Morgan Kate

Lesson on oxygen:

CPAP 

Morgan Kate started life on the CPAP - continuous positive airway pressure. She stayed on the CPAP for just a day and then required nothing at all. The CPAP delivered a blend of oxygen and medical air, as well as pressure to keep the lungs open. The CPAP was measured by pressure - +4, +5, etc. Since the first day, she has been back on the CPAP twice. (Remember, I used to say Morgan Kate is on 40% oxygen at +5.)

High Flow Cannula

After a day of nothing at all, Morgan Kate needed a little assistance so she was put on the high flow cannula. It puts a small amount of pressure on the lungs as well. The high flow is also a blend of oxygen and medical air and is measured in liters. She started at seven liters and most recently was on four liters. At one time she got down to two liters, but then needed more. (Remember, I would say Morgan Kate is at 36% oxygen.)

Low Flow Cannula

The low flow cannula or regular cannula is where we have dreamed to be. It's the cannula Morgan Kate can come home with. It is straight oxygen (no blend) and does not put any pressure on the lungs. It is measured in liters and ccs. They like for babies to be well under a liter before going home - most of the time they prefer babies to be around 25-50ccs. Today when I arrived Morgan Kate was on the low flow cannula. Oh my goodness! Shocker! Dr. C decided that they would give it a try. If she does/did great then they will/would leave her on it and start to wean her down. If she didn't/doesn't do well then they would or will put her back on the high flow cannula. She has done beautifully all day today! She is on a 1/8th of a liter - very small amount. The next step down is cc's. Her oxygen saturations have been great and she has only had a few drops. She has seemed much more relaxed and is breathing at a nice rate. It's just something they are trying. Sometimes the high flow of the other cannula can bother babies so much that they actually require more flow/oxygen. Anyway, this is something they are trying. If it works...YAHOO...if it doesn't work and we have to go back to high flow we are okay too...at least we know this is possible. We are just so thankful that Dr. C was willing to try it out. 

UPDATE

Morgan Kate took one bottle today at 6pm. She was really sleepy and just not interested in the bottle. Sometimes I think we should wait until she is really, really hungry and maybe she would be more interested. Anyway, we tried for a while and then one of our awesome nurses came in and tried and was able to get Morgan Kate to take a little more. In the end she finished 30 of the 45 ccs. 

Tonight she weighed in at six pounds and three ounces. Big girl!

Also, can I just say that we have the best nurses, doctors and respiratory therapists around. I know I have said it before, but I truly mean it! Tonight these awesome people did such a nice thing. A NICU graduate and mom came by to see all of the staff today. This NICU graduate also required oxygen for a length of time and went home on oxygen. When the graduate came back today he was no longer on oxygen and everyone said he looked great. (Trav and I missed this because we were at the vet with Lola and Cash.) Dr. C asked the mom if he could pass her name and number on to me so that I could talk with a mom that had been through something similar. We could talk about the NICU, premature babies or the fact that our babies required oxygen for a length of time and needed it once being discharged. I am super excited about calling her and talking with her. Just being able to talk to someone who just experienced this at the same place will be great. I am just so, so thankful that our doctors and nurses thought of us and were sure to get this mom's information. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!