NICU - Week 1

September 4 - 10, 2007



This week held a lot of "firsts" for both mommy and daddy. They both got to change his diaper, do cord care, feed him via tube or bottle, and burp him. Tyler eats every three hours. They increase his feeds 1 cc each feeding. He is eating well over an ounce now. When not eating, he is usually sleeping under the UV lights to help his bilirubin level come down. It's been fluctuating daily, same with his weight.

Mommy boarded at the hospital until Saturday and visited him in the nursery very often. Daddy was working but came to visit every morning and evening.

Tuesday - Tyler was born.

Wednesday - Tyler is being kept in an incubator in the NICU to keep warm and be monitored. He has an IV and vitamin drip and an external feeding tube along with sensors for his heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen level. Mommy stopped by to visit, although didn't get to hold him today. Mommy did have a lot of visitors today. :)

Tyler was given a bottle for the first time on Thursday. Mommy got it all on video. Mommy and daddy both got to hold Tyler while getting his gavage (tube) feeding.

Friday - Breast milk slowly started to come in. Very very exciting times! Mommy changed his diaper for the first time.

Saturday - Mommy discharged from the hospital. Mommy and daddy both got to try bottle feeding for the first time. Daddy changed his diaper for the first time.

Tyler had his first attempt at breastfeeding on Monday. It is a lot harder than I anticipated. They have also added some calorie supplements to the breast milk to help him gain weight.