Just Like a Normal Baby

Yesterday, due to the snow, we only made it to two feedings (9AM and 9PM). In between, the doctor called and said that he was doing so well with his line removed, they wanted him to start breastfeeding and getting a supplement bottle after that. This sounded like great news, but after the nursing debacle of the other day, I was terrified.

He did great. He nursed like a pro on one side and nursed like a sleepy pro on the other side, then took only a few mL from his bottle. It was fun to watch his heart rate zoom up when he started nursing, then drop as he became fuller and sleepier. I need to get more confident in his ability to feed himself, because I was nervous about ending the feeding, in case he hadn't had enough and his glucose dropped and he got put back on the IV.

The nurse--one we hadn't met before--was pleased, and seemed optimistic about what we'd find in the morning. She left us, however, by saying that usually babies need another week in NICU after their lines are removed.

A week. We'd been thinking a few days. A week.

Back again this morning for the 9AM. Overnight, his glucose levels were steady and high enough. His doctor was very pleased, pleased enough to graduate him from an isolette to an open crib. The goal, she said, from here on, is to treat him just like a normal baby. His job is to communicate when he's hungry, eat well, and regulate his body temperature. If he does that, he can come home.

I asked about what last night's nurse said. A week?, she said, anything is possible, but assuming he does what he should, he could go home tomorrow, or possibly Friday. So even if he needs a bit longer, you're likely looking at having a baby home by the weekend.

Happy Valentine's Day, says Mark.

He nursed well again on both sides, took 15 mL from his bottle, then the nurse wheeled in his crib and took his bedding out of the isolette. We lay him in and kissed his head, something we hadn't been able to do since he started living in a breadbox. He promptly urped due to an unburped burp. We changed his clothes, his diaper, and the bandage on his heel (which he'd stuck into his full diaper)--just like a normal baby.