I was discharged from the hospital yesterday and that had to be the most difficult thing I have ever had to do. It was good to be home but ... it just wasn't right.
As of right now, things are going well. Emily was taken off the CPAP - a giant headgear of an oxygen mask with huge tubes up her nose. She now just has the standard oxygen tube up her nose and she looks SO much more comfortable. Her bilirubin level was elevated so she was under lights for two days but those are off now too. She is much less yellow and, again, much more comfortable without the puffy mask she had to wear to shield her eyes. Friday, the nurse detected a heart murmur so they gave her some medicine to correct it and it appears to have worked. Nobody has detected the murmur since they started treatment but a follow-up test will be done to be sure. While she was on the heart medicine she wasn't able to eat so that was tough (probably more so on us than on her) but she was able to resume feedings at noon today. Her main problem is her heart rate. She keeps having steep dips in her rate that sometimes require a little stimulation to bring it back up. The good news is they're not quite as severe as they were a couple days ago but they are still happening very frequently. Since being put on the regular oxygen tube she's had a few apnea episodes so they had to increase the pressure in the tube to kind of remind her to breathe. Those are probably due to an immature respiratory system and will hopefully go away as she continues to grow. She has lost a little weight but I guess all babies do and she didn't eat anything for about 48 hours. She's down to 3 lbs. 6.3 oz. I hope she'll start putting some back on now that she's eating again.
They have asked if I want to hold her the past two days but I'm still fighting this incredible crud so I don't want to take the chance. I feel bad enough being in there as it is and I am constantly putting sanitizer on my hands every time I move. I have changed her diaper and taken her temperature a few times. I'm also getting more comfortable just touching her. It was very hard in the beginning and I think James is still a little nervous. His fingers are bigger than her arms and legs so I can certainly understand. Today, while I was 'feeding' her (holding the syringe attached to her tube while gravity did the work) she had her eyes open for most of it. It was absolutely incredible how alert she was. She has also started sucking on a pacifier and it's just so cute (and the sooner she learns how to do that so she'll be able to lose the feeding tube).
She is so small and still has so far to go. Please continue to keep our little Emily in your thoughts and prayers.
5 comments:
Wow, all that takes me back 4 year ago when Cort was born. Although he was only 6 weeks premature he still had to learn and fight the same battles. It is so hard to see them hooked up to all the machines, but before you know it she will be home with you. Glad to hear you are home and getting around okay.
Lori
We will be praying for Emily to get stronger everyday. You and your family are in our thoughts!
It's good to hear Emily's on nasal cannula already! That's great! I forget how much of a shock it is to others, especially if it's your own. Sounds like you are doing wonderful as a NICU mom. We will continue to keep all of you in our prayers.
Glad to hear the update; hope things continue to go well. We will keep Emily, and y'all, in our prayers!
That brings back so many memories that I just had to comment. I clicked over from Mel's blog, it's been a long time since I have browsed...anyway.
I hope you and Emily (and the rest of the family) continue to do well. It is so hard to see your newborn have to struggle and listen to the beeps of the monitors, but they are so incredibly strong. You are in my prayers. Stay strong.
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