Monday, 9 February 2015

Peek-a-boo...

By the end of today, Jensen will be two weeks old. It feels like he's been here forever, but at the same time, it has all just flashed by. I guess it's because we are in this place. Sometimes time stands still, others it's all a whirl. I wish it was June already and we could all be at home together with our special little newborn 4 or 5 month old.


I nipped out of the room this morning to grab a pump for expressing and when I came back Jensen had opened one of his little eyes! His eyes were still fused together as they don't open in the womb until around 25 weeks. He opened it after a change of another big poo that had got on his wound dressing and took me about 20 minutes to change, then the doctor came and poked his tummy and head, so with all that, and his eye opening, seeing life for the first time, he crashed out fast asleep with his hands over his eyes in pure exhaustion. I am just waiting beside him for the next time it opens to take a photo to show you all. His eyes will be black for a while until they form their colour, but he should be able to see shapes of things, and distinguish between the colour of my shirt and skin. The nurses have told us to buy a black and white mobile to help him distinguish contrasts of colours etc. I believe there is a lot of research on the whole black and white thing with newborns and detecting contrast.


The nurses are lowering the humidity in his crib gradually by 5% each day. Originally the humidity was set at 80% and will eventually be lowered to 45% which is close to normal air conditions. Today's level is 60-65%.
This morning's chat with doctors resulted in them deciding to give Jensen medication to help close the duct that remains open in his chest. The duct needs to be closed as it puts pressure on his heart and lungs, and also once closed, will stop blood going into his lungs. This medication is different from the previous one which lowers the platelet level, as his platelet level is already low, so this one just takes a little longer to work and is really only ibuprofen.
His milk intake has increased again to 5ml two hourly and he is tolerating that amount and digesting it well...he's been pooing like a little trooper too because of it.
There have been a lot of doctors around today which has made me nervous, but Monday is when the consultants change over for the week, so there is a lot of information being passed around between the beds, and it all takes some time.
Today has been a good news day, along with Jensen opening an eye.....perhaps two by the end of today, and turning 2 weeks old, I found out that I will still be receiving maternity leave, so yay! Now we can relax a little financially too. Hoping for every other day forever to be a good news day too..


1 comment:

  1. Gorgeous photos and eagerly look forward to your posts. So great that he is doing so well and great news about your Mat pay (big relief I bet)
    Big hugs sweetheart x

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