Day 7 of Life - June 25th

Sha has reached 26+6 weeks gestational age and is doing very well. The docs have started him on Indomethacin, which will hopefully close his PDA. This dosage will take 48 hours to administer. If it doesn't successfully close the PDA, then they will try a second dose. Basically, although the surgery for this is very successful, they will try to avoid it.

His oxygen requirements are still up, but this is not surprising considering the PDA. Dr. dS believes that his current pulmonary hemorrhage correlates with the PDA and is not concerned about Sha developing a brain bleed (IVH). However, they still plan to do a head ultrasound on Monday, just to rule it out.

At this time, they have stopped giving Sha breastmilk. Indomethacin restricts all of the blood vessels in his body, not just the ones around his PDA, so to avoid putting unnecessary pressure on his systems, they have decided to stop the breastmilk at this time. He has been handling the feedings so far, so it will just be a matter of restarting them after his meds are complete.

Ma's blood pressure is finally down! Yippee! They found another med that is safe for her to take when pumping and started her on that yesterday afternoon. She is still taking the Labatelol, as well. She reports that her diastolic is down to 88 today! So, right now they are saying that they will discharge her tomorrow morning. She finally gets to break out of prison!!!

Pa is coming home tonight to sleep in his own bed and will be back at work tomorrow. He'll be happy to have some routine back!

Grandma Cush is going to stay at the hospital with Ma tonight and drive her home tomorrow. Lord Uncle B and I went to see the little one yesterday. Little Sha's head fit in the palm of Uncle B's hand. We also brought home Ma's vehicle, as it's been in the parking garage since last Friday. (Thank God we didn't have to pay for each day it was there!!!)