7/2/15

The little fella had another blood transfusion last night. They say it is likely preemies will have 9 or 10 over their stay in the NICU....this was his fourth. The reason they need them so often is that they are testing his blood so regularly, and he doesn't have that much to start with as he is so little, and also it gives them a boost of oxygenated blood. He now has his own supply from the same donor ready for him when the doctors need it.

This morning when we arrived, little Jensen was on his front...and looking very comfortable. The nurses move him into a different position every 6 hours.

When he was having his milk this morning (through his feeding tube) his little mouth started to suck...this means he is recognising the sensation of a full tummy with a sucking motion. This sucking motion is also a comfort thing for them. He has also increased his milk again since yesterday, from 1 ml every two hours to 2ml every two hours and is tolerating it well. The nurses test he is digesting his milk by drawing the syringe out that is connected to the line that goes to his tummy to make sure there is nothing but a bit of bile remaining in his tummy...so far he appears to be enjoying his food.
He has had a restful day today with no prodding and poking. He is still trying furiously to open his eyes when he hears mummy and daddy's voice, but it still may be another week or so. Apparently they open a little at a time, kind of like a zip lock bag that is not closed properly, until the whole eyelids are separated... We just can't wait for him to open his little eyes.

I am getting more confident with his cares as I go on. Although this afternoon I only managed to clean one eye and ear. It is hard when he is laid on his side and the others are hard to reach with my short arms. They need to be cleaned anywhere that has skin to skin contact, so behind his ear (which has no cartilage yet and is very bendy), under his arm, neck and groin. The nurses have to cut down his nappies as the preemie ones they have are too large. This one here is a cut down one, although some nurses prefer to just fold them.

He's an active little man, always flinging his arms and legs around. They say this is a good sign that he is feeling well. Everyone comments on how much I must have felt him inside, but as my placenta was anterior, I only felt him move few and far between, and only if I concentrated and was sure it wasn't just my own digestive system....

I was concerned about this during my pregnancy and my midwife said due to the placenta's position it most likely wouldn't be until around 25 weeks that I would feel more movement, and be able to monitor it. Little Jensen couldn't wait that long, and wanted to be moving around in the real world before then I guess. And on Wednesday just gone he turned 25 weeks...

I was sitting by him yesterday and occasionally would see a little arm or leg fly through the air...

Tonight while talking to Jensen's neighbour Valentina's nurse, we discovered that Jensen snuck into the NICU into the last available bed. When the ward is closed due to no availability, babies in need of such care may be transferred to another hospital in NSW, another state (most likely Canberra), or even New Zealand as it is closer than Western Australia. Thank goodness he snuck in and is getting the care he needs!!

Posted with Blogsy