Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - Our daughter insisted on an early arrival

j8ear · 07-13-2004, 01:06 PM

j8earette jr extubated herself yesterday and is now breathing on her own, with only a slight assistance from a machine called a Vapotherm, which provides temperature and moisture controlled oxygen enriched gases into her nose to use as she wishes.

After her heart procedure they decided to for go a broncoscopy and manage a careful extubation plan including a course of steriods prior to removing the ET tube, and see how she repsonds. After 4 doses of an 8 course round of dexamethosone for her triachia she extubated herself, and has been strong, stable, and peaceful ever since. Pulse oxygen saturations have been normal, and as she approaches term her heart rate is predicatably coming down from around 150-160 to now around 110-120. As her due date approaches on 7.21.04 this should come down even more to around 80-100.

Things are back on track. She is hovering around the four pound mark having been as high as 4lbs2ozs (1890 grams), and was last night 1740 grams (3lbs8ozs).

I am a very happy father. A light at the end of tunnel is clearly visible.

I saw her sneeze last night as I was holding her. Her voice is not quite ready yet, but reports of some hoarse grunts, and barely audible yelling has been documented. Soon she'll be able to make noise when she cry's. As odd as it may sound, I can't wait to actually hear her cry.

Next on the plan:

1. Bolus feeds. Currently she gets a steady diet of mom's breast milk, fortifide with upwards of 30 calories per 100ml at a rate of 10ml per hour. This is delivered through an ND (naso-duodenal)tube which bypasses her stomach and goes right into the duodenum. This I understand to be the bottom of the stomach and the top of the small intestines. Helps to prevent reflux of gastric chemicals, which have bothered j8earette jr since the beginning. Anyway, bolus feeding means first re-terminating her feeding tube in the stomach, and instead of continuous feeding she will get one hour on, three hours off.

Then she gets put on a nipple.

We're getting close

We painted up your room for you sweetie. We can't wait to show it to you.

best,

-bear

07-13-2004, 01:06 PM	#37 (permalink)
j8ear Gentlemen Farmer Location: Middle of nowhere, Jersey	j8earette jr extubated herself yesterday and is now breathing on her own, with only a slight assistance from a machine called a Vapotherm, which provides temperature and moisture controlled oxygen enriched gases into her nose to use as she wishes. After her heart procedure they decided to for go a broncoscopy and manage a careful extubation plan including a course of steriods prior to removing the ET tube, and see how she repsonds. After 4 doses of an 8 course round of dexamethosone for her triachia she extubated herself, and has been strong, stable, and peaceful ever since. Pulse oxygen saturations have been normal, and as she approaches term her heart rate is predicatably coming down from around 150-160 to now around 110-120. As her due date approaches on 7.21.04 this should come down even more to around 80-100. Things are back on track. She is hovering around the four pound mark having been as high as 4lbs2ozs (1890 grams), and was last night 1740 grams (3lbs8ozs). I am a very happy father. A light at the end of tunnel is clearly visible. I saw her sneeze last night as I was holding her. Her voice is not quite ready yet, but reports of some hoarse grunts, and barely audible yelling has been documented. Soon she'll be able to make noise when she cry's. As odd as it may sound, I can't wait to actually hear her cry. Next on the plan: 1. Bolus feeds. Currently she gets a steady diet of mom's breast milk, fortifide with upwards of 30 calories per 100ml at a rate of 10ml per hour. This is delivered through an ND (naso-duodenal)tube which bypasses her stomach and goes right into the duodenum. This I understand to be the bottom of the stomach and the top of the small intestines. Helps to prevent reflux of gastric chemicals, which have bothered j8earette jr since the beginning. Anyway, bolus feeding means first re-terminating her feeding tube in the stomach, and instead of continuous feeding she will get one hour on, three hours off. Then she gets put on a nipple. We're getting close We painted up your room for you sweetie. We can't wait to show it to you. best, -bear __________________ It's alot easier to ask for forgiveness then it is to ask for permission.