Saturday, August 30, 2008
Quick Night Update!
Just got back from the nightly visit. Hailey was weighted again and she is now at 5lb 10oz! Almost back up to her birth weight! And she took 35cc from the bottle. She fussed a lot when I got there, I could tell she was hungry. She is so cute and alert and makes the cutest little faces. The nurses always comment how cute she is! I have to agree!! =)
Hailey's progress.....1 week 4 days old.
I haven't updated in a few days. There hasn't been much to update. She's still doing really well and as cute as can be! Her rash is almost gone which is great! She doesn't cry as much during diaper changes, just fusses a bit!
Her feedings improved today! She drank 24 out of 45cc. Her coordination is getting better although sometimes she forgets to breath after swallowing which makes her heart rate go down but she brings herself back up. As long as she is awake her feedings are good. If we try when she's sleepy it's not so good. If only she knew this is what is keeping her from coming home! Once she can be fed without the feeding tube, keep her heart rate up and reflux episodes down, she's home!! Send as much positive thoughts as you can her way!!
She has been gaining weight the past few days. She went from 5lb 5oz to 5lb 6oz and is now 5lb 8oz. Hopefully she will continue to gain weight!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Hailey....1 week and 1 day old.
Hailey is doing good. Her butt is really raw and she is now on different ointment to help. I can tell it's really painful for her and it breaks my heart when she cries.
Otherwise her progress is the same. She can come home once her feedings are where they should be and she's progressing normally just not very interested. The doctor said she will get better when she's ready. The nurse says sometimes one day they just improve over night and suddenly are feeding just fine.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Recent Pictures
I tried to upload more but for some reason it keeps erroring out!! I'll try again later!
Hailey's Progress.....1 week old!
Hailey is one week old. Crazy to think that one week ago she was just barely an hour old! She is now in an open crib and in the front room! She drank 20cc from a bottle with the nurse today.
She has a really bad rash on her butt from pooping out the medication she is given for the reflux. The nurse propped her on her tummy bare-butted with some air to help heal it. I think that's great that the nurse is doing that because it will take forever for it to heal if it's not exposed to air. And it's really painful for her.
I get a lot of questions as to when she will be home. To tell the truth I don't ask. I don't want to be given false hope and I am sure they do not give it. I don't even think they can really tell me and I am okay with that. Taking it day by day makes it less stressful for me. Plus we can be told tomorrow that she'll be released the next day but if she looses weight they will not. The nurses tell me the doctors are really conservative. This is good because I wouldn't want her to come home if she's not ready! BUT she is doing so well and that makes me think she may be home soon!! =)
She has a really bad rash on her butt from pooping out the medication she is given for the reflux. The nurse propped her on her tummy bare-butted with some air to help heal it. I think that's great that the nurse is doing that because it will take forever for it to heal if it's not exposed to air. And it's really painful for her.
I get a lot of questions as to when she will be home. To tell the truth I don't ask. I don't want to be given false hope and I am sure they do not give it. I don't even think they can really tell me and I am okay with that. Taking it day by day makes it less stressful for me. Plus we can be told tomorrow that she'll be released the next day but if she looses weight they will not. The nurses tell me the doctors are really conservative. This is good because I wouldn't want her to come home if she's not ready! BUT she is doing so well and that makes me think she may be home soon!! =)
Monday, August 25, 2008
Hailey's progress..... 6 days old
She is doing very well and is so adorable!! She lost weight yesterday so she is not going into the open crib just yet. However, I am told today that she moving to the front room....the room that's closest to the door.....closer to going home!
The occupational therapist stopped by today to talk about nipple feedings and how to get her started and set up for success. Also she wants her to be expose to my breast. Not to expect much but for her to get used to the smell and also the idea of it. I tried with her today. She played with it with her mouth mostly. I don't rush her so she doesn't tire out and burn calories. But she did try!!
Her jaundice levels are normal for her age so it doesn't look like she will go under the blue lights again!
Her IV is still out which is good. She has a bandage were it used to be.
The occupational therapist stopped by today to talk about nipple feedings and how to get her started and set up for success. Also she wants her to be expose to my breast. Not to expect much but for her to get used to the smell and also the idea of it. I tried with her today. She played with it with her mouth mostly. I don't rush her so she doesn't tire out and burn calories. But she did try!!
Her jaundice levels are normal for her age so it doesn't look like she will go under the blue lights again!
Her IV is still out which is good. She has a bandage were it used to be.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Hailey's Progress....5 days old
Hailey is so adorable! She was very alert today. She knew her daddy was there and she would look up at him when she heard his voice. He hasn't been by to visit because he had felt he was coming down with something.
She is now off the IV!! She should be in an open crib really soon! Then she will be moved to a front room....closer to the door...closer to going home!
My milk has really come in full force which is great because now she can drink only my milk rather than formula. I bring them milk in the morning and at night. I am hoping my supply tonight will make it through the night.
I forgot my camera today but I will get some updated pictures and post them soon!
She is now off the IV!! She should be in an open crib really soon! Then she will be moved to a front room....closer to the door...closer to going home!
My milk has really come in full force which is great because now she can drink only my milk rather than formula. I bring them milk in the morning and at night. I am hoping my supply tonight will make it through the night.
I forgot my camera today but I will get some updated pictures and post them soon!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Hailey's Progress...4 days old
Hailey's is doing great!! She is regulating her temperature really well so she will be taken out of the incubator and into an open "crib." She is almost weaned off the IV. Once she is then she is moved to another room, a front room, which the nurses say is closer to the door which means closer to going home!!
Her coloring is still looking like she has jaundice. Her levels are going down which is good and she won't need to go back under the lights again!
Her feedings are getting better. She is still falling asleep during bottle feedings but the nurse says that's typical for premies. Her reflux is getting better but still there. Her medication for that is still going. Also she is being given calcium because her levels are low. Once again, typical for premies.
Overall she is doing so well and she is just as cute as a button!!
Her coloring is still looking like she has jaundice. Her levels are going down which is good and she won't need to go back under the lights again!
Her feedings are getting better. She is still falling asleep during bottle feedings but the nurse says that's typical for premies. Her reflux is getting better but still there. Her medication for that is still going. Also she is being given calcium because her levels are low. Once again, typical for premies.
Overall she is doing so well and she is just as cute as a button!!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Hailey's progress
Hailey was breathing on her own from the beginning wasn't put on any oxygen which was great! The doctor was really surprised she was only 33 weeks considering her size. She tested 9 & 9 on the Apgar test. Her coloring was great and she seemed to be doing great.
Next Day...1 day old
She was still doing great with oxygen. She needed to be able to tolerate feedings and she wasn't tolerating them very well. She would either spit up or not digest have of what was given to her (15cc originally then upped to 20cc). This was going to be her challenge. She needed to regulate her breathing while feeding too. She was tube fed (tube through her nose directly into her stomach). At the time she didn't need an IV but if she didn't start tolerating soon, she would.
Throughout the day she still was only tolerating half of her food. They put her on an IV so help with nutrients and while still going with the feedings. They discovered she had a mild case of Jaundice and was put under blue lights.
Slowly she began to tolerate the 20cc but still not enough. They were telling me that breast milk would be so much better for her and I was just starting to pump with no progress.
2 Days Old
She was up to 25cc. She was tolerating the 20cc just fine. She is having a reflex problem. She was pooping just fine and often but when she was fed, it would back up (like acid reflex) and push on her diaphragm causing her heart rate to go down for just a few seconds. She would do this 1-2 times a feeding. They decided to give her antibiotics to help move her process along meaning getting t he poop out faster so there was room for her new food.
By the time it was 9pm and I was released, she was still struggling with it BUT she drank 5cc from a nipple (bottle). Which is so great because 33 weekers usually do not take to a nipple.
3 days old (so far today)
The nurse bottle fed her 25cc before I got there!! GREAT NEWS! I was so excited. I got there just in time for another feeding so I fed her. They were going to up her 1cc every feeding so now we were trying 26cc (goal of 50cc). She ate 10cc and then fell dead asleep!! Nurse said she got way too comfortable in my arms! They tube fed her the rest since we couldn't wake her up.
Doctor came by and said to stop the antibiotics, stop the blue lights and decrease the IV amount with every feeding along with increasing the feedings 1cc each time. GREAT NEWS again!! Plus I got a tiny bit of milk out with the last pump so my boobs are starting to work! YAY!! More updates to come. We are going back to see her again later today.
Next Day...1 day old
She was still doing great with oxygen. She needed to be able to tolerate feedings and she wasn't tolerating them very well. She would either spit up or not digest have of what was given to her (15cc originally then upped to 20cc). This was going to be her challenge. She needed to regulate her breathing while feeding too. She was tube fed (tube through her nose directly into her stomach). At the time she didn't need an IV but if she didn't start tolerating soon, she would.
Throughout the day she still was only tolerating half of her food. They put her on an IV so help with nutrients and while still going with the feedings. They discovered she had a mild case of Jaundice and was put under blue lights.
Slowly she began to tolerate the 20cc but still not enough. They were telling me that breast milk would be so much better for her and I was just starting to pump with no progress.
2 Days Old
She was up to 25cc. She was tolerating the 20cc just fine. She is having a reflex problem. She was pooping just fine and often but when she was fed, it would back up (like acid reflex) and push on her diaphragm causing her heart rate to go down for just a few seconds. She would do this 1-2 times a feeding. They decided to give her antibiotics to help move her process along meaning getting t he poop out faster so there was room for her new food.
By the time it was 9pm and I was released, she was still struggling with it BUT she drank 5cc from a nipple (bottle). Which is so great because 33 weekers usually do not take to a nipple.
3 days old (so far today)
The nurse bottle fed her 25cc before I got there!! GREAT NEWS! I was so excited. I got there just in time for another feeding so I fed her. They were going to up her 1cc every feeding so now we were trying 26cc (goal of 50cc). She ate 10cc and then fell dead asleep!! Nurse said she got way too comfortable in my arms! They tube fed her the rest since we couldn't wake her up.
Doctor came by and said to stop the antibiotics, stop the blue lights and decrease the IV amount with every feeding along with increasing the feedings 1cc each time. GREAT NEWS again!! Plus I got a tiny bit of milk out with the last pump so my boobs are starting to work! YAY!! More updates to come. We are going back to see her again later today.
Hailey's Here! Her Birth story!
Hailey Cathleen was born August 19th @ 3:31pm. She weighed 5lb 12oz and was 18 inches long. She came when I was only 33 weeks pregnant. I guess she wanted to show her face early! And she decided to come on her Uncle Jeff's birthday (Randy's brother)! Here's her birth story.....
Tuesday morning at about 4:30am I am dead asleep. I feel a huge gush. For half a second I thought I peed but once it dawned on me I realized it was my water. I got up and ran to our bathroom. I couldn't believe how much water I had (even though I knew I had a lot already). I realized I didn't have my cell phone so I got up and waddled over to grab it and went back into the bathroom. My phone had no service so I got up and waddled to the front bathroom (all while water is STILL coming out.....fast) and stood in the bathtub.
Here's the funny part....Randy was on a business trip in San Francisco. So I am all by myself.
I called my mom so she can make her way down to my house. I called Randy. He had to get an emergency flight home. I called my doctor. I was instructed to go to a different hospital then the one I planned on because it doesn't have a NICU and I was only 33 weeks. I called my in-laws (they live next door). I realized the door was locked so I got out to unlock the door then went back to the bathtub.
My contractions didn't start until I was in the car but they were very mild. I didn't know how to get to the hospital and my mom couldn't remember exactly but she had GPS. The GPS was taking us to a hospital named the same as the one we needed to go to but it was directing us to the one in Napa!! (That's about 9 hours north of here by Sacramento). So we were lost but found our way. I went thru the ER because I didn't know where L&D was. I stood in the door way because I was still leaking water and didn't want to get it all over the floor. So I called to the nurse and they brought a wheel chair. (I was only wearing a longer maternity shirt and beach towels wrapped around me because my water was still leaking so I didn't put on pants).
When I was checked I was 1cm dilated. Once I got moved into a labor/delivery room I was almost 2cm. Contractions really started to get intense. Randy was able to get an 8am flight home. So I just sat there with my mom and eventually my in-laws and others starting arriving too. At about 8:30 I was 3cm and the contractions were extremely painful (And I am a wuss when it comes to pain). My nurse was great and grabbed the Anesthesiologist before he went into a c-section. The Epidural was great. It hurt less than the IV so it wasn't bad at all. Once it kicked in it was so much better!!
Randy got to the hospital at 10am. At about 12:00ish I was 4-5cm dilated and was put on pitocin. At 2:30 I was 10cm and ready to go!! We had to wait a bit for my doctor to come. At about 2:45 the nurse had me start pushing. 46 minutes later Hailey showed her cute little face!!
She was checked and then we got a few moments with her and then she was taken to the NICU.
Tuesday morning at about 4:30am I am dead asleep. I feel a huge gush. For half a second I thought I peed but once it dawned on me I realized it was my water. I got up and ran to our bathroom. I couldn't believe how much water I had (even though I knew I had a lot already). I realized I didn't have my cell phone so I got up and waddled over to grab it and went back into the bathroom. My phone had no service so I got up and waddled to the front bathroom (all while water is STILL coming out.....fast) and stood in the bathtub.
Here's the funny part....Randy was on a business trip in San Francisco. So I am all by myself.
I called my mom so she can make her way down to my house. I called Randy. He had to get an emergency flight home. I called my doctor. I was instructed to go to a different hospital then the one I planned on because it doesn't have a NICU and I was only 33 weeks. I called my in-laws (they live next door). I realized the door was locked so I got out to unlock the door then went back to the bathtub.
My contractions didn't start until I was in the car but they were very mild. I didn't know how to get to the hospital and my mom couldn't remember exactly but she had GPS. The GPS was taking us to a hospital named the same as the one we needed to go to but it was directing us to the one in Napa!! (That's about 9 hours north of here by Sacramento). So we were lost but found our way. I went thru the ER because I didn't know where L&D was. I stood in the door way because I was still leaking water and didn't want to get it all over the floor. So I called to the nurse and they brought a wheel chair. (I was only wearing a longer maternity shirt and beach towels wrapped around me because my water was still leaking so I didn't put on pants).
When I was checked I was 1cm dilated. Once I got moved into a labor/delivery room I was almost 2cm. Contractions really started to get intense. Randy was able to get an 8am flight home. So I just sat there with my mom and eventually my in-laws and others starting arriving too. At about 8:30 I was 3cm and the contractions were extremely painful (And I am a wuss when it comes to pain). My nurse was great and grabbed the Anesthesiologist before he went into a c-section. The Epidural was great. It hurt less than the IV so it wasn't bad at all. Once it kicked in it was so much better!!
Randy got to the hospital at 10am. At about 12:00ish I was 4-5cm dilated and was put on pitocin. At 2:30 I was 10cm and ready to go!! We had to wait a bit for my doctor to come. At about 2:45 the nurse had me start pushing. 46 minutes later Hailey showed her cute little face!!
She was checked and then we got a few moments with her and then she was taken to the NICU.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
And the Specialist says......
I saw the specialist today. He determined Hailey is measuring at 35 weeks and I definitely have excess fluid. He estimated her weight at 5lbs 11oz. Other than her being a big baby, he says she looks really good. All her organs look great and are functioning properly. She even yawned and stuck out her tongue during the ultrasound!! It was cute. I didn't get any pictures. =(
I was scolded for still working and he suggests I stop ASAP. He also says I should repeat the Glucose test even though I already passed the first one to determine if I have Gestational Diabetes. I hope this is not the case but it's a possibility,
He also said I really need to make it past 36 weeks so Hailey will not be considered premature. It's not that he thinks she will come before then but he says it's important that she does. I would be officially 36 weeks on September 6th. However, my prediction is that she will come in the middle. The 15th or 17th pop in my head!
Since she is big, it could make a vaginal birth difficult. Obviously my OB hasn't looked at my wide ass and big hips!! haha! But of course I will always go with what my OB says since he's the one with a medical degree.
Overall she looks great and there isn't much of a concern as long as I relax and stop running around like I do! Looks like our October baby will be a September baby!! Early little pumpkin!
I was scolded for still working and he suggests I stop ASAP. He also says I should repeat the Glucose test even though I already passed the first one to determine if I have Gestational Diabetes. I hope this is not the case but it's a possibility,
He also said I really need to make it past 36 weeks so Hailey will not be considered premature. It's not that he thinks she will come before then but he says it's important that she does. I would be officially 36 weeks on September 6th. However, my prediction is that she will come in the middle. The 15th or 17th pop in my head!
Since she is big, it could make a vaginal birth difficult. Obviously my OB hasn't looked at my wide ass and big hips!! haha! But of course I will always go with what my OB says since he's the one with a medical degree.
Overall she looks great and there isn't much of a concern as long as I relax and stop running around like I do! Looks like our October baby will be a September baby!! Early little pumpkin!
Saturday, August 9, 2008
32 Week ultrasound pictures
These are of her face. One is a complete side profile and the other is the closest we got to seeing her whole face.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Big Baby AND Excess Fluid!
My doctor's appointment last week showed I am still measuring above average. I was 30 weeks and measuring 41 weeks. He decided I need to see a specialist for an ultrasound. Of course my insurance had to approve first!
I got a call today from his office stating that my insurance would not approve until he did an ultrasound first. So in I went. My belly, one week later, is now measuring 43 weeks! Hailey is measuring 34 weeks! I am officially 32 weeks tomorrow!! I do have a lot of fluid but not enough for him to be concerned. He now thinks she will come between September 17-September 27.
I will be monitored now and will have another ultrasound to determine her weight in a few weeks. He says this may make a vaginal delivery difficult but not impossible.
So it looks like Hailey will be an early pumpkin! My doctor also may take me off of work as early as 2 weeks from now after my next appointment!
I got a call today from his office stating that my insurance would not approve until he did an ultrasound first. So in I went. My belly, one week later, is now measuring 43 weeks! Hailey is measuring 34 weeks! I am officially 32 weeks tomorrow!! I do have a lot of fluid but not enough for him to be concerned. He now thinks she will come between September 17-September 27.
I will be monitored now and will have another ultrasound to determine her weight in a few weeks. He says this may make a vaginal delivery difficult but not impossible.
So it looks like Hailey will be an early pumpkin! My doctor also may take me off of work as early as 2 weeks from now after my next appointment!
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