Yay! I'm so happy for you and Oliver that you made it this far and way to go! Imagine how big he would have been at term! Love and hugs, congratulations on your new family.
First of all, thank you everyone for such kind and encouraging words. We truly appreciate all of you.
Oliver is kicking some @$$ so far. Here's the breakdown:
He quickly transitioned from a bubble CPAP to oxygen just via the nose cannula to now ZERO oxygen assistance whatsoever. He is breathing room air and we are so proud.
While he didn't start with high levels, by Sunday his bilirubin was around 12 (should stay below 8) so they began to use the phototherapy lights. He wasn't a fan at all but thankfully by this morning he was down to a 5.5 and they took it away. Yay! This is also awesome because the funny bili mask he had to wear to protect his eyes was bothering his breathing a tad....not enough to need oxygen but it was creating more of an unnecessary struggle in that his nostrils are so teeny and the mask compressed them further. Hopefully we never see that again!
He is feeding by tube to his tummy and tolerating my milk well! He was up to 8mL per feeding today and they'll raise that to 13mL starting tomorrow! I am pumping every 2-3 hours to stock up for him so that he will continue to go up, up, up! One of our bigger challenges will be to learn to breastfeed or bottle feed - keeping myself open minded as to which specifically - so keep him in your thoughts on that for sure. He continues to provide wet and soiled diapers so we know his system functions as it should.
He weighed 4lbs 2oz at birth on Wednesday. After a typical drop, as of tonight he is back to 4lbs 1oz!
He has a TON of dark hair like me, long fingers and toes like his daddy, and the sweetest, biggest eyes. He stares into mine and I melt into a puddle. He responds well to our voices and to startling noises (the NICU has a lot of those given the other machines and such). He loves to do the kangaroo hold and let me just say how hard it is to let him go after the visit.
We adore the staff at the NICU and know he is in the right hands. This is the hardest thing I've ever done but I know in my soul it will be okay. We don't know when he can come home yet but every day that passes brings us that much closer! We are focusing on my recovery (I did have a C Section so I'm riding the pain train now and all of its glory), finishing his nursery, and dealing with our emotions as gently as we can.
Hope everyone else is hanging in there! Everyone is getting close and I wish you the best. I plan to keep checking in as much as possible and look forward to more baby announcements!
Re: Our Birth Story
Me: 33 H: 36
Married: 12/14/13 DS: 1/29/09
BFP2: 10/9/15 MMC: 11/12/15
BFP3: 4/6/16 DD: 12/12/16
Eta because pregnancy brain.
Me: 39 DH: 36
Married: Sept 2018
DS: December 2016
#2 EDD Feb 2020
BFP1 04/24/2015 EDD Dec 2015 MMC 10W5d;
BFP 2 09/25/2015 EDD June 2016 MMC 9wks;
BFP 3 03/22/2016 EDD Dec 6th 2016
TTC #2 starting 9/2019
BFP 7/13/2020!
Due 3/18/2021
TTC #1 since 2/2015
Diagnosis: Unexplained Infertility 9/2015
Moving to IVF with ICSI and PGS 5/2016-6/2016 Just kidding, BFP 4/4/2016!
Spencer Elliott born 12/7/2016
Baby #1
Baby #2
~04/19/16 EDD 12/26/16~
SaveSaveSaveSave
natural pregnancy: 2008
Me: 28 (Hypothyroid), DH: 35
Together since: 2010
Married: 2013
TTC: 2013
Infertility: severe MFI, low AMH (0.5)
Met RE: January 2016
ER: 3/14 (4 follies, 6 eggs retrieved, 2 fertilized)
fresh 3dt of 2 embryos= BFP (1 implanted)
EDD w/ baby boy= 12/6/16
DD born 7.27.2014
BFP 09.2015 - m/c 10.21.2015
My Wedding Bio!
BFP#1 & MC:August 2015 BFP: #2 10/01/2015 MC: 10/09/2015 BFP #3: 12/22/2015 @ 5 weeks MC/CP: 12-23-2015
Fertility Appointment: Feb 23/16, Hysteroscopy 03/02/2016,
BFP #4: 03/31/16 EDD 12/01/2016
TTC #2: Jan 2019
DS: 2.5 yo
EDD: 12/2/16 DOB: 10/22/16
(Previously MBS2016 Dec 2016 board
First of all, thank you everyone for such kind and encouraging words. We truly appreciate all of you.
Oliver is kicking some @$$ so far. Here's the breakdown:
He quickly transitioned from a bubble CPAP to oxygen just via the nose cannula to now ZERO oxygen assistance whatsoever. He is breathing room air and we are so proud.
While he didn't start with high levels, by Sunday his bilirubin was around 12 (should stay below 8) so they began to use the phototherapy lights. He wasn't a fan at all but thankfully by this morning he was down to a 5.5 and they took it away. Yay! This is also awesome because the funny bili mask he had to wear to protect his eyes was bothering his breathing a tad....not enough to need oxygen but it was creating more of an unnecessary struggle in that his nostrils are so teeny and the mask compressed them further. Hopefully we never see that again!
He is feeding by tube to his tummy and tolerating my milk well! He was up to 8mL per feeding today and they'll raise that to 13mL starting tomorrow! I am pumping every 2-3 hours to stock up for him so that he will continue to go up, up, up! One of our bigger challenges will be to learn to breastfeed or bottle feed - keeping myself open minded as to which specifically - so keep him in your thoughts on that for sure. He continues to provide wet and soiled diapers so we know his system functions as it should.
He weighed 4lbs 2oz at birth on Wednesday. After a typical drop, as of tonight he is back to 4lbs 1oz!
He has a TON of dark hair like me, long fingers and toes like his daddy, and the sweetest, biggest eyes. He stares into mine and I melt into a puddle. He responds well to our voices and to startling noises (the NICU has a lot of those given the other machines and such). He loves to do the kangaroo hold and let me just say how hard it is to let him go after the visit.
We adore the staff at the NICU and know he is in the right hands. This is the hardest thing I've ever done but I know in my soul it will be okay. We don't know when he can come home yet but every day that passes brings us that much closer! We are focusing on my recovery (I did have a C Section so I'm riding the pain train now and all of its glory), finishing his nursery, and dealing with our emotions as gently as we can.
Hope everyone else is hanging in there! Everyone is getting close and I wish you the best. I plan to keep checking in as much as possible and look forward to more baby announcements!
❤️ Sarah