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Day 3 - A better day
I went home last night, to take care of the cats and the house, take care of laundry, etc. The sleep was nice, but I woke up twice thinking I heard a baby cry, probably a mental recording of ones of the kids in the NICU... weird.
Got here about 11:00 or so, said hello to my wife and went downstairs to check up on Robert. The nurse said he'd had a good night. He was still spitting up a little, but they weren't concerned about it. Then I got asked if I wanted to feed Robert.
So I got to hold him and bottle feed him and try my hand at burping him. It was a wonderful little start to my day at the hospital. They let me continue to hold him long after feeding time and so I sat there for maybe an hour watching him sleep and squirm (he is a SQUIRMY little fellow. He keeps trying to flip, trying to push himself around with his feet. He's TROUBLE!) until my arm felt tired and achy and holding him felt tiring. We put him away just in time for K to get there and the nurse let K hold him for what I think was two hours.
Around 2:30, his monitor kept going off and it kept looking like his heartbeat was suddenly decelerating. A nurse, not ours, flew in and declared that Robert was too cold and that he had to go back into his isolett chamber IMMEDIATELY to warm up.
Scared and concerned, we agreed and in he went. But we were back at 4:30 to talk to the doctor before he left. We wanted some answers.. does he have a broken bone? Did the geneticist appear and what did he say? What's keeping Robert from going home and what's keeping him from breastfeeding off K.
The doctor was helpful and straightforward and we felt tons better after talking to him. Despite what we thought was going on yesterday, our senses are correct. He is strong, active and doing very well. They ARE bringing specialists in, but not because they think something';s wrong, only that they want to be sure and it's much easier for the specialists to come to Robert and then for us to go to them, He said that the NIUC *IS* being cautious and wants to make sure his GI system is mature enough to handle normal feeding and that, despite his small side, he can handle room temperature air, but again, all signs point to the idea that he'll be fine.
We also, while down there, definitely got the feeling that the earlier issue with the heartrate deceleration was NOT Robert's heart decelerating, but that SOMEONE probably moved the connection just enough so that when he got active, it didn't necessarily connect right to him, making it appear his breathing and heart were worse than they actually were. As I said, someone is REALLY squirmy,
And, oh yes, K can try breastfeeding twice a day.
So K tried breastfeeding. The milk isn't in yet, but that didn't stop Robert from clamping onto K's nipple and that, all of that, was a very good thing for all.
I came back at 8:30 hoping to get a chance to feed Robert again, but was informed that the nurse wasn't happy about the doctor OK'ing us taking Robert out to be fed, even breastfed, but she was JUST A NURSE so she'll do as the doctor says, but if I'm not breastfeeding, then Robert stays in the isolett chamber, After feeding him, we were quickly shoved out with some bullshit about how the hiccups he keeps getting are due to stress and overstimulation and he needs SLEEP.
So right now, I'm not all that thrilled with the NICU nurses. I'm sure they're professionals and they do know things that K and I don't, but I guess I believe a GOOD nurse tries to be accommodating to a parent's needs, or at least has a GOOD reSON if they can't be, not bullshit. I can't help but feel that some of the nurses that we dealt with today were more concerned with control and order than they were in what's best for dad, mom or baby.
But all in all, a better day.
I am still overcome by how much support we've gotten. Our families, whom we don't always see eye to eye with, are supportive and there and helpful. Friends are doing their best to offer help, K's church contacted her to offer assistance (and some helpful tips to deal with the NICU), and people we're friendly with even offered us a place to stay that's closer to the hospital.
And, btw, to those people who'm I've yet to meet but posted to this journal, thanks, I'm not ignoring your comments. Just don't have the time yet to respond..
Good night. Hopefully tomorrow continues to be a little better than today, even if Snowverkill does rage on out there.
Got here about 11:00 or so, said hello to my wife and went downstairs to check up on Robert. The nurse said he'd had a good night. He was still spitting up a little, but they weren't concerned about it. Then I got asked if I wanted to feed Robert.
So I got to hold him and bottle feed him and try my hand at burping him. It was a wonderful little start to my day at the hospital. They let me continue to hold him long after feeding time and so I sat there for maybe an hour watching him sleep and squirm (he is a SQUIRMY little fellow. He keeps trying to flip, trying to push himself around with his feet. He's TROUBLE!) until my arm felt tired and achy and holding him felt tiring. We put him away just in time for K to get there and the nurse let K hold him for what I think was two hours.
Around 2:30, his monitor kept going off and it kept looking like his heartbeat was suddenly decelerating. A nurse, not ours, flew in and declared that Robert was too cold and that he had to go back into his isolett chamber IMMEDIATELY to warm up.
Scared and concerned, we agreed and in he went. But we were back at 4:30 to talk to the doctor before he left. We wanted some answers.. does he have a broken bone? Did the geneticist appear and what did he say? What's keeping Robert from going home and what's keeping him from breastfeeding off K.
The doctor was helpful and straightforward and we felt tons better after talking to him. Despite what we thought was going on yesterday, our senses are correct. He is strong, active and doing very well. They ARE bringing specialists in, but not because they think something';s wrong, only that they want to be sure and it's much easier for the specialists to come to Robert and then for us to go to them, He said that the NIUC *IS* being cautious and wants to make sure his GI system is mature enough to handle normal feeding and that, despite his small side, he can handle room temperature air, but again, all signs point to the idea that he'll be fine.
We also, while down there, definitely got the feeling that the earlier issue with the heartrate deceleration was NOT Robert's heart decelerating, but that SOMEONE probably moved the connection just enough so that when he got active, it didn't necessarily connect right to him, making it appear his breathing and heart were worse than they actually were. As I said, someone is REALLY squirmy,
And, oh yes, K can try breastfeeding twice a day.
So K tried breastfeeding. The milk isn't in yet, but that didn't stop Robert from clamping onto K's nipple and that, all of that, was a very good thing for all.
I came back at 8:30 hoping to get a chance to feed Robert again, but was informed that the nurse wasn't happy about the doctor OK'ing us taking Robert out to be fed, even breastfed, but she was JUST A NURSE so she'll do as the doctor says, but if I'm not breastfeeding, then Robert stays in the isolett chamber, After feeding him, we were quickly shoved out with some bullshit about how the hiccups he keeps getting are due to stress and overstimulation and he needs SLEEP.
So right now, I'm not all that thrilled with the NICU nurses. I'm sure they're professionals and they do know things that K and I don't, but I guess I believe a GOOD nurse tries to be accommodating to a parent's needs, or at least has a GOOD reSON if they can't be, not bullshit. I can't help but feel that some of the nurses that we dealt with today were more concerned with control and order than they were in what's best for dad, mom or baby.
But all in all, a better day.
I am still overcome by how much support we've gotten. Our families, whom we don't always see eye to eye with, are supportive and there and helpful. Friends are doing their best to offer help, K's church contacted her to offer assistance (and some helpful tips to deal with the NICU), and people we're friendly with even offered us a place to stay that's closer to the hospital.
And, btw, to those people who'm I've yet to meet but posted to this journal, thanks, I'm not ignoring your comments. Just don't have the time yet to respond..
Good night. Hopefully tomorrow continues to be a little better than today, even if Snowverkill does rage on out there.
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Love to you and K and Robert!
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Here's to rest for both of you, continued good health for the baby, and a short stay at the hospital for all!
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Home from work today and catching up on all the news. I'm glad to hear that Robert is doing well. Even if he still needs to be in the hospital, it definitely sounds like he's a strong little fighter. I'll keep thinking good thoughts for continued strength and that the three of you will be home together very soon. Sounds like he's being well cared for, regardless.
Take it easy, and congratulations again! :)