Tuesday Will got to try eating from a bottle again. It went really well! He will have to relearn some of it...the sucking, swallowing, and pacing takes practice. He is really eager to eat but doesn't realize he needs to take a breath now & then. The nuances of teaching a preemie to eat from a bottle continue to amaze me. So far the only problem is that he now doesn't care for the combo he needs to eat most - milk with high calorie formula. He only wants breast milk by itself. This isn't a common NICU problem but they are finding a way to work around that while he is getting comfortable eating by mouth again. We will be on the lookout for signs that he's unable to manage the reflux with omeprazole/prilosec alone. Plans change frequently here based on what Will needs but for now the reflux surgery and tube in his tummy are NOT in the plan!
The other good news of the day is that Will now weighs 7 lbs!! He's not a quick weight gainer by NICU standards but he gets there in his own time. Since Will doesn't seem to be having any trouble with his heart, his OHS has been postponed until he weighs 5 kilos, or 11 lbs. Initially 3 kilos was the goal. But the bigger he is the better so we will wait for 11 lbs or signs that he needs the surgery sooner.
The first few feeding sessions were bumpy, but overall it was a great day for Will! More pictures soon...
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4 comments:
Wow! 7 lbs... that is so awesome!!! Will, you are going to outgrow Ella before you know it!
I am smiling for ear to ear!
This is such great news! Keep on growing little man! Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you!
Hi! You don't know me, but my sister stumbled upon Will's blog from another friend and sent it to me! My daughter is 4 years old and was also born with a Congenital Heart Defect, hers is Truncus Arteriosus. She also has DiGeorge Syndrome. Anyway, like you we waited and waited for her to eat...just hoping that she was going to get it. It drove me crazy! In the end, she didn't figure it out so soon and we ended up with a feeding tube. I was so sad! I felt like I failed her somehow, like I gave up on her. Now I can say that it was the BEST choice I ever had to make. The feeding tube was removed in June '09 and Olivia is doing great and eats a ton! She had her CHD repair at 6 weeks and 5lbs (she was born 38wks 3lbs 9oz and we too had no idea anything was wrong). She will require more surgeries in the future but is doing so good right now.
There is a light at the end of this very dark tunnel. I promise!
Happy CHD Awareness Week!!
Heart Hugs <3
Jamie Masengale
www.carepages.com/olivia1256
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