Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Feeding Frenzy


First off, the kids are 36 weeks today- they were born almost 6 weeks ago and they’re still not “term” yet. To think that they’ve learned so much already is really amazing. Keep that in mind as you read our latest update.

Jack has been growing and eating and doing well.  We know that in order for the kiddos to go home (which is still weeks away), they will need to be able to take 8 bottles a day and finish those bottles within 30 min. It’s important the kids take bottles because I can’t be at the NICU all day and night each time they need to nurse and they must finish the bottle in 30 min so they aren’t burning more calories than they consume. With these things in mind, Jack has been taking 5-15 ml of his 45ml bottle, but this morning, he took 36 ml of his 45 ml. I’m not sure what got into him; he must’ve decided he was a hungry guy and he almost finished the whole thing.

The other eating surprise came from Harper. She has been on strict Gavage (tube) feedings since she had that week of feeling yucky in January. Prior to January 24th, she only had one bottle and took 3ml of that bottle- she did not seem interested in eating much at all. Her nurse this evening decided to try a bottle with Harper (the first one since the 23rd) and she told Tony, “I hope that she will take 5ml; that would be a good amount for her.”  Well, little Miss Harper decided that 5ml would not be enough for her and of her 36ml feed, she took 22ml out of a bottle- 4 times the amount her nurse expected! 


Tony and I are both so proud of the kids and the obstacles they’ve overcome in such a short amount of time. We are in the “feeder/grower” stage and now we have some eaters- way to go kiddos! 

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