Preemie Support

Hi Ladies!
We had the twins on 9-9-09!!! They were 36 weeks. Hailey was born at 6.4 and went to the well baby nursery and came home with us. Her younger brother James (younger by one minute!) was born at only 3.4--which we knew because he was growth restricted and not getting enough food from my placenta--he was taken to the NICU and has been there for the past 10 days.

He has moved from being in the main room in a warmer, to a side room with the warmer off, to outside the nicu just hanging out in the bassinet! He is not on any tubes or IV's. He has gained 4 oz and is up to 3.8, which of course is still tiny, but since he is stable the docs say if he continues to gain and not lose the next few days he might be able to go home next week. I am so hoping that is true!!!

His main "issue" is that by his afternoon and evening feedings he is tired and it takes FOREVER for him to finish his bottle. They want him drinking 35 ml every three hours and there have been some feedings where he only takes 20ml and it might take him 45 min or more. On those days, his weight drops, which is so frustrating. Even though he was 36 weeks, he was the size of about a 32-33 weeker so I am not sure if his sucking, breathing, swallowing reflexes have fully developed, plus he runs out of energy quickly.

Anyway, any P&PT's you can spare would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks for "listening"
Shayna

Thanks for the update! Glad to hear that James is doing so well and will hopefully be home soon!

Tina

Hi Shayna!

I've been wondering how things were going!!

Congratulations on the birth of the twins!

It sounds like James is doing GREAT!!! If James isn't choking or desating during feeds, then probably the only issue is that he's getting tired. These little guys get really tired really quickly. Are you doing anything to stimulate him during the feeds that he's taking a long time??? If not, some tricks are to unwrap him so he's not super comfy during eating. Babies in general get sleepy when they eat and if he's all wrapped up and warm and comfy, he'll definitely go to sleep. You can also run your finger up and down his spine while he's starting to slow down. If he's really having a hard time staying awake, you can flick the bottoms of his feet. That is the most sensitive part of a baby's body, so doing that should really wake him up. It'll probably get him mad too but it wakes them up pretty well. We used to hae to do that with Maddie alot when she was in the NICU and we were trying to get her home.

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Hi there!
James came home from the nicu yesterday! He is still very small, only 3 pounds 11 oz but they released him since he has no "issues" besides being small. For the past 4 days they just had him in a bassinet since he is able to maintain his body temp. Right now he is eating 30-35 ml every three hours. I am nervous about him being home and being so small, but I am hoping he will just gain and gain!

Although I am so happy he is out of the hospital, I think if he was a little bigger, like 4 pounds, or at least not a reluctant eater, I would feel more comfortable with him being home. I look at him and can't believe how tiny he is.

We learned a lot of feeding tricks at the nicu--like unwrapping the baby, but I hadn't heard about flicking the feet, I will give that a try!!

Thanks again for the advice!
Shayna