Feeding Time!

It was a big day today: Ingrid got her first taste of Mama's milk!

Her nurse suggested that we try to feed her through a nipple to see if she would suck and swallow instead of just sending the milk directly to her stomach via the OG tube. The first two tries she took in a little by mouth but most went in through the tube. By the third feeding today Ingrid was doing it on her own!

She gets 2 milliliters every 3 hours (5 mL is about a teaspoon) for the first day and we up it from there. If all goes well she will be getting about 50 mL per feeding up to 8 feedings a day by next week.

Otherwise it was another relaxing day. Mommy & Daddy took turns holding Ingrid all morning. She was awake and alert and happy.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there!

Ingrid wasn't quite ready for food today, but the doctors decided to replace her OG tube with a smaller one for the initial feedings that should start tomorrow.

At least we had some time with a wide awake and tubeless Ingrid this morning!

Not So Fast

Despite the fact that Ingrid pooped twice yesterday the bilious output through her OG tube was too much. So, we have to wait a little longer before we can feed Ingrid. (She's getting plenty of nutrition intravenously.)

Ingrid's blood tests continue to show an elevated white blood cell count which indicates that she's fighting some kind of infection but the doctors can't seem to find what it is or where it is. All of her cultures have been "no growth". She's on two different antibiotics that should cover anything that she is fighting. She also got an ultrasound to make sure there wasn't an abscess under her surgery incision - we haven't heard the report on that yet.

Ingrid seems happy enough. She is awake and alert for short periods of time and asleep for long periods of time. Mommy held a peaceful baby for several hours this morning

While we want Ingrid to get better quickly we realize that she has to go at her own pace. For now we just have to wait patiently. But at least we can kiss her and hold her!

No News Is Good News

We had another relatively relaxing day today. Mommy got to hold Ingrid for a long time this morning. As you can see it is quite a process transferring not only a baby but the sensor wires, the IV and the OG tube (the tube down her throat into her stomach).


Several doctors looked at Ingrid's surgery incision because it had been draining some fluid. They all agreed that it was nothing serious, but Ingrid is on plenty of antibiotics just in case.

The most exciting news we got today is that if all goes well today and tonight we can start feeding her mama's milk tomorrow!

After Mommy & Daddy did her dressing change Ingrid was wide awake for a little while. We made eyes at her and she made eyes at us.

Hopefully tomorrow we can post a picture of Ingrid without any tubes or tape on her face! (The tube going into her mouth is the OG tube that drains excess fluid from her stomach. Because she isn't eating anything (all nutrition IV) her digestive system isn't really moving much. Hardly anything came out today so she should be ready for real food tomorrow!)

Off the Vent, Take 2

What a wonderful surprise when Mommy & Daddy arrived at the hospital this morning, our nurse and a respiratory therapist were preparing to extubate Ingrid!

Ingrid spent the entire day with no respiratory support whatsoever!

And her nurse removed her catheter. Fewer and fewer tubes. Yay!!



We had an excellent day today. Mommy and Daddy got to hold Ingrid for several hours. It was nice to have some quality bonding time.

There really isn't much other news to report but that, of course, is the best news.



At 3pm Mommy & Daddy changed Ingrid's dressing and then we wrapped her up snugly. We have a cd player in the room now so we could play music from home (we'll wean her off the Flower channel as we continue to wean her off the morphine.)

There is nothing like the feeling of gazing at this peaceful baby and watching her blood oxygen level stay between 98% and 100% with no support; her heart rate remain 160-170 bpm; and her respiration rate a peaceful 50-60 breaths per minute.

The Flying Nun

The nurses decided to try some swaddling and low-stimulation for Ingrid. This is how she looked when we arrived this morning. The lights were low, her arms were swaddled, she had a hood to keep out the light and an earmuff to keep out the noise. Too cute! (Kate said she reminded her of the Flying Nun.)

Ingrid is progressing. She is still on the ventilator but the amount of oxygen has been reduced throughout the day so that she is almost back down to 21%. She is also being weaned off her morphine and she has tolerated that well.

Mostly Ingrid slept today except for two times. The first was when we gave her a little sponge bath. It made her hair soft and fuzzy.

The second was when Mommy & Daddy changed the dressing on her O. We are working well as a team and are getting more confident.

At these times we also help check Ingrid's blood pressure & temperature. We change her diaper and give her lungs a massage with an electric device not unlike an electric toothbrush.






















Ingrid's primary nurse, Tracie, has had fun decorating for Ingrid. She made the lovely sign for Ingrid's bed and helped hang some toys for Ingrid to look at.

Daddy left at about 4pm (after the dressing change) but I think I can safely say that today was a good day! Ingrid is getting better and we hope that she will be off the ventilator tomorrow.

Rest Position

Ingrid is back on the ventilator as of 8:30 pm last night. She just needs a rest from her labored and shallow breathing so she can continue to recover from her surgery. This morning the doctors said that she may have a touch of pneumonia even though all of her cultures came back negative.

While it's not easy to see your baby on a breathing machine we were able to make her more comfortable which made this day more bearable.

We used bead-filled "Freddie the Frogs" to support Ingrid's head and her O so she could spend some time on her back rather than her side.

Mommy and Daddy took turns holding her hand and singing to her. This afternoon we worked together to change the dressing on Ingrid's O and then we got her comfortable so she could groove to her favorite music - the "Flower" channel - on the hospital tv. (It is a bit like being stuck in an elevator, but she loves it!)

The plan is to keep Ingrid on the ventilator for a few more days so she has a chance to really get well from her surgery and any little infection she may have. So, more waiting.