Lucas is here! PIP, and T&P please.
gutsymama
member
Our baby boy couldn't wait to meet us! Lucas Elliot was born on May 23. He was 5 lb 12 oz, and 18.75 inches long, so he's a big boy for a 34-weeker! He's doing extremely well as far as the things some preemies struggle with, but he has an abdominal wall defect that required surgery and will require another surgery at around 8 weeks once he's had a chance to grow a little bit, so we'll be spending most of the summer in the NICU with him. Full details below, if you're interested - but I imagine it will get long....so first, my favorite photos so far:
Luke?s early arrival was a big surprise for us in more ways than one. With six weeks to go until our due date, we went to the hospital for the final session of our childbirth class but ended up checking in to the childbirth center instead; I'd lost my plug the morning before and starting having cramping that night, and it had gotten worse all day on Thursday, so I thought it was a good idea to get checked out even though it didn't quite match other people's descriptions of contractions. Less than 3 hours later, Lucas was here! He was in great shape at birth, but he had another surprise for everyone ? he had gastroschisis, which means that part of his bowels are outside the abdomen; in Luke?s case, it was a significant portion of his bowels, and he went to surgery when he was only 2 hours old to put them back inside his tummy. To top off the craziest night of my life, my parents arrived while he was in surgery, and while the surgeon was explaining how the surgery went and that Luke's intestines are matted together more than most and will need more surgery, my dad passed out and had to be taken to the ER (he's fine now, and mostly just upset that he upset me more).
We?re actually pretty lucky that Luke came when he did instead of waiting until he was bigger, because babies with gastroschisis are usually delivered via C-section to make sure nothing is damaged on the way out, but it had gone undetected at our A/S. During his first couple of days he needed a little extra monitoring and support while he recovered from his surgery and anesthesia, and it was pretty rough for us to see him in that state, but he?s a strong little guy and made progress quickly; it seemed like every time we returned to his room he had shed another tube or wire! It wasn?t long before he was back to breathing on his own, and he?s been doing great with everything else; he would probably have gone home in less than a week if not for the gastroschisis.
When he?s around 8 weeks old, Luke will have his second surgery. The goal is to reconnect everything so he can eat and digest normally; this is dependent on how much of the intestinal tissue survives, and how much they're able to untangle. It's looking good so far, but there's really no way to know what's going to happen until they go back in. Right now he?s getting most of his nutrition through a long-term IV in his foot, and the small portion of his intestines that is up and running (around 10% of what he should have) empties into an ostomy on his tummy (Daddy is pretty proud that his son can fart through his belly!). We were also able to start feeding him small amounts of breastmilk from a bottle on his 6th day, which was a big moment for all of us ? not being able to feed him when he was hungry was one of the hardest parts for me in those first few days, to the point that I was having intense guilt about eating myself when my baby couldn't eat, and we weren't sure if he would be able to take any food at all before the second surgery.
So right now we're just waiting; we're at the point where no news is good news, and we're just watching him grow and holding him while he sleeps until we reach the 8 week mark. It was hard in the first few days to receive pity and condolences as often as we received congratulations, but we've tried very hard to emphasize our excitement and celebrate his arrival; we are elated to be parents, and can't quite believe we've made such a fantastic little person!
The NICU at our hospital is wonderful. Every nurse we?ve had has been absolutely amazing, right down to reading him a bedtime story for us when we had to leave early during Friday?s storms. It?s extremely hard to go home without him, but we can rest a lot easier knowing he?s in such good hands! They?re also very much encouraging us to be as involved as we want to be in his care, so when we?re at the hospital (which is most of the time lately!), we?re the ones changing his diapers, giving him baths, feeding him, taking his temperature, and handling some of the basic care for his incision and ostomy. Being able to take on more and more of these small parental duties has helped ease the stress of spending a long stint in the NICU, and I never thought I?d say this, but we can?t wait for the day we can change our first poopy diaper!
We would very much appreciate continued T&P throughout the summer, and if anyone has experience with long-term NICU stays, I'd appreciate you sharing your experience and any advice you may have for us.
ETA: Sorry about the formatting! I don't know what happened. Trying to fix it!
DS born at 34 weeks with (surprise!) gastroschisis turned short bowel syndrome.
131 days in the NICU, 7 trips to the OR, G-button, daily TPN....
Re: Lucas is here! PIP, and T&P please.
LFAF Summer 2016 Awards:
Married: July 28, 2012
DD: July 29, 2013
DS: July 1, 2015
Current EDD: May 15, 2017
Congratulations, Mama!!! Welcome to the world, Baby Lucas!
He's precious and so beautiful. All the best for his recovery and development. How incredible that the surgeons are able to do so much for him. FX that they can get him to full bowel function after the next surgery.
I'm amazed that it only took three hours for delivery! And your dad passing out... awww. Glad you are getting the help and support you need from family and the hospital staff.
Hang in there!
Lots of thoughts and prayers to your family as you go on this journey over the summer!
What a sweet precious boy you have there! Congratulations
It sounds like he couldn't be luckier to have great parents as you guys. Glad your NICU is great and respecting your desires to take care of him. I have had friends whose kids were in the NICU briefly and depending on the hospital sometimes they were made to feel like they were in the way. I do pray that Lucas continues his recovery. Hang in there momma!
He is beautiful! We July 13 ladies have some adorable babies!
I'm glad to hear the first surgery went well. T&Ps for continued growth and strength for Lucas and a successful second surgery.
He's adorable, too!
DD's Food Allergies: Peanuts and Rice, Outgrown Dairy!
8/09 Dx PCOS & Hashimoto's
BFP #2 12/13/11. Missed M/C at 11w5d, measured 8w6d. D&C 2/1/12
Never in my arms, but always in my heart.
*On 4.28.11 we said goodbye to our angel baby (D&E at 18.5 weeks)*
DS born at 34 weeks with (surprise!) gastroschisis turned short bowel syndrome.
131 days in the NICU, 7 trips to the OR, G-button, daily TPN....
He's gorgeous!! I remember you loosing your plug but I didn't think it would mean baby the next day! I'm glad he came early if that helped him with the gastroschisis. That must have been scary for you. I'm glad he's doing so well.
Also, I had no idea you were in the area. If I'm reading it right you are anyway. STL? Me too! I'm thinking gtg later this summer or fall when our babes are bigger. Congrats!
I lost my angels 07/2010, 04/2017, 10/2017
Meimsx no more
Oh my goodness! Congrats on Lucas and T&P that he continues to do well and recover from his surgery. It sounds like you're doing great and have such a positive attitude. Hoping the next few weeks are uneventful and the 8 week surgery goes great as well!
Yep, we live in the city, and we're in the NICU at Mercy right now. A gtg would be great once we're able to travel! And yeah, I didn't think losing my plug would mean baby at 34 weeks either
DS born at 34 weeks with (surprise!) gastroschisis turned short bowel syndrome.
131 days in the NICU, 7 trips to the OR, G-button, daily TPN....
I lost my angels 07/2010, 04/2017, 10/2017
Meimsx no more
Awe! He is so adorable! I will keep baby Lucas in my prayers!
We were lucky and didn't have any damage at our house, but we were up at the hospital when it hit and were banished to the parents' lounge until the warning was lifted so they could move the babies (we got a window room - perks of a long-term stay, I guess?). So the worst that happened was we lost some cuddle time, and our dogs were at home scared by themselves (poor dogs are being neglected right now).
DS born at 34 weeks with (surprise!) gastroschisis turned short bowel syndrome.
131 days in the NICU, 7 trips to the OR, G-button, daily TPN....
I'm so glad you were all ok!
I lost my angels 07/2010, 04/2017, 10/2017
Meimsx no more
D 2.20.2011 & Z 7.16.2013
Cuuute! And look at all that hair!
I'm sorry he came earlier than you hoped and about the surgeries, but you did a great job, Momma. Congratulations!