Morgan Kate

When I walked in Morgan Kate's room today I was pleasantly surprised and shocked to see that her oxygen was at 28%. Wow! She was able to stay between 28% and 31% for most of the day. They only had to turn her up during diaper changes and when sticking her feeding tube back in after bottle feeds. I pray that this continues. I sure hope it's a sign that her lungs are improving.

Morgan Kate took a bottle at 9am and then again at 3pm - her two bottles for the day. She did well with both and only left about 5ccs at the 3pm feed. I have found that she seems to do better when she is wide awake, and I mean wide awake, and she also seems to like the formula better than breast milk. FYI - Breast milk has approximately 20 calories and Morgan Kate needs more calories in order to help her grow. Therefore, they add a human fortifier, as well as an oil to the milk to increase the calories to 27. I don't think Morgan Kate is a big fan of the fortifier or the oil. Now, I could be completely wrong about this -  it's simply an observation I have made in the past few days.  

Tonight Morgan Kate weighed in at five pounds and fourteen ounces. Since last night she has gained two ounces. Now, typically I would assume that she must have some fluid. However, right before she was weighed she had a really, really wet diaper. So, my hope is that her weight is accurate and not because of fluid. Again, I am just a mom making guesses based on my observations. 

She will have a head ultrasound sometime tonight. When we left at 10pm they still had not come by. We should have the results in the morning.

Many of you have asked whether or not Morgan Kate needed to see a pediatric pulmonologist (aka children's lung doctor). She has been scheduled to receive a consult sometime this week. The pulmonologist will take a look at her charts, records, x-rays and so forth. From all of that information he will make a recommendation on a course of treatment which will most likely be some sort of inhaled steroid. We are very fortunate to have wonderful neonatologists who have been excellently trained and who have tried numerous medications and treatments with Morgan Kate. They have treated Morgan Kate with many of the same things a pulmonologist would recommend. Therefore, we are not expecting any earth shattering news or miracle drugs. We must all remember that Morgan Kate has chronic lung disease and her healing time will most likely take a good bit of time. It will be a good opportunity for the pulmonologist to see her, get to know her history, and possibly recommend some type of inhaled steroid. This is the same pulmonologist she will see once she is released from the NICU. 

We were able to talk at length tonight with Dr. Ed. She was wonderful, very patient and really helped put my mind at ease. It is not uncommon to see babies at this age (38 weeks gestation) still requiring this amount of oxygen. Would we like to see her requiring less? Of course. Would we like for her to be off of oxygen completely? Yes. However, Morgan Kate has chronic lung disease and this is not something she will outgrow overnight. She still needs oxygen and WILL need oxygen once she gets home. She may only need it for a few weeks or a few months. Right now the plan is to keep Morgan Kate at two bottle feeds a day. Bottle feeding is tough work for her and requires a lot of energy. It tires her out and when she is finished she typically requires a little more oxygen. Instead of trying to increase her bottle feeds, they are going to work on getting her lungs in better shape. They will continue with the diuretic and possibly an inhaled steroid, they will also monitor her oxygen and begin to slowly wean the flow down, as long as her body will allow it. Once she is well under a liter of flow they will talk about releasing her. She will come home on oxygen and at this point she may even come home on tube feedings. It is important that she stay healthy, and that she stays away from smoke and from other infants/children. This will help with her recovery time. 

At times it is very difficult, but Travis and I have to remember that she is doing things she is not even supposed to be doing yet. Travis and I both love her dearly, more than we could have ever imagined and have her very best interest at heart. We are doing the best we know how to do with the situation we have been given. Overall, for a 26 weeker we think she has done phenomenally and we thank God everyday for this blessing!