10 Days in the NICU

The last month has been a roller coaster of emotions. After being hospitalized twice in September, the babies miraculously made it to 34 weeks gestational age. The Maternal Fetal Medicine specialists decided the risks of me staying pregnant exceeded the risks of the babying being born early by planned cesarean. At 34 weeks, our babies David and Jonathan were born at 3lb 14oz and 5lb 2oz, respectively. This, however, was the easy part. The following days were spent being wheel-chaired to the NICU, watching my babies struggle to breath and keep their heart rates up, listening to babies cry in the rooms around me while mine were silent floors away from me, and eventually leaving the hospital and leaving my babies behind.

The boys have now been in the NICU 10 days. David, who struggled, in utero, is thriving. He is eating well, breathing well, and will likely be released in the next day or so. He is still under 4lbs and struggles with the hypotonia (low muscle tone) associated with Down Syndrome, but his health is good. Jonathan, however, is still being tube fed and has had periodic bradycardic (low heart rate) episodes. He came off supplemental air (CPAP) a few days ago and has been doing well on room air. It is uncertain how long he will remain in the NICU, but he will have to master bottle feeding and maintaining his heart rate.

NICU Daily Schedule

4:00 First breast milk pumping, back to bed

6:15 Get up, pack up milk, pumping supplies, pain meds, etc.

7:00 Depart for hospital. Robert drops me off on his way into work.

8:00 Greet babies, get overnight update from the nurse, organize milk by pumping time, second breast milk pumping

8:30 Baby David care time: change diaper, take temperature, mouth care, attempt to nurse, bottle feed fortified breast milk

9:00 Baby Jonathan care time: change diaper, take temperature, mouth care, try to bottle feed, and hold while he finishes eating by being tube fed.

10:00 Meet with OT, PT, geneticist, social worker, service facilitator, and/or NICU attending doctor

11:00 Third breast milk pumping

11:30 Repeat care time cycle again, and again, and again until I can find someone to drive me home to care for the other 5 children, while still pumping milk every 3 hours.

Our next hurdle is transitioning to home life. David will likely come home first, so somehow we will have to juggle caring for him while continuing trips to the NICU to care for Jonathan (and those other 5 kids). I don't even know how it's going to come together, but we have faith it will.

Keep us in your prayers. We've encountered wonderful people, especially the NICU nurses who have been there for our boys when we haven't been able to be there. Robert's parents have been invaluable. I don't know what we would have done without them caring for our precious brood. Robert's brother and sister-in-law, for their care and provision for our daughters. Our many friends, who have kept our prayer warriors busy with updates and helped transport me back and forth to the hospital. And the scores of people, who have signed up to feed us in the next month, transport us, and watch our children. We are truly blessed and humbled by the love we have been shown through this tumultuous time.