 |
| All tuckered out after her big day |
 |
| Bright Eyes |
As day 68 of being in the NICU comes to an end, we are excited to share that June had a fantastic last few days! The doctors have increased her feeds from 22 milliliters an hour to 25 milliliters an hour. The milk is still fortified with formula for the extra calories. They have also added fish oil to her milk to put more fats in her feeds and get some meat on her bones. She is still under eight pounds (putting her in the 10th percentile - but at least she is on the growth curve :)).
On Monday, surgery switched June's repoggle (the tube coming from her mouth) from suction to gravity. Instead of pulling her secretions out of her stomach (to help the hole heal by keeping it dry), gravity allows the secretions to naturally drain. On Tuesday, surgery decided to pull the repoggle out. It was so amazing to see June without any tubes on her face - a first since birth!
 |
| No tubes in my nose or mouth - say what?! |
June's PICC line has been in her arm since birth. It has been used to give her medication and feed her with TPN. Once the doctors took her off TPN, they kept the line in her arm since she was still getting medication. They have been debating whether to pull the line because if her temporary J tube comes out, it would be a way to feed her with TPN again; however, it can be a source of infection. On Tuesday they decided to pull the line. They will have to put another IV in again when June goes back into surgery, but for now, she is getting any medication she needs orally and no longer needs the PICC line.
Although June has never eaten by mouth, she still does a great job sucking on her pacifier and uses it to soothe herself. Typically, pacifiers aren't given by the hospital in the nursery to babies because of nipple confusion as they are starting to learn to nurse. In the NICU, they do give babies pacifiers to help them practice their sucking skills since many of them do not eat right away. Many babies who have never eaten by mouth can have an oral aversion, but June seems almost annoyed when sucking on her pacifier doesn't yield any food.
 |
June loves when her nurses sit
and talk to her - in fact, she demands it :) |
 |
Both arms inside her sleeper since the
PICC line is gone |
As day 68 of being in the NICU comes to an end, we are excited to share that June had a fantastic last few days! The doctors have increased her feeds from 22 milliliters an hour to 25 milliliters an hour. The milk is still fortified with formula for the extra calories. They have also added fish oil to her milk to put more fats in her feeds and get some meat on her bones. She is still under eight pounds (putting her in the 10th percentile - but at least she is on the growth curve :)).
June's PICC line has been in her arm since birth. It has been used to give her medication and feed her with TPN. Once the doctors took her off TPN, they kept the line in her arm since she was still getting medication. They have been debating whether to pull the line because if her temporary J tube comes out, it would be a way to feed her with TPN again; however, it can be a source of infection. On Tuesday they decided to pull the line. They will have to put another IV in again when June goes back into surgery, but for now, she is getting any medication she needs orally and no longer needs the PICC line.
She is such a pretty little thing. I am so glad to hear that things are going well!
ReplyDeleteYeah she is doing so good and getting so strong. Way to go June keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteYeah she is doing so good and getting so strong. Way to go June keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteSo proud of you Junie!
ReplyDeleteSo proud of you Junie!
ReplyDeleteThanks Katie! We miss seeing you regularly!!
DeleteSo proud of you Junie!
ReplyDelete