So after getting worked up and not being able to sleep last night, Gesina lost weight and did not come home today. It seems she was a bit off for the nurses last night too and only took about half the amount she normally takes of her bottle. Today she took a decent amount from her usual daytime nurse and was pretty sleepy all day. I got to meet with the occupational therapist so she could give me all the information and education she could. I have a few more tips and tricks now to help her organize herself when she has her freak outs. If Gesina gains 30 ml by tomorrow morning she will be going home. If she does not, we monitor her weight over the weekend and see what happens for Monday. I asked if they would be giving her a feeding tube again and the doctor said no, we wouldn't be doing that. This is a relief so I'll be happy with Gesina coming home when she is ready and comfortable with the bottle.
Tonight I'm going to sleep early to recover from last night. I'm exhausted and now that I've had my own little freak out, I feel more prepared for her coming home. It would be nice to have the weekend with Gesina home so I can get used to it before I prepare for the work week but Gesina is in charge of that. She comes home when she's ready, not when I want her too!
Awe Sweety, I know you're terribly disappointed...:( However, it is still a GOOD day...No more feeding tube...! That is still a good positive. I know you're exhausted physically and mentally, there is no way you can't be. BUT, Gesina is older. This is generally when babies start to reveal a little bit of who they are:) They are awake more, their tiny personalities are trying to emerge little by little.
ReplyDeleteHave they tried different nipples? Don't know if that would help or not...just a thought:)
...We were So hoping this would be a night of celebration, and it is, just not quite like we had hoped. But still....You are Sooo much closer than a month ago. The flip side of that....is that every hour seems to take 4 hours to pass. I'm sure every scenario of every possible issue has made a lap around your mind a kazillion times. You've done all you can...for now...Take a minute and look back....look at just how far ya'll have come.....You're so close, I know that only ratchets up the nerves that much more.
I wish you good, restful sleep, I hope you wake up with a happy heart and an unstoppable smile...
I am just tickled pink that they are not going to put the feeding tube back in and I wonder if the reason Gesina is a little fussy and anxious now is because for the first time she is feeling hunger. Before she had a constant flow of food into her stomach and now that has stopped so she is experiencing hunger and this is probably freaking her out because she has not yet connected the bottle with what will take away the feeling in her stomach. Just a thought. Good vibes coming your way for tomorrow:)
ReplyDeleteDiane I SOOOO agree! She's dealing with change...and when they're little like this(even when they're older), Any change can throw them off...I'm so tickled the Doctor seems to be thinking the same thing:)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sage and Diane. Whenever possible, I try to think about the physical differences between my child and children who are not being medicated, poked, stomach tubed and so on. You have a little fighter who is going to be a little high maintenance for a while. I would recommend that you look into some sort of home nursing service with the county. This is a complicated baby and you are going to benefit from a weekly visit to answer your questions in practical ways. Also, I am not sure what you're planning to do for childcare, but we found a babysitter who has 6 children and has seen everything. Every time I started to freak out, she calmly explained the way babies are, and what to really be worried about, and how to take care of these little setbacks. The thing that I found hardest was trying to be as good as a nurse, when nurses have shifts, but parents are 24/7. It was very over whelming. My husband and I staggered our sleeping so that he took the shift from 8-pm to 1 am and I took 1 am on. It's important to get your sleep so you can be clear in your decision making. But there is nothing so wonderful as being able to be in your cozy home, just you and baby, knowing you don't have to give baby back to a nurse.
ReplyDeleteI agree Laura..So many things are scary when there aren't issues...I've tried not to make the "issues" prominent, but they're in the forefront all the time. Because of how well she's done, doesn't mean it's a clear road all the way. But there are definitely gonna be challenges...I think she's tired of being in the bed all the time too. I really think/hope her being in a different surrounding will help too. She's awake more, but she's bound to be bored...I think she'll really thrive being in a home environment where she'll be in a relaxed, loving atmosphere:) In the NICU it's the same schedule day in and day out. At home she'll be exposed to toys, activities, interactions with others...It may be a fretful few days, then again...she may fall right into a more enjoyable routine:) We're hoping so, for everyone involved:)
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