Oxygen Weaning - Long

BriansBride825

Hi ladies,

I am having a rough time this week. Brady's oxygen weaning is pretty much not progressing. He has been in the NICU now for 12 days and I know many of you spent so much longer, but I am starting to crack. When he was a day old they gave him one dose of surfactant. Two days after he was born (at 34 weeks) they completly took him off - even the canula was out. I didn't know what a huge achievement it was. The next day they had it back in and said he needed a little assistance but he should be off soon. Well, not only does he still have it but they keep having to increase it. The neonatologist I have been working with since the begining said she was comfortable with the percentage as high as 35 as long as the flow stayed at 1. I went in last night and he was at 2 (flow) and still 35 (%) per the weekend neo. He was so much more alert, it was great. Specially since he was virtually sleeping the last 3 days since they weaned to 30% and 1.  Now today they are trying to wean %, per the weekend neo. When I asked about the change of strategy I hear, "just trying to find what he likes." I understand it is not a over night process. He's a preemie and he needs to grow but when I ask, "is this normal?" I get told, "it is for him." That is not the answer I want to hear, I want to know whether or not they think he will succesfully wean by term. Even if they can't tell me with certainty I need to know the good and bad possibilities. Not knowing is killing me. I know every preemie is different but how did the O2 experience go for you? TIA.

lstaylor73

I am so sorry you are going through this but they are right, each kid has their own point where they are comfortable.  It might be just the tiniest puff but it's what they need for right now.  Both my guys bounced around in the amount of oxygen they got for awhile and eventually it seemed to start to regulate as they got bigger and gained more weight.  Cameron was sent home at 3months on 1/4 liter O2 and weaned off completely about two months later.  Evan was on nasal cannula until four weeks before he came home and had far fewer problems breathing than his brother, though he had weight issues.  And then to wean him off completely at the end was nerve wracking but then one day I turned off the O2 and hooked the pulsox up and he never had a single problem from that day forward.  I know it seems really difficult but he will get it, maybe not by term, but he will get weaned eventually and this will all be a memory.  You can read our story on my blog.  

mhop

Ours was a very different situation but one reason C's doctors didn't put her back on O2 when she was having some reflux-related desats is they said it can take a very long time to wean. 

I hope other moms have more answers for you.  I know this is tought.  ((hugs))

AviatorJJ

it took my son forever to get off of the oxygen. he came home with it finally and needed it during feedings. there is no exact answer to when they will wean off of it, it totally depends on the baby. good luck!