Thank you again for the calls and responses we've been receiving. I can't begin to tell you all individually how much it means to realize we are not alone as we learn to face this unexpected challenge. Now that I am home and our situation has stabilized, these general updates will begin to be much briefer.
Helena began receiving feedings through a nose tube to her stomach on Sunday. Every 3 hours she was given 3 cc's of breast milk through the tube, while she sucked on a pacifier. By having her suck on a pacifier while the feeding tube dripped milk into her stomach they hope to help her associate sucking with getting a full stomach.
Before beginning a new feeding each three hours, the nurses check Helena's feeding tube for any undigested milk still in her stomach from the last time. By simply hooking a syringe up to the tube and pulling it backwards, the syringe sucks out of her stomach any undigested milk so they can make sure she is digesting everything properly. So far it's been perfect. Today they increased her to 5 cc's per 3 hours, and they will continue to raise that amount as she progresses.
The nursing staff say that it is common for a preemie to gain the 1 pound she needs for release within a 2-week period. So we're counting down the days now that she is receiving the needed food. Hopefully the other hurdles she faces (maintaining her body temp, swallowing, etc.) will be overcome as she puts on the weight.
Assuming she continues to do well with these tube feedings, they will soon allow me to try to either nurse or bottle feed her. In order to monitor how much she eats each time, they will weigh Helena on a very precise scale just before and after each feeding. If on any particular occasion she doesn't receive enough by breast or bottle they will just give her the rest by feeding tube.
She continues to be very alert and aware of her surroundings. It is really incredible to see how she responds to our voices. Saturday I watched her mimic Josh while he was holding her. Josh yawned very wide as Helena watched him very intently with her dark brown eyes. She stopped sucking on her pacifier as she studied his yawn, then very deliberately she opened her mouth very wide, too, copying him. When he yawned again a few seconds later she again stopped sucking, stared at him and opened her mouth as wide as she could before resuming sucking. Isn't it amazing how her mind works seven weeks before she was even due?
Helena will fuss when we change her diaper or move her around in her "isolet" bassinet, but as soon as we speak to her or hold her close she calms down immediately. She loves to be held and we watch with amazement as the monitors hooked up to her reflect how her respiration and heart rate slow down as she responds to our voices or touch.
As anticipated, Helena was put under the photo therapy lights this afternoon for her jaundice. The nurses keep her eyes covered with what looks like a sleeping mask when Helena is under the lights. It is removed during each feeding, though, so she can look around and respond to us.
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