Olivia took a big step forward yesterday, we had everything crossed that she would reach her full feed level of 45mls and we were greeted to this news on arrival. Everything went well through the night and she kept having an extra 5mls added each 12 hours. This was such big news and we were thrilled to bits. There was a slight fly in the ointment because the 45mls we had been aiming for suddenly was moved to 57mls!!! When we originally asked what level a full feed would be it was calculated on her weight at that time. Since then she has put weight on so this figure has since changed. In the end it didn't make that much difference because by the end of the day she was on 57ml feeds.
My mum, Jess and Lisa's mum dropped by in the afternoon but Olivia was not waking up know mater how much gentle persuasion was applied.
Olivia was doing amazingly but still reluctant to feed from the breast for any length of time. We decided that we would stay for 9pm feed and try to give her as much practice as possible on the breast. We nipped out for a quick Wagamama's in Clifton and made it back for the 9pm feed. The other great news was that they had stopped her liquid feed in to her leg! The bad news was that she was still not playing ball with feeding from Lisa. We left happy but slightly frustrated feeling that something we'd not considered was holding us back. Never mind there was always tomorrow.
Today brought new developments, excitement and challenges. Lisa rang me to give me the morning update and there was some amazing news, all her tubes and wires had been removed bar her feeding tube in to her stomach. The one we were most keen to see the back of was the 'long line' that was in her lower leg and could be the main cause of infection and was very tricky to manage when picking her up. With that gone it meant that all her nutrition and hydration would be from milk and she would be able to have her first bath in the next day or two.
It was decided that instead of feeding every three hours Lisa would feed her on demand when Olivia was hungry with the caveat that if Olivia had gone more than 4 hours without a feed then she would have to be fed. Olivia slept for 4 hours without waking up so then had to be fed but only managed a few sucks on the breast before falling asleep again. The rest of her feed was down the tube again.
The main challenge now is to get her feeding without the tube up her nose or the syringe, when she has mastered the boob we will be able to go home. This is perhaps the most frustrating stage as to some degree it is in our power and not down to any drugs, surgeons or machines...just good old nature. Lisa is feeling particular frustrated but we will get there soon and these last few days will pale in to insignificance in the long term.
We left the hospital just before 10pm and were both exhausted, Lisa is going to back in the hospital for 9am tomorrow for the first feed of the day. Hopefully Olivia will be awake and ready to learn!
James xx
You'll manage to be patient with your little daughter, Lisa & James. You'll have been told many times that babies take time to get used to the breast. So you don't need me to say that too!
ReplyDeleteTake care & before you know it, you'll all be into the swing & Olivia is guzzling away.
Lots of love from us all