Journal entry by Brittany Craun —
Life has been so busy, I completely forgot about updating this website!
20wks old(9/13)
Theodore was given the go ahead to nurse for the 1st time yesterday! He was a rock star. 😊 The doctor, lactation consultant, and nurses couldn't believe how great he did yesterday and today. They said he needs to give lessons to the other babies in the hall. He's in phase 1 right now which is nurse or bottle feed for 2 out of 8 feedings a day. Once he builds more energy, he'll move onto 4 out of 8 and continue to increase.
Theodore is now up to 70mL of breastmilk every 3 hours and the dietician allowed him to go from 30kcal fortifier down to 27kcal since he's gaining weight consistently, drs are comfortable with how his lungs look, and he isn't retaining fluid like when he was small. The decrease should help his stomach discomfort quite a bit. Fortifier is rough on their sensitive tummies.
Dr is waiting until Thursday to lower his Ram to 5. They'd typically switch him to just regular oxygen at that point but since he's on the med for pulmonary hypertension they have to keep him on Ram until it's done(maybe 2 more wks). Possibly next week they can lower the ram to 4 which would be the equivalent to 1 liter of oxygen which is something he can go home on.
At this point, it's pretty much just making sure he masters all feeds orally, eyes show that they have matured into Zone 3, and pulmonary hypertension has resolved.
He was measured last night and he grew 4cm(1.6inches) this last week, I figured he was going through a growth spurt. He's now just under 21"!
Theodore weighed 9lbs 4.15oz! Big boy now.
He is an absolute miracle who continues to amaze drs, nurses, etc every day! 😍
I've been blessed with a very large oversupply of milk(over 70oz a day), so Theodore is letting another momma's babe have some while he's still in the NICU. That baby boy was born just a few days before Theodore(full term though). So far I've donated just over 1,000oz and that babe is also getting chubby now!
💙💙💙
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