First oral feedings!

Ian stayed home sick today so I decided to go up to the hospital at 2pm so that I could relax with the rest of the family this evening.

Today I would have been 33 weeks pregnant. Babies normally develop the suck, swallow, breathe pattern between 32 and 34 weeks. The nurses and doctors have been talking about introducing the boys to a bottle or breast for a few days but I was shocked to walk in there this afternoon and have their nurse ask if I wanted to give their first bottles!!

Addison (who now weighs 2lbs. 10oz.) got his turn first and easily took down 12 of his 30cc. His nurse was impressed. They keep their feeding tubes in until they're taking full oral feedings so not only did he have to suck, swallow & breathe, but he had to latch around the nipple with the feeding tube in his mouth. He started to de-sat after he took the 12cc and he was getting tired so after letting out a huge burp, he got the remainder of his food through his feeding tube. He is still self regulating his body temp. and was actually on the higher side of normal today.

Riley was next to get a bottle. He now weighs 2lbs. 2oz. and they increased his feedings to 24cc. HE TOOK THE WHOLE BOTTLE!!!!!!! It took him about a half hour but he took all but about 1cc that they used to mix in his vitamins. Not only did he take his whole feeding, he was still wide awake after he was finished. He only de-sated once and all he needed was a little burp. His nurse rinsed out his bottle, put a little note in there saying "Riley's first bottle 8-8-08" and gave it to me to put in his memory box.

They both were turned down to 2 litres of oxygen on the high flow and they've been sating fine. Riley keeps pulling the prongs out of his nose and putting them in his mouth.

The other great news for today (that is almost as awesome as them taking oral feedings) is that they're next in line to be moved to the PCU (progressive care unit). It's in the same room as the nicu but on the other side of a wall and it's for babies who are no longer critical that just need to "feed and grow" as the nurses put it. It's a huge step towards them coming home. She said that nothing will be done before Monday but they are scheduled for their labwork Monday morning and a decision could be made as soon as then!

The NICU has no weight minimum for coming home (if they're under 5lbs. they go home in a carbed instead of a carseat) so all they have to do is be taking full oral feedings, off the high flow cannula, and ideally off the regular cannula but it's not ruled out that they won't come home on oxygen.