Hi all, need to pick your brains. My dear little grandson was born 1/26 at 5:17am. My daugter did not realize she was in labor d/t the fact it was so early. Anyhow little Daniel was born 1 hr and 17 minutes after my daughter arrived at the hospital. He is actually doing fairly well, not on o2, but is on an apnea monitor. He had been trying to eat from a bottle and was doing ok, but they told my daughter and son in law, he was using alot of energy trying to suck, so today they put an ng in. He has not had alot of episodes with heartrate, but has had a few of below 100. Today my daughter told me they are going to do a cat scan of his brain. I asked her if they felt their was a problem with his brain. She told me no, but that they did this as routine? to check for any hidden problems? Is this so? Of course my nurse imagination went into overdrive when she said this to me. She is in Illinois, I am in NY. He is in the NICU d/t being so early. Guess I just need some encouragement, just worried. So thank you ahead of time for your help. And maybe if you have time, could you say a little prayer for him too? Thanks
My husband's grandson was born at 33 weeks last April, weighing 5 lb. 3 oz. He spent less than 2 weeks in NICU with some tube feedings, a bili blanket when he became jaundiced, and then went home where he is doing great.
An important rule for all preemies is to conserve energy. If you are burning more calories than you are taking in, you will not gainweight and get bigger. Eating from a bottle takes lots of calories and coordinating that suck-swallow-breathe is a lot of work. By putting down a feeding tube, the baby will not have to work so hard and he will gain weight and get stronger. Gradually, they will start introducing bottles and he won't burn so many calories.
I wonder if your daughter meant a head ultrasound. Head U/S are routine in the NICU.
Hi all, Daniel passed the scan with flying colors:wink2:. The doctors told my daughter he just needs to gain weight. Today they told my daughter that tomorrow OT will be in to work with Daniel, on sucking from the bottle. I guess he needs a little help with this. Thanks again for helping a worried Grandma many miles away. God Bless you all.
Congratulations on your new grandbaby! Sounds like he's doing very well. NG/OG tubes are all normal for babies of this gestation, as everyone else has said. In my experience, it's not unusual to have clueless 35 or 36 weekers as far as suck/swallow/breath is concerned.
Chances are your little guy will be home in 2-3 weeks.
And for another thread: please be sure he stays home, and keep away visitors with runny noses and coughs. We are having a horrible RSV season this year, and have had several of our premies readmitted to peds. It's a cold to you or I, but can make the little ones very ill. We do lots of teaching, but some families don't listen!
He can get an immunization for RSV. He should get it every month until winter is over. Thanks for mentioning that, Mimi.
Yes, you're right. He should qualify for Synagis, and hopefully could get his first shot before going home. Our hospital also runs a Synagis Clinic through the winter months, and this time of year the premies are scheduled for the next shot before discharge.
We can put in a couple of hours at the Clinic, giving those shots. It's fun to see our little ones thriving, and nice to see the moms again.
Specializes in Newborn ICU, Trauma ICU, Burn ICU, Peds.
Synagis is a great new defense we now have against RSV and it's horrible complications. But Synagis is not a vaccine, it is a monoclonal antibody designed to neutralize RSV. Just remember, while it is great, it isn't 100% like most vaccines, and it is not a substitute for prudent parenting. You know, good handwashing, few visitors, no one visits who has a cold, limit taking the baby out.
God Bless you all.
Ado Annie, ASN, RN
1,384 Posts
Congratulations!
My husband's grandson was born at 33 weeks last April, weighing 5 lb. 3 oz. He spent less than 2 weeks in NICU with some tube feedings, a bili blanket when he became jaundiced, and then went home where he is doing great.