Week Nine - Nursing Begins

Day 57 - Saturday April 4, 1998

Mom held down all duties today.  Summer is in fine shape starting to inch once by once into the 3 lbs range. Mom is going in and constantly spending most of the day in the NICU. The nurses let her do just about everything now.  She holds her, changes her diaper, takes her temperature, helps feed her, and cleans her up.   Dad calls from Florida to check on Summer’s condition.  All clear.

Day 58 - Saturday April 4, 1998

Dad is still in Florida at the family renunion.  The family is happy to talk with Dad and see all the pictures. They are glad everything is going well and talk of  Summer being there to join us at the next family reunion.

Dad checks in with Mom and Summer and everything is OK.  Summer has gain another ounce. She is officially 3 lbs 2 ozs.

Dad calls Mom to check on Summer and everything is A OK.  Dad Flys home gets in the car and drive to the NICU to meet Mom.  They visit with Summer and then fo to Church to see a performance by the Internationally acclaimed Christian Rock Group GLAD.  It was a wonderful performance.  Mom and Dad then go to Generous Georges for Pizza and Cap off the night by visiting Summer again.

Day 59 - Monday April 5, 1998

Summer is off of the temperature control unit.  She seems to be maintaining and controlling her body temperature.  This is a big step towards beginning to prepare for coming home.  There is no longer a reason for her to remain in the isolete.  She will be in an open crib soon.  The Docs just want her to gain a little more weight.  Mom continues to visit for long periods of time.  Within days she is told nursing will begin.  First they will start with physical therapy to make her suck, swallow, breath mechinism is in working order.  They try getting her to suck on a  rubber nipple - and she responds well.  Other physical therapy exercises include bringing her hands to her mouth so she can suck on them and rubbing her hands and feet together so she can

get the feel of moving them around.  So far she is responding well to every exercise.

Day 60 - Tuesday April 5, 1998

Lisa is getting excited - Breast feeding looms real.  They are checking her breast milk to make sure the incident of normal bacteria is low enough for Summer.  If it is they can begin  immediately.  Summer is progressing well in her weight - today she is up to 3 lbs 8 ozs.  That’s 3 ½ lbs.   Her length and head circumference are also growing accordingly.  Summer still remains in the 10th percentile for her size but she has grown proportionally since birth - and is steadily tracking along the growth nominal growth curve charts - just under the 50 percentile.

Day 61 - Wednesday April 5, 1998

Cultures are back.  Lisa’s breast milk is USDA Approved Grade A.  Nursing begins immediately and they can transition to a full diet of the liquid gold.  Summer will only being nursing to strengthen herself and to get used to it.  One 10 minute session a day.  They rest she will be given or take from a bottle.  They immediately have to change nipples from premie to new born because Summer’s suck is so strong.  Lisa is extremely happy and reports that the breast feeding experience is like nothing else she has ever done in her life.

Day 62 - Thursday April 5, 1998

Mom begins two a day nursing sessions the Docs think things are going so well she might as well try two 10 minute sessions a day.  Lisa  is very proud and extremely excited about being able to give Summer so much.  Summer is also transition to taking only breast milk. Mom is thankful that she has been pumping every three hours for the past nine weeks.  Her milk supply seems to grow only stronger and now Summer is ready to receive it.  Summer will be able to nurse for a little bit each day but will still be given breast milk through the gavage tube or bottle to insure she has taken in enough nutrition.  As she grows they might even augment the mother’s milk with a rice mix give it an extra boost.  Dad heads  to say hi to his fat little baby girl who is now 3 lbs 10 ounces.

Day 63 - Friday April 5, 1998

Mom spends a lot of time in the NICU.  She is nursing Summer two times a day.  Dad has  not been there for the nursing yet so mom schedules her next nursing for 8:30pm.  Mom and Dad  both go to the NICU at 8:00.  Dad watches as Mom changes Summer’s diaper and takes her  temperature.  Summer has some reflux in her gavage tube but we are told this is normal reflux  activity.  If she is getting sick from the breat milk she would vomit and vomiting is a lot more violent than excreting milk back up the gavage tube.  So her feedings of breast milk are going well.

Mom prepares for nursing by pumping to get the flow started so Summer will have an easier time of things. Dad watches as the nursing begins.  Summer immediately begins to root and instinctively know what to do. The current plan is to nurse two times a day but only for a fewminutes.  It is still very taxing for Summer so we have to bring her along slowly.  Dad shot a lot of video and was glad to be a part of the experience. Bugger off Cat Stevens, I got pictures!

We also discovered today that the burn on Summer’s left foot has left some considerable scar tissue.  This tissue is starting to retract.  It will be important for the physical therapist to exercisethe skin in this region and apply lotions - such as Vitamin E. To loosen up the scar tissue andhelp it to heal.  As Summer improves we are beginning to see little indicators, remnants, of the tramatic ordeal she has been through.  These she will carry with her for entire life as little reminders.  We are sure more will surface but are blessed to have her with us.