Aug
5

Update

From the Twin-Daddy:

Dad, Mom and Alexander (Aug. 2).

Dad, Mom and Alexander (Aug. 2).

Today I arrived to find a sad Mary who was frustrated because her pumping was only producing a pittance of colostrum (0.005 mL – 0.3 mL).  It isn’t uncommon for a C-section mom to have this trouble, and preemie moms are also playing catch up.  Medela’s site has a useful explanation of some of this:

LINK TO MEDELA SITE

After holding the boys skin-to-skin for a bit over an hour, Mary’s… um… output jumped up to 1.5 mL.

That’s an increase of 5 times what she was producing without the skin-to-skin contact!

I sometimes speculate that men are simplified tinker-toys compared to the strange and wondrous machines that are women’s bodies.  Skin-to-Skin is great for the mom and the babies, and as soon as one of my baby-chimps settles onto my chimp chest, he magically quits squawking and settles into chimp-style sleeping, muttering occasionally and making little faces as he dreams.

Dad, Mom and Dominic (Aug. 2).

Dad, Mom and Dominic (Aug. 2).

Both guys are doing well, and I asked the NICU nurse about the low oxygen levels and how normal this was.  She was happy to tell us that it wasn’t unusual even for healthy adults to drop like that, and the difference is that we are not continuously monitored.  When babies need to burp, poop, or toot, they may hold their breath for a bit while they work on it.  It’s hard for them to get everything figured out at once, and that’s what typically causes most of the episodes.  Whap them a few times gently on the back or bottom, and they will be right as rain.  When this happens a lot, that is a cause for more concern which is why they kept a close eye on Mr. Dom.  His oxygen level has been lowered back to room air, and he seems to be doing fine.

Mr. Dom also showed he can be a good eater as well, and he sucked down 45 mL in a single feeding.  Both boys are now off the IV, and while having lost weight after delivery (as expected), they are slowly putting it back on.  They still take some food through bottles and some food through feeding tubes so they can rest.

Mom will be going home today, and we hope the boys will follow sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Posted by Mary Twins Subscribe to RSS feed

11 Responses to “Update”

  1. Mom C
    August 5th, 2010 at 1:50 pm

    Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

  2. Rob
    August 5th, 2010 at 2:22 pm

    I really like that second picture. A big smile from mummy.

  3. Cindy
    August 5th, 2010 at 3:37 pm

    That’s really interesting, the web site says that even a picture of the baby can help milk production. :-) I guess it’s really all about hearing, seeing, touching, and smelling. :-) My family who never end up breast feeding, and so are trying to get the milk to dry up, complain bitterly that the sound of a crying child will make breast milk start up.

    So glad that the hospital staff was reassuring. They stick oxygen sensors on pretty much everyone that I’ve visited in a hospital for the last ten years. And indeed, no one stays “normal” all the time. Well, and they stick oxygen nose thingies on pretty much everyone. But then– oxygen makes one feel better, so though it’s annoying, I’m sure that Dom is liking it. :-)

    The second pic is really a nice smile from Mary.

    Is the hospital far from your house? Will it be easy to go over several times a day?

  4. Trish & Victoria
    August 5th, 2010 at 3:43 pm

    Yea!! Good job, Mary! Give the boys kisses from me. :)

  5. Lucinda
    August 5th, 2010 at 4:36 pm

    My thoughts and prayers are with you all! I hope that the boys will be home soon. I remember having to leave Amelia at the hospital – it was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. I pray that Mary’s milk comes in because I know she wants this so. My milk never came with 8 weeks early, but I help her every single time I fed her and still bonded. It all works out the way that God planned.

  6. Linda
    August 5th, 2010 at 7:18 pm

    Welcome home, Mary! I know what Cindy means about the milk coming when you hear a baby cry. Maybe taping the boys crying when they are hungry and listening to it while you pump?? Seriously.
    And rest up while you still have free nights! The boys will be home before you know it!

    Hugs,
    Linda

  7. cat
    August 5th, 2010 at 9:09 pm

    hi all!!!
    congrats on the babies making their earth appearance!! you are doing great mary and puck!!! I had the same problems with blood pressure. i think i had to stay 5days after delivery. and the boys look so healthy. keep on kanga’roo’ ing with the boys. I did it with MC!
    MC is very excited about 2 more boys. she says now eric will have someone to play with!!! i will have a dvd soon of mc drama camp performance.
    enjoy those babies!!!
    love cat

  8. Steve Hick
    August 6th, 2010 at 4:57 am

    Chimp chest – we need a short film narrated by Rich Attenborough…..

    Yes, despite their size, these guys are premies, so it will take them a little longer to sort things out.

    Steve

  9. Chus y Chus
    August 6th, 2010 at 8:51 am

    Nos alegramos mucho que todo vaya bien, que tanto los papas como los niños están haciendo bien su trabajo.
    Os deseamos una pronta mejoría para estar en casa tranquilos con Alex y Dominic, esas preciosidades que nos apetecería poder abrazar.
    Muchos besos a todos.
    PD. Dice Chus: paciencia, tranquilidad y sonrisas, con eso teneis el camino mas facil

  10. chris
    August 6th, 2010 at 9:11 am

    Great job under trying circumstances. We’re learning from your experience. As a future dad and as a doc, I’ve learned from your experience. Thanks for sharing!

  11. Mary
    August 14th, 2010 at 3:27 am

    Thanks and hugs to everyone!

    @Cindy: The hospital is about 20 minutes from our house. I’ve been spending somewhere around 8 hours a day there. Fortunately, their cafeteria food is pretty good. I usually come home in the late afternoon to eat and catch a cat nap before the second trip in the evening with Puck after he gets off work.

    Gracias, Chus y Chus! Besitos a todos!

    @Cat: We’re looking forward to seeing MC’s performance! She’s such a lovely little girl with a gorgeous smile.

    @Lucinda: Thanks for sharing from your experience. It’s true that for a mom with a baby in the NICU milk production can be a very trying and difficult path. Plus, many parents have children there for a month or more and often live far from the highly-specialized NICU. All of these factors can add extra stress and also make it difficult to see the children often – especially if one’s employer is not supportive. I know that there are resources available to help some of these families, and I would bet the social workers at the hospitals can direct families to this help.