Sunday, January 3, 2010
Ava is Home!!!
I know it's been a LONG time...I promise when I have more time I will come back and update!!!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Moved to Transition Pod
November 29
Age: 10w4d
Gestational Age: 34w2d
Weight: 2lbs 13oz
Age: 10w4d
Gestational Age: 34w2d
Weight: 2lbs 13oz
Today they moved Ava to a transitional pod and lowered her oxygen settings to the lowest before either coming off or having to go home on it!! She's doing great!! Her new room is more private and has a window! This is the first that she's seen natural light. In this pod it seems that they really want you to focus on preparing for her to come home. It's great but overwhelming at the same time. Coming from a pod where they train you to take it day to day and even sometimes hour by hour, this is a huge adjustment. So Will and I are taking some classes in the next few days to help us prepare...Child Seat/CPR (required) and Baby Care. There are a few more classes that we want to take as well, Development and Infant Massage. Keep praying that we can bring Babygirl home for Christmas!!!
Started Bottle Feeding & Introduced Breast
November 23
Age: 9w5d
Gestational Age: 33w3d
Weight: 2lbs 10.5 oz
Nurse Kate fed Ava from a bottle today! Out of 20cc, she took 5! We will slowly feed her more from the bottle since she needs to feed from it at every feeding to be able to go home.
November 24
Age: 9w6d
Gestational Age: 33w4d
Weight: 2lbs 11.5 oz
Today Ava took 15 of 20cc from Nurse Hermine! She would've taken it all but Hermine didn't want to put the multi-vitamin in the bottle b/c Ava would have been able to taste it. Some of the nurses also overheard the doctor telling the residents that "this is what a 23-weeker should look like" because she was fiesty and kicking! They also heard her say Ava "is the best 23-weeker she's had"!!!
November 25
Age: 10w
Gestational Age: 33w5d
Weight: 2lbs 11oz
We started nuzzling today and when she found the breast she went for it! Later we actually let her feed from the breast and she did pretty good! She would go and then stop and then go again! She did this 3 or 4 times! Today she "nippled" 4 times which is the max she's allowed right now.
Age: 9w5d
Gestational Age: 33w3d
Weight: 2lbs 10.5 oz
Nurse Kate fed Ava from a bottle today! Out of 20cc, she took 5! We will slowly feed her more from the bottle since she needs to feed from it at every feeding to be able to go home.
November 24
Age: 9w6d
Gestational Age: 33w4d
Weight: 2lbs 11.5 oz
Today Ava took 15 of 20cc from Nurse Hermine! She would've taken it all but Hermine didn't want to put the multi-vitamin in the bottle b/c Ava would have been able to taste it. Some of the nurses also overheard the doctor telling the residents that "this is what a 23-weeker should look like" because she was fiesty and kicking! They also heard her say Ava "is the best 23-weeker she's had"!!!
November 25
Age: 10w
Gestational Age: 33w5d
Weight: 2lbs 11oz
We started nuzzling today and when she found the breast she went for it! Later we actually let her feed from the breast and she did pretty good! She would go and then stop and then go again! She did this 3 or 4 times! Today she "nippled" 4 times which is the max she's allowed right now.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Officially Off the Vent!!
Age: 8 weeks
Gestational Age: 31w5d
Weight: 2lbs 2oz
So today I went to the hospital and I had a wonderful surprise waiting for me!!! They decided to remove Ava from the ventilator after 1 day on automode! Her main doctor is on vacation so another doctor actually made the decision. They placed her on a high-flow nasal cannula. When I looked at her in the incubator she was smushing her face into her bed! Finally freedom to move her head anyway she wants; she was enjoying it so much! I was so happy and had a smile from ear to ear! Finally the day I've been waiting for for 8 weeks now! Well this day and the day she can come home.
You can tell Ava was happy cause her oxygen levels were in the mid to upper 90's all day. The doctor that made the decision did tell me that we have to see how she does for a day...if she doesn't do good then she may have to put on CPAP or maybe even back to the ventilator again. But so far so good and hopefully this post doesn't jinx it!
Gestational Age: 31w5d
Weight: 2lbs 2oz
So today I went to the hospital and I had a wonderful surprise waiting for me!!! They decided to remove Ava from the ventilator after 1 day on automode! Her main doctor is on vacation so another doctor actually made the decision. They placed her on a high-flow nasal cannula. When I looked at her in the incubator she was smushing her face into her bed! Finally freedom to move her head anyway she wants; she was enjoying it so much! I was so happy and had a smile from ear to ear! Finally the day I've been waiting for for 8 weeks now! Well this day and the day she can come home.
You can tell Ava was happy cause her oxygen levels were in the mid to upper 90's all day. The doctor that made the decision did tell me that we have to see how she does for a day...if she doesn't do good then she may have to put on CPAP or maybe even back to the ventilator again. But so far so good and hopefully this post doesn't jinx it!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
We've Reached 2 lbs!! And update
Age: 48 days
Gestational Age: 30w4d
Weight: 2lbs
Today we finally reached the 2lb mark! She's 918 grams...up 100 grams from 2 nights ago (maybe cause she got blood today).
Over the weekend we had a scare of NEC, but as of now the doctors are no longer worried about it. They did stop her feeds to be safe and should restart them late Wed or Thur. She also had to get more blood today. Since they were getting blood for labs so much over the weekend she was a little low.
Sunday night she decided to pull her ET tube out (breathing tube). The nurses decided to leave it out and see how she would handle it. She did good for about an hour but it was too much work for her. She had such a stressful weekend with the NEC scare, otherwise I think she would have done better. They are still weaning her from the vent and hope that they will get her off of it soon.
Other than that she's doing good!
Gestational Age: 30w4d
Weight: 2lbs
Today we finally reached the 2lb mark! She's 918 grams...up 100 grams from 2 nights ago (maybe cause she got blood today).
Over the weekend we had a scare of NEC, but as of now the doctors are no longer worried about it. They did stop her feeds to be safe and should restart them late Wed or Thur. She also had to get more blood today. Since they were getting blood for labs so much over the weekend she was a little low.
Sunday night she decided to pull her ET tube out (breathing tube). The nurses decided to leave it out and see how she would handle it. She did good for about an hour but it was too much work for her. She had such a stressful weekend with the NEC scare, otherwise I think she would have done better. They are still weaning her from the vent and hope that they will get her off of it soon.
Other than that she's doing good!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Finally!!!
Age: 27 days
Gestational Age: 27w4d
Weight: 1lb 6oz
I finally got to hold my daughter today!! What a great feeling! Thursday we can start Kangaroo Care, which is skin to skin! They originally said it would be a few weeks before we could start K-Care but I guess since she's doing good they decided we could start sooner!
She's also gained some weight! She's up to 1lb 6oz! They are decreasing her IV nutrition and increasing the amount of breastmilk she's getting. Soon she'll be on breastmilk only and they can take out the IV!!! They are giving her treatments to help her lungs; they said today they think they are working! Apparently it works for some but not all. They've talked about getting her off the ventilator, but I think that's going to take some time. They say it's like taking 2 steps forward and 1 step back.
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I know it's hard to see her in the picture; they wanted to make sure to bundle her up so she stayed warm.
Friday she will be 1 month old! I can't believe it! I hope time keeps flying so I can bring her home!!
Gestational Age: 27w4d
Weight: 1lb 6oz
I finally got to hold my daughter today!! What a great feeling! Thursday we can start Kangaroo Care, which is skin to skin! They originally said it would be a few weeks before we could start K-Care but I guess since she's doing good they decided we could start sooner!
She's also gained some weight! She's up to 1lb 6oz! They are decreasing her IV nutrition and increasing the amount of breastmilk she's getting. Soon she'll be on breastmilk only and they can take out the IV!!! They are giving her treatments to help her lungs; they said today they think they are working! Apparently it works for some but not all. They've talked about getting her off the ventilator, but I think that's going to take some time. They say it's like taking 2 steps forward and 1 step back.
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Friday she will be 1 month old! I can't believe it! I hope time keeps flying so I can bring her home!!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Surgery Update & Thank You's
Age: 16 days
Gestational Age: 26w
Weight: 1lb 2.5oz
Little Miss Ava had the surgery to close her PDA today and it went as planned!! No complications and she handled it very well. The doctors said she will get worse before she gets better; meaning her oxygen saturation levels will still go up and down and hopefully after a few days of recovery she will be more stable (holding at 93% or higher on a low ventilator setting). It all depends on how well her lungs have matured. Her doctor was aggressive in turning down the settings on her ventilator soon after the surgery. She went from 38% oxygen down to 25%. Normal room air is 21%. This doesn't mean she will be off the ventilator soon; it’s just a good start and again depends on her lungs.
I also want to say thank you to everyone for their care and concern! All your prayers and kind words mean so much!! Also, thank you to John and Abby...friends of friends who donated blood for Ava. They came by the hospital yesterday and it was a pleasure meeting them and their 5 week old son! It's so nice to know that even complete strangers are willing to help out! It restores some faith that people are by nature kind hearted. I know there are so many people who I've never met that are willing to help Ava, so please, if someone you know has donated blood or even just said a prayer for her, pass along the information to this blog. I would like everyone who has played a part in her life to be able to keep up with her progress. And I know there is no way I could keep up with them all, so this is the next best thing!
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
The ductus arteriosus is a short blood vessel that connects the main blood vessel supplying the lungs to the aorta, the main blood vessel that leaves the heart. Its function in the unborn baby is to allow blood to bypass the lungs, because oxygen for the blood comes from the mother and not from breathing air. In full-term babies, the ductus arteriosus closes shortly after birth, but it frequently stays open in premature babies. When this happens, excess blood flows into the lungs and can cause breathing difficulties and sometimes heart failure. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is often treated with a medication called indomethacin or ibuprofen, which is successful in closing the ductus arteriosus in more than 80% of infants requiring these medications. However, if medical therapy fails, then surgery may be required to close the ductus.
Gestational Age: 26w
Weight: 1lb 2.5oz
Little Miss Ava had the surgery to close her PDA today and it went as planned!! No complications and she handled it very well. The doctors said she will get worse before she gets better; meaning her oxygen saturation levels will still go up and down and hopefully after a few days of recovery she will be more stable (holding at 93% or higher on a low ventilator setting). It all depends on how well her lungs have matured. Her doctor was aggressive in turning down the settings on her ventilator soon after the surgery. She went from 38% oxygen down to 25%. Normal room air is 21%. This doesn't mean she will be off the ventilator soon; it’s just a good start and again depends on her lungs.
I also want to say thank you to everyone for their care and concern! All your prayers and kind words mean so much!! Also, thank you to John and Abby...friends of friends who donated blood for Ava. They came by the hospital yesterday and it was a pleasure meeting them and their 5 week old son! It's so nice to know that even complete strangers are willing to help out! It restores some faith that people are by nature kind hearted. I know there are so many people who I've never met that are willing to help Ava, so please, if someone you know has donated blood or even just said a prayer for her, pass along the information to this blog. I would like everyone who has played a part in her life to be able to keep up with her progress. And I know there is no way I could keep up with them all, so this is the next best thing!
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
The ductus arteriosus is a short blood vessel that connects the main blood vessel supplying the lungs to the aorta, the main blood vessel that leaves the heart. Its function in the unborn baby is to allow blood to bypass the lungs, because oxygen for the blood comes from the mother and not from breathing air. In full-term babies, the ductus arteriosus closes shortly after birth, but it frequently stays open in premature babies. When this happens, excess blood flows into the lungs and can cause breathing difficulties and sometimes heart failure. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is often treated with a medication called indomethacin or ibuprofen, which is successful in closing the ductus arteriosus in more than 80% of infants requiring these medications. However, if medical therapy fails, then surgery may be required to close the ductus.
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