Up to Speed

Alright, before I get even MORE behind on this, I need to catch up. The last 11 days have been hopeful. While Quinn is very small and has a lot of growing to do, she has been doing exceptionally well in the NICU.

Every day they have continued to up her feeds. By yesterday - Saturday June 22nd - she was at her max feed of 31 ml every three hours. They use a ratio of ml per KG to decide how much food a baby's stomach can handle - as she gains more weight they will continue to increase her feeds. 

On Wednesday June 19th Quinn had been on the CPAP, but with no oxygen - just room air, for about two days, so they decided to put her on high flow oxygen. This is a much smaller nasal cannula and it meant that her feeding tube could be in her nose and not in her mouth. She was much more comfortable and stopped trying to pull it out. The high flow oxygen was two liters of pressure, but again was just room air.

On Thursday June 20th she was doing so well that they took her oxygen out all together. Also, they decided that since her feeds were up to about 24 ml every feeding they would take her TPN away - this meant that she she had no more umbilical IV and no more oxygen cannula - yay! She got a new isolette, and also, we got to move from the level 3 NICU area down to the level 2. Basically, Quinn doesn't need as much attention as when she was first born. All good news for us.

She looks so much more comfortable and holding her is much easier without so many cords! She still has leads on her chest to monitor her heart rate, the pulse oxymeter to measure her oxygen level, and the feeding tube - but STILL less than before!

About this same day they started fortifying her milk with something called Human Milk Fortifier. Apparently breast milk has a range of calories per ml - hopefully mine is on the higher end:) But the fortifier adds more calories to it. 

Quinn has also been getting caffeine. This is a pretty standard thing for preemies. We were warned that Quinn may have what the NICU calls "events." This is when a preemie "forgets" to breath due to an immature brain. The nurses let the babies self-resolve these if the baby is able to. After 10-20 seconds the nurses intervene and stimulate the baby to breathe if needed. Super scary - even though they are normal and expected. Caffeine can stimulate the brain and help avoid these events. Quinn had one self-resolved event on June 15th - THANKFULLY I didn't see it. But that is it! She is breathing like a champ and her oxygen levels remain high! The caffeine could have helped with this...but either way I am glad she hasn't had any.

Today, June 23rd, the Nurse Practitioner came by to say how pleased they are with Quinn's progress. She is up to 3 pounds 9 ounces - she had gotten down to 3 pounds 2 ounces after birth. They are stopping the caffeine because it hasn't been shown in research to be effective after 34 weeks (Quinn is considered 34 weeks and 2 days today). They did warn me that when she starts to nurse for feedings, or even take a bottle she might start having these events because it is hard for a preemie's brain to organize the breathing and eating at the same time. But, she said by the time babies are term they usually have outgrown this.

Yesterday Quinn also started having protein added into her milk, and today, June 23rd, she started getting vitamin D and iron. Tomorrow (or rather the middle of the night tonight), is when they will do her weekly weight and length check and plot her growth curve - they want her to stay on her growth curve or jump up even higher. 

Quinn has been spending her days and nights  sleeping and growing! At her care times we hold her while she gets her feedings, and she tries to nurse twice a day - she is showing tons of interest in this and even had some good sucking and swallowing patterns yesterday. This just takes time and lots of energy for a small baby!

Lots of people have asked about coming to see her or sit with me while I am there, but the NICU has very strict rules about who and how many people are permitted to come and go. I actually appreciate the rules because it reduces the possible infection rate. 

Grandma and Grandpa are able to visit and hold her:)

Todd just got back from the NICU and told me that Quinn is continuing to be feisty and strong. After he put her in her bed on her stomach (yes this is allowed in the NICU because of all the monitors :) and we have to rotate how she lays), she picked her head up and looked around to try and find her pacifier. That's my girl :) She is so sweet, we love her so much, and we know she is where she needs to be for now. 

While this experience is nothing like I planned, I have to remind myself that I still have my baby. I will get to bring her home some day, she is doing well, and for all of that, I am so thankful.