It’s been kind of a hectic evening in the NICU. Emmett is fine, but there was a delivery that required almost all hands on deck around 10 p.m. (I’m sure that was me a month ago!), and it’s been chaos and hustling and loud beeps and alarms ever since. I had to close my door because I don’t really want to know what’s going on, in case it’s not good. Feeling really thankful for private rooms right now. My heart goes out to those parents because I know just how scared they must be.
A byproduct of this dramatic delivery is that Emmett’s nurse got called away and we got temporarily stuck with the roving nurse that just fills in on people’s breaks. She didn’t position him very well for his feeding (and didn’t even realize his feeding tube was wrapped around his neck until I pointed it out), and then shortly after she left, Emmett started spitting up while on his back and went into a pretty big desat. No one even came to check on him until I had to go flag down another nurse. No clue where the roving nurse was. E seems to be comfortable now, but I’m spent. People keep telling us to get away and take some time for ourselves, but then stuff like this happens and I wonder how long he would have been spitting up and desatting before someone came to help him? I know this is a very good hospital and I’m sure the NICU staff know what they’re doing, but there’s just no substitute for having a parent in the room with him.
Other than an eventful evening, today was actually pretty good overall. Emmett had his feeding tube moved from this mouth to his nose again, which just looks so much more comfortable, lets us see more of his face, and allows him to get his hands to his mouth like normal babies. I think we may have a thumb sucker! He put on another 30 grams last night, and 20 more tonight, so he’s now up to 2 lbs 13 oz. They’ve also increased his feeds to 25ML.
Despite the fact that he’s doing great on five liters of flow in his cannula, the doctor decided to give him another day to rest and grow before going to four. I ran into the doctor in the kitchenette this evening and he said all the respiratory therapists are basically begging him to let them lower the flow, though, because E is such a rock star and can handle it. He probably can handle it, but there’s really no rush. Even if we weaned all the way off respiratory support way ahead of schedule, it’s not like we’re going home next week. And we’re still 2-3 weeks away from E being developmentally ready to breastfeed, which would be the only other reason to push for less flow. I’m totally fine with this doctor’s more conservative approach.
It’s after midnight and I’m exhausted. Things are still fairly chaotic here but I’m going to attempt to get some sleep anyway.
Keeping up with the Hoffmans 
I like to believe that the suckers will equal good boob feeder (when the time comes). He’s just a rock star practicer. Might also mean comfort sucker…mommy a lot or binky. B is STILL a comfort sucker. No thumb but fingers when he needs them and we are on a bit of a longer path to lose the binky. It took him so long to get on sleep routine I find myself wary of taking it. Emmett looks great by the way! Hopefully you get some good sleep.
I like to believe that thumb sucker will equal good boob feeder (when the time comes). He’s just a rock star practicer. Might also mean comfort sucker…mommy a lot or binky. B is STILL a comfort sucker. No thumb but fingers when he needs them and we are on a bit of a longer path to lose the binky. It took him so long to get on sleep routine I find myself wary of taking it. Emmett looks great by the way! Hopefully you get some good sleep.
He is so used to having something in his mouth,it would seem only natural for that thumb to find it’s way there. By the way, he is sure a great trouper as is his mom, love you both.
One month old today!!! And it’s exciting to think in only 2-3 weeks you could be nursing him! Love the photo–not only does he look totally comfortable, but look at those arms! He’s noticeably filling out nicely.
That’s what I noticed, Deb. Great deltoid!
I know we both can’t wait to hold him, but his parents are doing a super job until we can. So proud of them.
Interesting how a medical field as technical as Neonatology still has room for “the art of medicine”