa! All your posts and pics bring back such memories. Lucas and Liliana were born at 32.5 weeks at 4lbs. 4oz each. Two weeks in the NICU. It was tough, emotionally and physcially, but they got such good care (as you are seeing). We had to take our daughter home without our son and I was so distraught my mother went to the hospital to stay by Lucas' crib until midnight so he wouldn't be alone. Congrats on all the success little Luca has had so far...each little acheivement is such a milestone. You are right...he is very healthy for how early he was. We always felt like the lucky ones in the NICU. There was a family there with us who the whole time we were there, never got to hold their baby (he was about a pound), they had to do blood transfusions, etc., checking for brain damage..ugh it was heart wrenching. I used to feel guilty that I had not one but TWO relatively healthy children, who were just (as you say) "getting some meat on their bones" before they came home.
Good luck with everything. Love to read about the progress!
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