Emily weighs 3 pounds 11 ounces now so she is up 2 ounces over her birth weight. Not only is she gaining weight but she no longer has an IV for fluids/nutrition. She is taking in 30 ml per feeding, through her tube of course, but is still tolerating them well. They are fortifying the breast milk with a powder that basically adds calories to help fatten her up a little. I like to think she's having a protein shake to help bulk up. :-) Since her IV is out she is finally able to wear clothes!! My mom and I went to Babies R Us yesterday to purchase some preemie clothes and some receiving blankets to take to the hospital. I know we already have quite a few of those flannel blankets and she won't need the preemie clothes for very long but somehow she just deserved some of her own stuff. Besides, the blankets we bought were more spunky than your typical flowers, butterflies, lambs and gingham and I really felt Emily needs something with more pop! We washed them all yesterday and James took them up to the hospital last night. When he stopped by on his way to work this morning, she was dressed and swaddled! TOO CUTE! She looked wonderful in her own clothes and without that IV in her head. Obviously the little caps we bought are still too big so she's in her hospital cap but that's OK. James and I were both there at noon today and it took both of us to change her diaper. Fighting with clothes and wires and blankets all through the doors in her isolette almost defeated us. Not to mention the poopy diaper from hell. 10 minutes and 3 diapers later she was ready for me to hold her! We sat in our recliner for 2 hours today. It was wonderful. She slept soundly for most of the time and I'm pretty sure I got a cat nap in too. I would have stayed longer but I had to go pump her next feeding.
I made a quick phone call tonight to check on her. The night nurse hadn't weighed her yet so I won't have that until tomorrow but she did say she hadn't had a brady since she had been on. Shift change was at 7:00, so that was good news. I asked when her last brady was and she said it was at 11:53 am today. That was about 10 hours without a brady when she typically has 15+ per day. A small step, one day, but we were excited none-the-less. BTW - 'brady' is a bradycardia - that's the heartrate episodes I refer to when her rate drops below 100.
OK all you breastfeeding mommies out there ... I need some help. When I had Megan I never pumped a supply that I had to freeze. Now, I already have too much in the freezer at the hospital so I am keeping about half of it at home. Anyone have any suggestions on a space-saving way to freeze? I bought some Medela bags and they are working but are a pain to use. Is there another brand that is easier? Any other suggestions or recommendations?
Anyways - We're surviving. Looking forward to the weekend and spending some time together. I am getting better too. I sometimes think I'm ready to give up on the drugs ... and then they wear off.
4 comments:
YEAH!!! I am glad Emily is doing so well! I ran out of the medela storage bags and used some gerber ones and i don't like them as much they are too tall and flimsey.
Definately liked the Lansinoh bags best. They have a double ziploc so there's no leaking, and it's very user friendly. The Medela bags are way too much trouble! Way to go Emily!!!
I am so happy to hear the wonderful updates on Emily. I will continue to keep you guys in my thoughts and prayers.
Stefanie
YEAH for Emily! Sounds like she is doing better all of the time! That is wonderful to hear. I am breastfeeding when at home, pumping when at work. I am using bottles to store my breastmilk in, from a friend who had a preemie in the NICU. We have an extra chest freezer though, so room isn't an issue. I haven't tried any of the storage bags. Good luck!
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