The boys are doing really well. They are still on minimal amounts of oxygen, but should be coming off of that within the next day or so.
They started bottle feedings on Wednesday afternoon. Both are great eaters when they are hungry. Unfortunately, the hospital has them on an every three hour feeding schedule, so they aren't always hungry at feeding time. How could they be? I don't think their bellies are every empty for very long! (I have discussed this with the doctor, and even he said that some babies are not every 3-hour feeders. He didn't change the orders, though, so we are stuck with the schedule.)
I was especially pissed off to see that they had put their feeding tubes back in. I know it was done because the nurses just give up and gavage them (feed them through their feeding tube) when the boys show the slightest bit of resistance. Which again happens because they aren't hungry. I know it is easier, but come on all ready. The boys should be beyond gavage feedings now, especially because they can bottle feed just fine. UGGGG!!!! (just a little vent there)
Two families that came in after us, but that have been there a long time, are ready to discharge. It made me so sad. They were watching the CPR video (the last thing they make you do before going home) while I was feeding Shawn. He was being challenging because he wasn't hungry, I kept hearing the CPR video, and I just got so defeated. I cried big boo hoo tears all the way home.
I want to be happy for the other families. They have been a source of support during our time there. I am so jealous, though. Sometimes it feels like it will never be my turn to leave the hospital with the boys.
It makes the feeding tube issue even more painful for me.
No one seems to be in a hurry to get them home but me.
And I am going crazy waiting.
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1 day ago
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I know it's frustrating and you want your boys home... one of the reasons why they may be gavage feeding them at times is because if they take too long to eat they are burning more calories than they are taking in. Eventually the boys will get this whole feeding thing down. It will happen. Hang in there.
Sami, Yeah. I know they gavage them if they take longer than a half an hour to eat. But, I have also watched the nurses not feed a baby by bottle if he "looks comfortable" sleeping or if the baby will just turn his head away when they attempt to feed him/her. I am more than certain that they do that to mine, too. I think that they should actively bottle feed them for the half hour. Then if there is remaining formula, gavage away. I am sensing that some nurses go for the path of least resistance and least effort to stay on or ahead of schedule. That is what pisses me off.
Hi there...I so know where you're coming from. You know, you can ask the nurses to move the babies to a four-hour schedule. It might actually get them home sooner if they're hungry and take the bottles. If they're not hungry and don't take the bottles at the 3-hour feeding, that might be counting against them because that means they're not bottling all their feeds. Does that make sense? It's been a long day here :D Anyways, about the other families going home--yeah, that's just about the worst. And you feel happy for the other family but boy do you want your guys to come home. And then you feel unhappy about being unhappy and (at least I felt) hormonal and that sucks too. Your turn will come soon and before you know it you will be having a day like I had today...4 month immunizations, everyone's crying and wailing away :D You guys are always in my thoughts and prayers. But there aren't major obstacles between them and home anymore like the surgery, so that's awesome!!!
It's got to be frustrating as hell when you're so ready for them to be home and they're not. But it will come time, Stacie, and I'll bet then it will all seem worth it. Just hang in a little bit longer and stock up on sleep!
I know absolutely nothing about NICU. Not a blessed thing. But it doesn't make sense to gavage a kid who can eat. Maybe it's me.
I'm so sorry. You are the mom and know what's best. I agree with you....maybe they need to move their feedings out. Especially if weight isn't a problem.
It makes you wish you could be there to fight these issues 24/7.
You only want steps forward, not backward. The feeding tube issue does sound like the nurses just don't have the time or patience? Watching the other families go home would make me cry too. It should be your turn. Geez Stacie, it's really frustrating. I'm so sorry your wait is still dragging on.
Hi Stacie,
I think that once the boys are home they may even eat more frequently becuase of how much stimulation you will give them. They will really begin to learn and grow in ways other than physical. My daughter was a slow, sluggish eater in the hospital and the nurses would just push the formula down the chute, too, but once she got home it was quite different. Also, if a feeding takes half an hour, or more, you won't mind it because you'll love feeding them so much.
We had to take the CPR class as the hospital. I am glad we did it because I learned a lot about choking in addition to CPR. The funniest thing, and I can see this happening to Isaac because he looks like he is built a bit like my husband, was that after about ten compressions on a 'dummy' baby (on an infant you do this with two fingers if I remember correctly) the teacher looked over at him and said, "You're a drummer, right? I can always tell. You have just killed your baby with those compressions." They are supposed to be very gently, apparently. I think the guys can get carried away, or not realize how gentle they have to be. Fortunately, we never had to use CPR, and hope you won't either.
Everyday I sign on to your blog I hope to find that you are making plans to bring them home. It won't be long now for you!!
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