Thursday, February 12, 2009

Milk, milk, milk.... and scream

Loki can scream and cry really, really loud. He prefers to do this when he is hungry. It has been a little bit of a struggle figuring out how much he eats when taking the breast, and how much he needs. Everybody is impressed with his suck, but he obviously is very hungry, even after sucking for a good 20 minutes. I am working with a wonderful lactation consultant here, and although she is a little puzzled about the fact he is not getting as much as we think, she is confident that he will learn. We are starting the SNS (supplemental nursing system) today. A little tube will be connected to the breast and milk will be poured into a syringe or bottle connected to this. This way, Loki will be able to drink while on the breast and still get some nutrition. He has lost weight over the past two days, so we can not just sit and weight until he gets this breast practice down. In addition, he will come home with some fortified milk anyway. Although I initially was frustrated he did not get the hang of breastfeeding as much as I would have liked, I am pretty confident he will get it eventually. Also, he gets so excited just to get food, that it is very cute to see. And being able to feed him, whatever way it is, just feels great. Loki is hungry a lot, cries really loud, and gulps on whatever he gets in his mouth in an attempt to get food out. Therefore, the doctors think he is ready to go to as needed feedings. Another step in the right direction.

Loki's blood work looks good and so does his urine output. Although the plan is to take the penrose drain out before he goes home, it may stay in if there is still more drainage than they like (how much exactly that is I do not know). Overall he is having some nice pee drained diapers exactly where it is supposed to be! Today Loki will have another eye exam to check the status of his ROP, so fingers crossed for that one. On Friday he will have another head ultrasound to have a final look at his germinal matrix bleed. No surprises are really expected in that department. Finally, he will have a renal ultrasound on Tuesday morning, and if this looks good to the doctors, he will indeed come home that day!!!! A little scared to be too excited, but very hopeful, and incredibly scared, that next week will be our lucky week.......

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow--amazing! Exciting! And of course you are nervous. I remember feeling completely inept and overwhelmed--and add all the medical concerns, and it is only natural to feel anxious despite the joy.

Don't underestimate how much more milk you will make, and how quickly it will let down, once you are home and nursing round the clock. Don't forget--the average nursing baby eats every two hours...for sometimes a half hour each time! Then they poop, need changing, burp, sleep, and then they are ready to nurse again!
So please rest. I am so very excited to meet your beautiful, strong, incredible little son.
Cheryl

Unknown said...

He is probably very excited about getting to taste for the first time. Milk via of a tube in the nose has not allowed him to taste. I am so excited he is doing well. Sounds like we will be busy with a lot of appointments! I am very glad they are keeping such a good eye on him. See ya soon....nana

Mascha said...

I hear you. But I am confident he will be a good sucker once he has the comfort of home and can nurse when he is hungry. Remember, it took Anna some weeks after discharge before she learned it, and she was an avid nurser for a looooong time. Don't get frustrated.

I am also anxiously awaiting the results of the last screenings, and do I dare to hope he will be home with you on Tuesday?

I'll be in Tahoe for the next 4 days. I will be really curious to read the blog upon my return. Have a good weekend.

Mascha

Sunita said...

hello mama! I am so happy to read that loki is taking to your breast and I hope he gets better and better at nursing. Great that you have support at UCSF with Lactation Consultants. You and Jesse are both such strong and wonderful parents, Loki is very lucky. You both inspire me and help me remember all my blessings with Claudia who is now 15 months. We are thinking of you and have been following all the challenges and are thinking about you. As we say in French, we are holding your thumbs.
Warmly,
Sunita (Emma's friend), Greg and Claudia

Anonymous said...

Wauw Kathalijn! wat een ontzettend spannend idee! Jullie kleine mannetje gewoon lekker bij jullie thuis. Daar leven jullie al zo lang naar toe. Met alle nare obstakels die er al geweest zijn is dit wel geweldig nieuws. Wij hopen hier met jullie mee dat alle uitslagen goed zullen zijn en sturen alvast zoveel mogelijk gezonde positieve "vibes" jullie kant op.

groetjes,
Cindy en Jeroen
knuffel met 2 armpjes van Sterre!

About Loki Sky

Loki Sky is a special little man. He was a very early micropreemie, weighing only 610 grams (1 lb, 5 oz) after 24 weeks, 3 days gestation, born to an American Father and a Dutch Mother in Berkeley, California on October 18, 2008.

On January 11, 2009, while still in the hospital NICU, his one kidney stopped working. It was repaired after three surgeries. After spending time in three hospitals in three cities, Loki came home on February 17. He struggled with eating, and then stopped in July, leading to 8 days in the hospital, a failure-to-thrive diagnosis, and a NG feeding tube. On October 10, a minor surgery installed a G feeding tube. Another procedure replaced it with a new one, and then again with a Mic-Key button in Jan. 2010.

In August 2010, he and his parents moved to the Netherlands.

Read about his first name.
Read & hear about his middle name.
See photos.
See videos.

Subscribe via email

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Loki's Holiday Gift Drive

Please consider donating to Loki's Holiday Gift Drive for the Alta Bates Summit Medical Center NICU. You can donate by Paypal or credit card here:





Click here for more information, including how to pay by check. For all posts on the Gift Drive, click here.

Blog Archive