Foster has officially moved to Room 3...reserved for only the most "advanced" babies who are learning to eat. He got to attempt nursing last night and this morning, which is a big step in getting out the door. Since sucking is tiring for him, we only tried about 5 minutes last night and 10 minutes this morning. He appears to know what he is supposed to do, but we'll have to work on his stamina. After 10 minutes of nursing this morning, his respiratory rate increased and his oxygen saturation dropped to 85% (it should be close to 100%), signaling exhaustion. When he can latch on for longer periods of time, we will weigh him before and after the feedings to see exactly how much he ingested. They then adjust his tube feedings to make up for the difference. Last night he was up to 4 lbs 12 ounces. His cheeks look chubbier and his thighs are looking a little more sausage-like. He has become much more tolerant of diaper changes and our awkward swaddling attempts...we realized last night we haven't heard him cry at all for a few days. He seems like a relatively happy baby at this point. He is certainly learning to sleep through anything. Although it seems like a NICU would be a quiet place, it is quite the opposite. Every baby is hooked up to at least three alarms (respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, heart rate, fluid pumps, heat sensors, etc) which are constantly beeping (loudly!). Hopefully that ability to sleep will translate at home...sleeping through Parker barking at the mailman. We've heard that NICU babies sometimes have trouble sleeping once they get home because it is TOO quiet. We'll have to set up a few alarm clocks in his room just to recreate the NICU atmosphere. Foster's room is almost ready for him to come home (thanks for the trim painting Chris!), although he likely has at least 2 more weeks in the NICU.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Graduation
Foster has officially moved to Room 3...reserved for only the most "advanced" babies who are learning to eat. He got to attempt nursing last night and this morning, which is a big step in getting out the door. Since sucking is tiring for him, we only tried about 5 minutes last night and 10 minutes this morning. He appears to know what he is supposed to do, but we'll have to work on his stamina. After 10 minutes of nursing this morning, his respiratory rate increased and his oxygen saturation dropped to 85% (it should be close to 100%), signaling exhaustion. When he can latch on for longer periods of time, we will weigh him before and after the feedings to see exactly how much he ingested. They then adjust his tube feedings to make up for the difference. Last night he was up to 4 lbs 12 ounces. His cheeks look chubbier and his thighs are looking a little more sausage-like. He has become much more tolerant of diaper changes and our awkward swaddling attempts...we realized last night we haven't heard him cry at all for a few days. He seems like a relatively happy baby at this point. He is certainly learning to sleep through anything. Although it seems like a NICU would be a quiet place, it is quite the opposite. Every baby is hooked up to at least three alarms (respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, heart rate, fluid pumps, heat sensors, etc) which are constantly beeping (loudly!). Hopefully that ability to sleep will translate at home...sleeping through Parker barking at the mailman. We've heard that NICU babies sometimes have trouble sleeping once they get home because it is TOO quiet. We'll have to set up a few alarm clocks in his room just to recreate the NICU atmosphere. Foster's room is almost ready for him to come home (thanks for the trim painting Chris!), although he likely has at least 2 more weeks in the NICU.
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