We had a bit of a bump. She was tolerating my milk so well, the doctors were increasing her feeding every day... 8, 10, 12, 15, and then 18 cc's every three hours. However, she wasn't pooping on her own - they would give her a sepository. So, I was thinking that all that food would stop her up. Sure enough, it did and they noticed she wasn't digesting it as fast. They x-rayed her tummy and saw that there was gas and poop in her intestines not moving. So, they slowed her back down to 15 cc's every three hours (that's half an ounce - making it a total of 4 ounces a day). And, they are going to see if she can poop on her own. This set back caused her to be jaundiced again. They put her under the blue fliurescent light, but she got off of it within a day - Great job, Scarlet Rose!
Soon, she might be nipple feeding. They say in the 34 week (they are still counting her gestational age) babies can begin to learn the complicated process of eating. It requires babies to suck, swallow, and breathe all at the same time. She needs to be able to tolerate the food (digest it) - which she is - and to swallow. She has a strong gag reflex. Maybe because her mommy does too, or maybe because that's what she learned to do first. Most babies learn to suck in their first few hours of life; Scarlet learned to spit and gag because of the breathing tube - so now it is becoming a struggle for her.
However, she is doing well and they plan to have an occupational therapist in this week to introduce her to nipple feeding. I will be there and cheer her along. I hope it goes well!
3 comments:
I love the blog idea!!! Great thinkin'
So... nipple feeding... my first thought to your comment of being there to cheer her on is, "well, wouldnt you need to be there, you are a part of that feeding..."
hahah.. you are correct ultimately... but they are going to introduce her to a bottle nipple first - they have already given her a passafire (how do you spell that?). Giving her a bottle first may sound bad (because she needs to get used to me.. ), but it eliminates the stress for both of us which is what she needs right now.
Jenna, what a beautiful baby girl! She definitely seems to be a fighter!... sound a little like her mama...haha. Thank you for taking the time to keep us informed. I can't wait to hear that she's coming home!
Keeping you all in my prayers,
Jenn Shankle
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