Tuesday, February 10, 2009

UCSF, milk, and the light at the end of the tunnel

Just a few quick details:

The doctors and staff at UCSF will do what they can to help Loki stay there during the remainder of his hospitalization.

As you know, Mom has been struggling to get Loki to breast feed. In the last couple days, Loki was offered a bottle, and he did very well. In fact, he took his entire 60 mL feeding this way, with just an occasional desat. This is a mixed blessing. One requirement for him to come home is that he must get all his food by bottle and/or breast. Furthermore, he may get better at breast feeding by practicing on the bottle. On the other hand, the opposite could be true. The bottle is easier, and he may develop "bottle preference," causing him to be unable or reluctant to breast feed.

There was loose talk at the hospital that, if all goes right, Loki could come home next week. I can't imagine what that will be like.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Waauw, ain't that good news that Loki migh be coming home soon! And we suppose that means that all his kidney problems are under control, is that right?
Love to Loki, mom and dad.
Heleen & Frits

Unknown said...

What a great news!!!!

Loki is able to drink from the bottle.. I know Lijn that you have mix feeling about this, but overall this is great.

As soon as he gets better at sucking, swallowing and breathing it will be much easier for him to breast feed, so no worries you are an awesome mom.

Love Gracy

Dad said...

Well, it is still a bit early to say that all of Loki's kidney problems are under control. But he continues to recover. I think what is new is that the doctors and staff see that, once he has recovered from the surgery, he will be almost ready to come home.

Anonymous said...

Very good news that things continue to go in the right direction. Hooray! As for the bottle issue, my grandson, born six weeks early, refused to latch on and/or would give up easily so he got a bottle to backup every nursing session. I was very worried he would give up on nursing, but it actually worked to get him more interested...and after about a month, he transitioned to breast only.

Still, no matter what, Loki is getting his Mama's milk, and he clearly shows us all that he knows his mama's smell, touch and voice and is soothed and comforted by it. THAT is what matters--Brianna sadly never got to nurse--but I always fed her against my bare skin and near my heart, and even today, she likes to cuddle up just like my nursing babies did. So don't give up, you will all be more relaxed (relative to the hospital!) at home, and getting the whole sucking, breathing, swallowing piece under control is important...and then,my friend Lijn, PLEASE be patiemt with yourself. You are such a wonderful Mommy, Loki is absolutely blessed to have you, with or without the breasties!Thank you both for keeping this posting up to date for all of us who wonder every day how things are going for your sweet little son.
Cheryl

Anonymous said...

this is music to my ears! what a difference a day or two makes. he probably just prefers the bottle now b/c he's pooped from all this. once he feels stronger, he'll go back to the breast. i hope that loki can come home soon, and i am happy to hear that you and lijn can be w/ him again. good vibes to you all. xoxo. courtney

berkeleygal77 said...

Is it breast vs bottle, or is a lactation aid a possibility? regardless you guys are doing such an amazing job in helping Loki get strong and healthy, and I am so happy he is healing well.

Mascha said...

This is overall such good news that I almost can't believe he might be coming home soon. Now, that will be an entirely new challenge in itself to get situated and try to be a 'normal' family with practically a newborn - only with some 4 months of history.

I understand it is hard to let him get the bottle, but the bottom line is he needs to get stronger and he needs to learn to nipple feed (either one) without desats before he can go home. This is the focus for now, and once he has it down and is home, I am sure he will love the comfort of mommy's boobs again - propped against you in your own bed - imagine that.

Counting the days, and hoping for no more obstacles.

Much love,
Mascha

Anonymous said...

Hiep,hiep,hoera!
That means a worldwide party when Loki comes home!
Hope he will keep on recovering and then.......party time!!
Dear Mom and Dad and all the doctors and nurses and Loki himself for the big part,when all the signs are green(in Dutch: als alle seinen op groen staan)all of you saved a life.
I will keep on chanting!!
Kus van Karin(Amsterdam0

marieke said...

This is great news on this beaytifull sunny morning! He had his milk by bottle! And all of it, unbelievable. I can understand the mix of feelings because of the breastfeeding. At the other hand, if he drinks well, he can come home! I imagine Loki drinking from the breast because I think he'll learn. (What's better then mommies boobies?) And mom, you are such a great mother. Your freezers are filled up with milk because of your enormous dedication.
Dad, hope you can still mix your "Loki life" and your life with work. Sometimes your head must make jumps to get into one of both lifes I think. (Again a very clear englisch sentence?)
Big hug and see you all (!) in a month. XX

Anonymous said...

Wow, that's big news, that they are talking about letting Loki go home. I hope he keeps going forward in his recovery, so that next week we indeed will celebrate a party. I must also be strange to take him home, because you are so used to the hospital environment. So take you time and rest when you come home, so you can let the 'pink cloud' (roze wolk?) come over you.
Hooray that Loki drank his entire bottle. To bad that he drank the bottle. But he will learn, the lactation nurse can help you in this emotional battle. I know this is a very difficult period. Before, Loki was to weak to breastfeed. That's a clear situation for you, you need to pump. Now he's getting stronger, but not strong enough to drink enough. But now you know how it feels to breastfeed him and you want to have that special moments with him. Don't blame yourself for all the feelings you have, that very normal. Talk about it with people that helps. (Loki is better at the breastfeeding part than Flo ever was, so keep on to the positive flow.)
Mom, you are great! You are so determined and so dedicated, petje af!!
Dikke kus, Maaike

Suzan said...

Unbelievable! That would be so nice! It is hard to imagine Loki home, we're so used to a Loki living in the hospital! Now let's wish he will realize how much better it is to drink milk from your mother directly...

Much love and many good wishes to you all!
Suzanna

Anonymous said...

Geweldig, wat een feest, naar huis,dan maar met de fles, de borst komt vast wel weer als hij thuis is.
lieve groet van Greet

Anonymous said...

Hoi,

Ik ben een vriendin van Marieke en volg jullie via de weblog en leef erg met jullie mee.
De borstvoeding komt straks echt goed!! Mijn kinderen, beide " te laat" geboren en flink in gewicht, dronken eerst niet van de borst. Na te zijn gestart met de fles ( met gekolfde melk) na 3 weken weer eens aangelegd: en niks tepel/speenverwarring, ging prima. Je merkt het al aan Loki: babies kunnnen al ontzettend veel leren! Hij moet op krachten komen en dan is hij klaar voor het volgende leerproces. Hou vol! Jullie doen het super, zoveel toewijding; Dat weet/voelt Loki donders goed.
Hopelijk hebben jullie hier wat aan

Marielle ( moeder van Senna en Symen- van de tekeningen)

Anonymous said...

Yeah!!!! I am so happy to hear that Loki may soon be home in your arms, all snuggly and happy. I will keep my fingers crossed that the coming days go smoothly and that the transition home happens soon. Much love, Pia

Sarah Marcus said...

WOW!! What great news. Nice work Loki!

BUCK! said...

HOERA!

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.
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