A quick update on Ira: he started his feedings this past week. (Scroll down a bit to see Mom and Sophia feeding him his bottle.) We started by giving him one bottle a day with 5 cc of milk. Keep in mind that 30 cc is an ounce so 5 isn't much. He did great last week and the consultant said Ira should start receiving two feedings a day. The doctor checked off on it and so we started giving him a bottle twice a day starting this past Friday. Most of his feedings have been good. He still gets most of his milk via the tube in the nose that goes directly to his stomach.
They started supplementing his tube milk with formula because Ira wasn't gaining weight. If he were at home he would nurse when he was hungry and would eat until full. However, at the hospital he is much more regulated and not getting as much as he needs. Therefore, he needs more calories. That started that supplement on Friday and guess what? He started throwing up. Ugh.
In spite of that, his weekend was great. He slept hard and when he was awake he was peaceful. But today, well, today was a different story.
I have a huge headache because Ira was not in a good mood. I wanted to throw him over my shoulder and pat his back. I wanted to take him for a walk. I wanted to try anything and everything to help him but I couldn't. It was so frustrating. We couldn't figure out what was wrong but he was irritable all afternoon and evening.
This is the same old story: a couple of good days followed by a really hard day. The thing that sucks is that the good days were this weekend when his doctors were all at home. Today, they got to see the "I'm Pissed Off Ira" and I'm pretty sure they think this kid will never get well.
They started supplementing his tube milk with formula because Ira wasn't gaining weight. If he were at home he would nurse when he was hungry and would eat until full. However, at the hospital he is much more regulated and not getting as much as he needs. Therefore, he needs more calories. That started that supplement on Friday and guess what? He started throwing up. Ugh.
In spite of that, his weekend was great. He slept hard and when he was awake he was peaceful. But today, well, today was a different story.
I have a huge headache because Ira was not in a good mood. I wanted to throw him over my shoulder and pat his back. I wanted to take him for a walk. I wanted to try anything and everything to help him but I couldn't. It was so frustrating. We couldn't figure out what was wrong but he was irritable all afternoon and evening.
This is the same old story: a couple of good days followed by a really hard day. The thing that sucks is that the good days were this weekend when his doctors were all at home. Today, they got to see the "I'm Pissed Off Ira" and I'm pretty sure they think this kid will never get well.
posted by jch at
9:25 PM
4 Comments:
My patience with crying babies is very short, so I can't imagine how frustrated you must feel about having an upset kid and knowing there's nothing you can really do to make him feel better. Oy. I'll add patience and a measure of peace to my prayers for you guys and Ira. :)
Jonathan
Hey Joe,
Glad that you guys had a much needed weekend. What a blessing! Your last line struck me. As a medical professional, I have learned that most Docs are synical, just because of the work that they do day in and day out. Your assessment is probably true on one level, but deep down the docs that work with NICU babies have to be optomistic- otherwise they would burn out. Most NICU docs are very competetive but conservative, patient but always looking for ways to get a baby well faster. In essence, these docs are used to living with contradiction. Most of their patients should not be around still, but because they constantly are willing to try risky procedures that time and time again prove to be effective, we have NICU's like we do. These are just men and women who have been blessed with a knack of living in a contradictory world and thank God for them and for giving them their training. Sure, they have lost patients but, if they are like me they start their day praying that God will let them have an impact on the lives that they touch each day.
Glad to hear that Ira is progressing. Remember today that mountains are meant to be climbed. Only then can one see the view from the top!
Sincerely, Rebecca Leggett
prayers are still being lifted up for Ira, and for you and Laura and Sophia. may God give you an overwhelming sense of peace and rest today. may you be filled with his strength and his energy which so powerfully works in you.
cody b
Joe and Laura,
I lurk here every day and pray for you but haven't had much to share untill now.
Are they giving him formula or fortifier? Ask about adding fortifier to the breast milk instead of formula if it is indeed formula.
Do you have Dr Sears Premie book? I know it is about premies but I'm sure it has a ton of good information for anyone with a baby in the nicu for an extended stay.
The 4 days that our daughter was in the NICU were the hardest days of my life. My heart goes out to you both in all that you are enduring.
Patty Lacoss-Arnold
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