One less tube! *Adalyn update 4/21

DrRx · April 2012

2 days ago Adalyn had a rough day. She got a blood transfusion and they had a hard time putting an IV in. They actually got it on the 3rd try. She was just crying and crying, which wasn't making it any easier to get the IV in. Then, one of the nurses got sugar water to dip the pacifier in, and let me tell you, there is a reason why it is called Baby Crack! She immediately calmed down, and her heartrate went from 200 to the 140s. She could care less that you were poking her. Of course, once she had sucked all of that off the pacifier, she got angry again, but as long you re-dipped her pacifier in the sugar water, she was fine. This also helped for when she got the blood transfusion, since they had to hold one of her feeds and she was starving and crying hysterically. It was a long 3 hours, but between Rodney and I, we kept her as comfortable as possible.

So, because of all the crying and not getting one of her feeds in (and it being the formula feed with the extra calories at that) it wasn't a big surprise that she lost weight. She fell down to 5 pounds 6 ounces (2.440kg). However, the blood transfusion really helped her anemia and oxygenation, and starting with the 11pm feed after the transfusion, she started actually eating a little more than her minimum for her feeds! Yesterday she also gained 15grams and is up to 5 pounds 7 ounces (2.455kg). Last night, during the overnight shift, she actually ate a little over an ounce extra than her minimum for the 12 hours! Yay! So, the nurse told us that they would pull the NG tube out, since she's taking everything by mouth!

One less wire and cloth tape on Adalyn's face.

She is also doing really well on her oxygen. She is now on the lowest oxygen setting, which is 0.025L, and is doing ok with that. She sats high when she is sleeping, but goes a little below where she needs to be when she eats (86-87 and she needs to sat at least 88). So, we'll see what happens over the next few days. Her MD said that if she is consistently satting over 93 while on the 0.025L, they will try some trials on room air, at first when she is sleeping and then work our way to always. He said that this is what we would also do at home if we can't get her off the oxygen before she is discharged.

So, the end of this hospital stay in imminently in our future!! As long as she continues to take her feeds and gains weight and is relatively stable on her oxygen and overall, we will definitely be able to bring her home within a couple of weeks! I can't believe that, after 11 weeks in the NICU, the day is almost here when we will be able to take her home!

kelkel09 · April 2012

That is great news! Glad the transfusion helped and that you are one step closer to going home!!!

That sugar water is the best...I remember they gave it to Ethan once in the NICU and he loved it!

JuliaJAG · April 2012

That is great!! and yes, Adalyn's homecoming is in your near future now that she's off the NG tube! Our Jack did the opposite... he came off the cannula first, with the feeding tube being the last to go... and the doctors would tell us that it's more important to get off the feeding tube, since they can always go home on oxygen, but they can't go home on the feeding tube. Hooray and CONGRATS!!!!!

Why did they end up giving her another transfusion? Was it her hematocrit? It seems babies do so well after a transfusion so hopefully this will catapult her into the home stretch!!

ChristieNRN · April 2012

Such great news!!! I hope she gets to come home with you soon.

Love reading all the updates.

DrRx · April 2012

JuliaJAG:
That is great!! and yes, Adalyn's homecoming is in your near future now that she's off the NG tube! Our Jack did the opposite... he came off the cannula first, with the feeding tube being the last to go... and the doctors would tell us that it's more important to get off the feeding tube, since they can always go home on oxygen, but they can't go home on the feeding tube. Hooray and CONGRATS!!!!!
Why did they end up giving her another transfusion? Was it her hematocrit? It seems babies do so well after a transfusion so hopefully this will catapult her into the home stretch!!

Her hematocrit was 26.2 at the beginning of April, and when they did a repeat CBC this past week it had dropped to 25. She wasn't really having symptoms, but wasn't really weaning below 0.05L of oxygen, usually between 0.075L and 0.1L. Since they had the Direct Donor blood from DH, and her retic count wasn't that awesome (but not bad), they made the call to go ahead and transfuse.

JuliaJAG · April 2012

DrRx:
Her hematocrit was 26.2 at the beginning of April, and when they did a repeat CBC this past week it had dropped to 25. She wasn't really having symptoms, but wasn't really weaning below 0.05L of oxygen, usually between 0.075L and 0.1L. Since they had the Direct Donor blood from DH, and her retic count wasn't that awesome (but not bad), they made the call to go ahead and transfuse.

That makes sense. Jack's hematocrit was 26 last week and we were talking transfusion (I went ahead and donated in preparation for it) but it ended up pulling up to 30 three days later. If it hadn't, I'd have wanted them to transfuse even though the neo's told us they no longer transfuse unless the crit falls to 20. With a family member donating, it seems to me there is no risk and only benefits.

Want a personalized experience?

One less tube! *Adalyn update 4/21

Re: One less tube! *Adalyn update 4/21

Choose Another Board

Search Boards