NICU Diaries: Week 5
I’m putting updates here as we progress in the hospital.
Read about last week: Week 4!
Day 29: Sick + Chilling
Today I heard the dreaded words, “Mom, I feel like I’m getting sick.” Thankfully the symptoms were mild, we both masked up while F stayed home from school, I felt well, and I got the ok from our NICU nurse and provider to visit Baby Henry.
Nurse Coldir said that Baby had a really chill day, tolerated all his feeds, and loves his binky. He showed me how Henry can even hold it! Nurse Coldir told me how handsome Baby is and being so positive. I helped clean Baby up and change his bedding after he sadly spit up all over his face.
We got to snuggle skin-to-skin for 2hrs, and our night nurse Sarah helped hold him while I went for a bathroom break so that I could continue holding him longer ❤️ Our nurses are amazing.
Baby got a new incubator tonight, and we cleaned up his skin to prevent yeast infection. He continues to brady at night, but not out of the norm. I helped weigh him, which is a whole thing: you put an empty diaper in the bed with baby, then hold/lift baby with just the diaper, then put baby back but remove the diaper, and the incubator calculates it. He’s now 1700g (3lbs 12oz)! Nurse Sarah said once he weighs 1800g he can move to an open crib. For now he still needs the noise insulation and temperature control at night to sleep.
Day 30: Up and Down
The NICU can feel like a rollercoaster sometimes, fluctuating between progress and setbacks. I had just posted Henry’s good news with no more CPAP, but last night he was put back on it. Poor baby was having continuous episodes of periodic breathing and needing increased oxygen. They extended his feedings to 90mins (doubled) to relieve him of too much effort during feeding. He will remain like this for another couple of days.
We tried our daily Kangaroo Cares, but with the prongs on his CPAP he remembered, “Oh yes! I’m STILL mad about those!” and was inconsolable, so I swaddled him up and held him in my arms until he fell asleep.
Tonight he went down in weight 50g (3lbs 10oz). They put back the 2nd OG tube in his mouth again thinking acid reflux is making him apneic. The tube will help him vent and let the extra air from the CPAP escape.
So, a few steps back is disappointing. At least Henry is getting help if he’s not ready.
Day 31: First Day Off + Back to Square One
Yesterday the social worker asked if I’d consider taking a day or two off from the NICU to just sleep and rest. Seeing my baby is part of my well being and what I live for, but my body is breaking down.
I told myself I could see Baby tonight, but I need to take care of myself for him. I did normal things like walked the dog, ate breakfast, pumped while watching Baby on video, and it felt amazing just to take my time and not rush trying to get to my next thing. I even took a nap and actually slept!!
Baby is a month old today ❤️. Henry had a cluster of 3 apnea de-sat “spells” within a half hour last night (which was concerning for the staff), so they did some bloodwork to see if he has an infection. He was well enough for them NOT to put him on antibiotics without looking at results first. Lab results are normal and reassuring.
Doctor looked at x-rays and thinks his lungs need more support, so upped his CPAP from 6 to 8 (it hasn’t been that high for weeks). Gave him an extra dose of caffeine to stimulate his breathing.
I told Dr it’s the first day in a month I haven’t been in; she reassured me that he’s stable, and although babies always benefit from seeing parents the NICU knows we have a life outside the unit and never want us to feel pressure to come.
It’s ironic how not visiting Baby is killing me and simultaneously rejuvenating me. Now I know what to look for in a good therapist, someone specializing in perinatal trauma or postpartum counseling.
Day 32: Eye Exam Results
I had pumped before visiting Baby, but as soon as I saw him looking like this little angel I had another letdown. 😆
Henry had his eye exam last night since they have to make sure it develops correctly. The blood vessels behind the eye grow out and then circle back around to the front of the eye in 1-3 zones with Zone 3 being fully developed. He’s in Zone 2, on track but not fully developed. No ROP (squiggly growing off track) which is good; if ROP develops they will do follow ups every week.
They want to stop giving him sodium chloride so that he’s not getting more meds than he needs. Labs for sodium have been in the normal range; by this age his body might take over making enough of it naturally, so they want to take him off it until they check his labs Monday. It might also help with the edema (swelling) in his eyes, groin, and leg/shin areas. He got the Hep-B vaccine today.
He hasn’t had any more of those episodes since yesterday morning so they think he’s not sick (cultures and labs are still showing normal and nothing growing on it) and just needed the extra respiratory support.
Day 33
Brain development and emotional regulation in our skin-to-skin session today. I didn’t vibe with our nurse at all, but there’s a first time for everything.
Day 34: Breathing Support
Henry is still having those episodes so they upgraded the level 8 CPAP to a NIPPV (Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation) to give him even more support. The CPAP helped with the breath out, while the NIPPV helps with the breath in as well. He’s getting a higher dose of caffeine to stimulate his lungs. Dr said she knows it seems like he keeps taking a step backwards, but sometimes we push these little ones to wean and they are just too little, too young, and not ready yet. The NIPPV came with an even bigger monitor.
Jer is a sweetheart and always offers the Kangaroo Care time to me even though it’s his favorite, because he says my Mommy time with baby is the priority. However, I insisted that it was Jer’s turn for skin-to-skin. He won’t get a chance to hold baby tomorrow and hasn’t been able to see Henry since last week. Baby slept so well on Daddy.
Our night nurse Julie C really connected with our baby, we could feel her love for him and her positivity and experience. I asked for her as a Primary nurse before we left.
Baby had his bath tonight, they changed his linens, and weighed him. 1910g = 4lbs 3oz! I was so happy to use this “I weigh 4 pounds” milestone card! He also graduated to the green pacifier that stimulates the back of his mouth, which is needed in preparation for breastfeeding.
Day 35: Special Visitors
Happy 33 Weeks (gestational) to Baby Henry! Great-grandma Enid and Great-grandpa Harold met him with Jer on their way from church to Uncle Thad’s 50th birthday surprise. Gma Enid held his hand and felt his strong grip! Gpa was glad to hear Baby’s voice even if it was in displeasure trying to let out gas.
Aunt Adelyn and Uncle Joseph also visited while I snuggled Baby. Henry showed them how he blows bubbles from his breathing machine, how strong he is lifting his head, how mysterious his eye color is even when his eyes are open, how cute his little body is, and has been given the name “Bear Patch” in honor of his hairy back 😆
Read about next week: Week 6!
Check out more weeks from our NICU journey here.
