NICU check-in 7/17

bananers

Welcome @eshep5 and @Nikkoli98. Sorry you have to be in the NICU, but congratulations on your beautiful babies!

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Current age/adjusted age:

What are your main issues currently?

What are some big milestones you've reached or are coming up?

Questions?

GTKY: How did you choose your baby's name?

ETA: pictures! (duh)

bananers

Current age/adjusted age:
Tomorrow he will be two months old, 35 weeks adjusted

What are your main issues currently?
Still dealing with reflux and weaning from oxygen. The reflux is causing these massive boogers that make it hard for him to breathe. 

What are some big milestones you've reached or are coming up?
We hit 5 lbs last week, which was exciting. I feel like that's "real" baby size!

Questions?
Does anyone else feel weird being out in public not pregnant anymore, but not carrying a newborn? Obviously everyone close to us knows our situation, but it's things like showing up at daycare drop-off, or like last weekend when we took DS1 to a birthday party. I could see the other moms looking at me and trying to figure out why I wasn't pregnant anymore. 

GTKY: How did you choose your baby's name?
We like classic, kind of old-timey names (DS1 is Theodore), and DH's grandmother was Emma, so we picked Emmett, the male version of the name. His middle name is John, after my grandfather. 

ETA: pictures! (duh)

AliKay20

Current age/adjusted age: 
10 days old/38 wks & 2 days

What are your main issues currently?
Increased bilirubin level. This is her 3rd time getting phototherapy. Her level when she was off for the 2nd time was at a 10. We were told it'll be a few days but not too long before she can go home so yesterday, we did the carseat challenge (they put baby in carseat for 90 mins and check if baby dips or maintains good HR, BP, etc.). We even got discharge packet information to review so we can be prepared to take baby home as early as today, in fact.

This morning we got a call from NICU RN that baby's bilirubin level increased to 13 so she's under phototherapy again and this also means we are not going home today. 

What are some big milestones you've reached or are coming up? 
They took her off CPAP mask several days ago. Baby's got a good appetite. They increased her oral feeding where she no longer needs IV fluids and feeding tube. Breathing is a lot better (slowed down). 

Questions?
Baby lost hair in the front due to CPAP mask/hat and has slight ridged line where the band used to press down on her head. Will her hair grow back any time soon and line disappear? 

GTKY: How did you choose your baby's name? 
We didn't want anything too trendy/common. Both our names start with A's so we narrowed down our list of baby names by a lot. DH and I battled and went back and forth not really agreeing on anything until we came across Avery. Definitely had that, "this is the one," moment!
 

ETA: pictures! (duh)

AliKay20

@bananers I know what you mean. For me though, I haven't been out and about anywhere in public as we just go back and forth between hotel & hospital. However, yesterday we brought in our carseat to the hospital for the carseat challenge and today, we took the carseat back since it was just lying on the floor of baby's room. 

I definitely felt the stares when we walked out with an empty car seat to the parking garage when the norm around there is upon exiting the hospital, one would have a baby in the carseat. For many, I can tell how they don't even think twice about the importance of that exit but for us (& perhaps for many other NICU families), it's something we dream about - so close yet so far away. 

tmk0325

Stupid bump. I had a post typed up and it didn't save!

bananers

@AliKay20 it's pretty common for newborns to lose their hair and grow new hair, sometimes an entirely different color/texture! I was born with red hair, and by the time I was a few months old it was white blonde. You'll often see bald patches on the backs of newborns' heads from sleeping on their backs, so it doesn't surprise me Avery's rubbed off where the CPAP strap was. It'll grow back soon. You can see in my picture Emmett has developed an old man receding hairline! 

AliKay20

@bananers well that makes two of them! Avery's def got that receding hairline in the front. It's reassuring to know that her hair will grow back soon!!

Also, what a progress baby Emmett has made! Even from the pic, I can just tell how bigger & stronger he got!! Just keep on swimming, Emmett & fam. You got this!

lilpinky7878

Current age/adjusted age:
18 days old/34 weeks

What are your main issues currently?
So far she doing good and not needing the o2 don't want to go backwards.... also with her off it she on the feeding tube threw the nose now and idk if each hospital is the same base on a point system, if she alert cooing laching at feeding times....the assessment should be done mid week. 

What are some big milestones you've reached or are coming up?
Getting into a open bed and being bottle fed. We have reached a stable time just gaining weight no more o2 or iv 

Questions?
I had to sign a paper today about the car seat about seeing if there is a recall and about car seat test when the baby leave....anyone else?

GTKY: How did you choose your baby's name?
Honestly Google, we didn't want family names nor something popular. Went one night Google girls names and back and forth between hubby we can agree on Alina he originally want Elizabeth so that is her middle name

tmk0325

Current age/adjusted age: 26 days/34+4

What are your main issues currently? We currently have two issues that are preventing us from going home anytime soon. 1) Way to many brady's & desat's.  They have been improving, meaning they need less blow by oxygen and stimulation, but they still have a lot, especially after feedings.  I said it before and I'll say it again, that I think that it is reflux related. They sleep at an incline and seem to do the best on their stomachs to help with gas.  2) Eating.  We are currently trying to have them breast and bottle feed, once they can continuously do this we will be almost ready to go home. It's our last major milestone since they maintain weight, maintain temperature, and don't need help breathing.

What are some big milestones you've reached or are coming up? Last week Thursday and Friday I got to try breastfeeding and the boys did great!  Latched and sucked immediately, I think it helped I was fairly full when we put them to the wet breast.  We tried bottle feeding on Saturday and they did pretty good. We can do either or twice a day now.  Also, we hit 5 lbs over the weekend!

Questions? Has anyone tried Bamboobies or any other cloth nursing pad?  I don't leak a ton, but I'm just looking for something softer for my sensitive nips. 

GTKY: How did you choose your baby's name? Clay was SO's choice.  He had Clay, Cale, and Colt on his list and I vetoed the last two.  Since he was giving me the girl names Claire/Caroline, I felt I should let him have one boy name. lol Cohen I saw in a 2016 baby name book as one to watch (it was like number 848 or something) and I had mentioned it one night at home to him. He was kind of like I'm not sure... A month or so later he came back and said how about Clay Edward and Cohen Dennis?  We knew the middle names would be either after our mom's or dad's.  They actually didn't get names for 3 days because I wasn't sure they fit.  Once we got to hold them and see their faces, they got their names for sure.

tmk0325

@bananers E is looking so big!

@AliKay20 Congrats on almost going home, there is light at the end of your tunnel!

@lilpinky7878 so cute! Love her onesie!

bananers

@lilpinky7878 we have to do a car seat test before going home too. I haven't heard anything about recall paperwork. 

@tmk0325 I think our events are mostly reflux related too. They just started him on Prilosec, so I'm hoping that helps. It may take a couple more days before we start to see a difference. Are your boys on any medication?

tmk0325

@bananers nothing at this point for reflux because they tell me that it's normal... They do get a small amount of caffeine daily and one other thing that I can't remember the name of that they don't enjoy. It goes right in their feeding tube. Their breast milk is also fortified. That's it at this time.

Curls919

@tmk0325 - lurking here, I liked the bamboobies pads when I wasn't leaking much.  They are super soft. 

tisunge602

@tmk0325 Also lurking but I also really liked bamboobies. I leaked the whole time I was BFing and loved not having to go out and buy pads all the time. I just put them in a delicates bag in the laundry with the baby's clothes. Glad to hear your boys are doing so well!

tmk0325

Thanks ladies I might purchase a pair or some bamboo ones... 

I saw this photo in my twin group. Thought it was appropriate here too. ❤️

bananers

Can I be an AW? E is 2 months old today!

Birth, one month, two months:

bananers

@tmk0325 they usually stop the caffeine around 35-36 weeks. Caffeine can exacerbate the reflux. Of course, caffeine also helps prevent apnea, so they have to weigh the pros and cons. Since E wasn't having apneic episodes anymore they stopped his caffeine early because of his severe reflux. Hope that helps your boys' reflux once they stop it! You're right, though, it is very common. Even in term babies. DS1 never had it so this is new territory for me!

tmk0325

@bananers definite aww for E. I love the football comparison!

Yeah they mentioned they have to be off caffeine 5 days before they send them home. Right now I think their apnea issues are worse than the touch of reflux so, daily Java it is for now.  One day at a time!

AliKay20

Update: Baby Avery came home a few days ago. We have been adjusting to our new normal. She eats like a baby bear and according to her pediatrician, she is doing great. 

Thank you everyone for keeping her in your thoughts & prayers. I will be keeping all of our heroes & fighters in mine. 

bananers

Oh yay!! So happy for you @AliKay20!

No more Miss!

Great news @AliKay20