One Week Old

Alice is now one week old.  Sarah (sister Sarah for those that don't know her) came with me to visit Alice today.  Sarah is trying to get in her Alice time before her scheduled c-section (with twins) that occurs on Monday, October 26th.  We had a nice visit today.

Alice is no longer on any antibiotics (but could go back on them should she require them). She's much more relaxed now that she is intubated.  She has lost weight (down to 812 grams from 894).  This is normal as all babies (full term and premie) lose weight before gaining.  It will take Alice more time to gain the weight back than a full term baby would.

The tube in her nose goes directly to her stomach.  This tube is used for feeding her (basically putting the breast milk directly into her stomach) and it is also used to clear the junk from her tummy as well.

The white patch on her cheek is the bandage and tape that holds the intubater in her mouth.  This is hooked up to a machine that directly pumps the air right into her lungs.  The other "patches" you see on her tummy are to track her respiration and heart beats.

There are wires/tubes that go directly into her belly button right now (but will be removed in the next day or two).  These were hooked up to her antibiotics and are still hooked up to a saline (I think), but they get removed around a week's time because the belly button starts to grow in.  A wire/tube will then get put into one of her hands or feet, but more likely directly into her head (as there's less movement in the head than the hands or feet).

 

The whiteboard (above) is something that all the babies in the NICU have by there bedside.  It's a nice little touch so everyone knows her name and you can see the other babies name and family info as well.