Baby Update 4
Been awhile since I updated but life is busy as we all know.
Laila is back at the Florence hospital NICU. She was in Charleston over a week and they were able to get her off the ventilator and all other gadgets and machines. Because she was able to only be on oxygen thru the nose and a feeding tube, they opted to send her back to Florence instead of keeping her in Charleston at the Children's Hospital. I can see that was a good choice as she wasn't in that dire straits any longer and they certainly could use that bed for a baby with more problems.
We are in Florence and the main problem has been getting her to coordinate sucking a bottle, swallowing and then returning to breathing normally. They have taken her off all sedation which in and of itself was a process because she was on a morphin drip. She is now pretty calm and extremely alert and doesn't get agitated when her parents pick her up and hold her which is a joy. They have not removed the feeding tube because she is still only taking an ounce or so of formula per feeding which is on the average 3 times a day from the bottle. They had her off all oxygen for 24 hours but had to put her back when she wasn't able to keep a steady breathing rhythm after taking the bottle. Its a very, very slow process and we are keeping our fingers crossed and hopes high that it won't be much longer before she is able to get the whole rhythm of life down pat and she can GO HOME.
My son has had to return to work and since Florence is about an hour away from their home, its quite tiring and hectic for them. Jackie goes during the day to FLorence to try and feed the baby and to sit with her. She then goes back home for when Sajid gets off work so she can have supper for him. Between 6 and 8 they don't allow anyone into the NIC unit as they are wrapping up one shift and changing so they then drive back to FLorence to arrive at 8 and stay a few hours so Sajid can hold her and see the baby. I certainly feel for them and wish that I was closer so I could help out more.
Oh and she is gaining weight. She is up from 8.7 at birth to a very healthy 9.4 ozs. So, other than these few things, Laila has come a long way since her birth on May 8th. Continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers. She has certainly reaped the benefits so far from the many well wishes of friends and family.
Laila is back at the Florence hospital NICU. She was in Charleston over a week and they were able to get her off the ventilator and all other gadgets and machines. Because she was able to only be on oxygen thru the nose and a feeding tube, they opted to send her back to Florence instead of keeping her in Charleston at the Children's Hospital. I can see that was a good choice as she wasn't in that dire straits any longer and they certainly could use that bed for a baby with more problems.
We are in Florence and the main problem has been getting her to coordinate sucking a bottle, swallowing and then returning to breathing normally. They have taken her off all sedation which in and of itself was a process because she was on a morphin drip. She is now pretty calm and extremely alert and doesn't get agitated when her parents pick her up and hold her which is a joy. They have not removed the feeding tube because she is still only taking an ounce or so of formula per feeding which is on the average 3 times a day from the bottle. They had her off all oxygen for 24 hours but had to put her back when she wasn't able to keep a steady breathing rhythm after taking the bottle. Its a very, very slow process and we are keeping our fingers crossed and hopes high that it won't be much longer before she is able to get the whole rhythm of life down pat and she can GO HOME.
My son has had to return to work and since Florence is about an hour away from their home, its quite tiring and hectic for them. Jackie goes during the day to FLorence to try and feed the baby and to sit with her. She then goes back home for when Sajid gets off work so she can have supper for him. Between 6 and 8 they don't allow anyone into the NIC unit as they are wrapping up one shift and changing so they then drive back to FLorence to arrive at 8 and stay a few hours so Sajid can hold her and see the baby. I certainly feel for them and wish that I was closer so I could help out more.
Oh and she is gaining weight. She is up from 8.7 at birth to a very healthy 9.4 ozs. So, other than these few things, Laila has come a long way since her birth on May 8th. Continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers. She has certainly reaped the benefits so far from the many well wishes of friends and family.