Tuesday and Wednesday there were not many changes to Stella's condition. She remained stable with her breathing and her feeds were increased to 9ml every hour. There was a 10 gram weight gain on Wednesday weighing her in at a big 1.2kg! Both days Stella and I had a big skin to skin cuddle which we both love! I can't even explain how beautiful it is to have her snuggled into my chest!
Harvey had his 18 month old chicken pox needle on Tuesday at the flying doctor clinic which Daddy took him to. He was very brave, however I was a bit of a wreck the whole day knowing I wasn't there for him. It was gut-wrenching thinking how he would be. Of course he was fine and Daddy was great, but Harvey did yell out "mum, mum, mum" as it was given to him :( Dan says he wakes up every morning and runs around saying my name. Can't wait to snuggle him, touch him, smell him and simply have him with me!
Thursday (today)we received a special package from the Stenhouses and the talented Emma made Stella her very own isolette cover. It's just gorgeous!
Stella put on 30g overnight and is now 10g above her birthweight of 1.22kg. She now buckles the scales at 1.23kg! Go big girl! I do most of her cares during the day including giving her a little wipe down, changing her nappy, rubbing sorbeline over her dry skin and putting clothes on her. The last two days she has become so much more aware of when we are there and opens her eyes and tries to follow us with them.
Spoke to the doctor this morning and he said although the open duct in her heart is quite large at the moment it's asymptomatic meaning its not causing any troubles yet with her breathing or growth. If this was to happen (which more than likely will at some time)surgery will be the only option but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
Mum had a cuddle with Stella today. It is very important for them to feel any sort of 'nice' touch, especially when they are getting poked and prodded all the time. All the literature says that touch, especially with parents and grandparents is especilly important for the growth and development of premmie babies. They encourage at least 1 cuddle a day if they are stable, which Stella certainly is. She doesn't like being held on her back and much prefers to lie on her tummy against your chest. Her breathing is a lot better then.
They do a heel prick blood test every morning to test her blood gas exchange and before this give her her dummy with sucrose (a sweet tasting liquid) on it to provide pain relief while it's done. It's amazing what a bit of sugar water can do. Apparently something in their brain gives out "happy" chemicals when the sugar water is taken, but only works when they are very young. Wish it worked for adults in the same way!
Dan and Harvey will be here in the wee hours of tomorrow morning and they are on the road as we speak. I am so excited to be seeing them! Neany is extremely excited too! Cannot wait to have my beautiful little family together for a few days.
As always we pray that Stella continues to grow big and strong as I pump, pump, pump away to make some yummy milk for her!
Will post pics with this in the morning because my mummy brain left my camera in the nursery.
Hugs and kisses,
Lauren
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