XP: Adalyn's First Bottle!!!!!!!*Update 4/11/12

DrRx · April 2012

I meant to write an update last night, but, as usual, time just slipped away from me. I'll write this one quick and put another post up later tonight or tomorrow with pics once I download them.

Her MD said that we could try her on a bottle yesterday. We were SUPER excited!! They would start with 1 bottle a day and go from there. The nurse and MD said to not be surprised if she only took 5 or 10 ml of her feed in the 20 minutes that she had, and that that would be a great start. They said to not feel discouraged if she also bradyed (not quite sure how to spell that) or desatted. Well...

She took 30ml of the 40ml of her feed!! A whole ounce!! The nurse kept saying "Wow, I'm impressed! That's great!" And the best part was NO desats or bradys! We did have her at 35% (she had been around 30% before we started messing with her Hands On and just turned her up), but we didn't have to increase the oxygen.

At first she didn't quite know what to make of it, but she got the hang of it pretty quick! She kept her eyes half open while she ate, and I stimulated her a little by rubbing under her chin and twirling the bottle in her mouth. I could feel her swallow, and I just about started crying! It is so amazing to finally be able to feed your baby!! And then, when her time was up, I burped her, and she let out a wallop! Smile The nurse finished her feed via the pump, and after her feed Adalyn woke up completely.

Today her MD was so happy with her performance that she said that Adalyn could have 1 bottle per shift (ie, 2 bottles a day). So, when we went at 2pm she had the same 20 minute time limit to drink 41 ml. This time, however, she did desat at first and we had to bump her up to 35%, but after that she had no more desats, and like yesterday had no bradys. When we first started, DH had to go downstairs to get my parents, who were also visiting. Well, I actually had to pull the bottle away because she would've finished it by the time they made it back up the elevator!!! She drank almost all of her feed (except for the last 5ml) in about 15 minutes!!! Once my parents got there, I gave her the last of her feed. I'm SOOOOO happy!!! The nurse today said "We NEVER see this! It is pretty rare! I'm so impressed with how well she is taking the bottle, especially it being her second bottle ever!"

Today she weighed in at 5 pounds even. She is still on 2L of oxygen, and her MD won't probably decrease her flow until she is consistently in the 20s. She still hasn't needed a blood transfusion, so we're really hoping that she will be able to bring her hematocrit up herself. She will have another hematocrit when they do her regular weekly labs, which I think will be in a few days. They won't transfuse her unless she starts having episodes. So far, so good.

I'll post some pics later tonight or tomorrow once I'm able to download them. Thanks for all the T&Ps for Adalyn!!!! Smile

njdcgirl · April 2012

Great update! I'm so glad that Adalyn is making such great progress!

ashk7 · April 2012

Way to go adalyn!!!!!! She is doing awesome!!!! We are doing bottles now with Mia as well and while I was feeding her today I was chanting "chug it, chug it!!" then I told her this was the only time mommy would tell her to "chug it" and in collage when she hears that is better still be milk she is chugging!!!! C

ashk7 · April 2012

Way to go adalyn!!!! I am so excited for you and your family!! We are doing bottles with Mia as well and today while I was feeding her I was chanting " chug it, chug it" I told her it was the only time she would hear mommy tell her that and when she is in college and hears that she better still be chugging milk!!! Congrats again on another huge milestone!!!! Chug it chug it miss adalyn!!!!!!

lemen99 · April 2012

YAY!!!!!!!!!

DrRx · April 2012

ashk7:
Way to go adalyn!!!! I am so excited for you and your family!! We are doing bottles with Mia as well and today while I was feeding her I was chanting " chug it, chug it" I told her it was the only time she would hear mommy tell her that and when she is in college and hears that she better still be chugging milk!!! Congrats again on another huge milestone!!!! Chug it chug it miss adalyn!!!!!!

Lol! DH and I love it! Smile