The twins are getting more mail than me at the moment! Today I have for them a postcard from Rew, a letter from Francoise and a postcard and a letter from their Aunty Julie. It has got me thinking that maybe I should write them a letter too, about how I got to be their Mummy. I will do this over the next few days in hospital. Continue reading
4.9.2010 Today we arrived just before 9am to find that we are no longer the only twins! We have been joined by 33 week old, yet to be named, girls who have just been born. We also have a new nurse … Continue reading
I love Esther and William. I cannot bear being parted from them. I just want to take them home and keep them safe forever. Just as a Mummy should! Continue reading
Esther has been high saturating in air (actual air!) for much of the morning. She has no prongs in her nose and is not attached to the wall!
….She has done almost 5 hours unplugged now! Continue reading
01.09.2010 33 weeks today! Arrived at 8.20am as Jane was leaving her night shift for two weeks holiday. She left us a little present, both babies are now on 3 hourly feeds! They seem to be tolerating them well and … Continue reading
I felt my first bit of baby envy today and it was with David because he was getting the first cuddles of the day with Esther. It was a horrible feeling but I just couldn’t stop it. It was awful and has further proven to me the need for our two weeks home alone where we can cuddle them as much as we want before beginning to share them with others. I can’t wait for that time. Still a way to go yet! Continue reading
29.8.2010 David and I came to the hospital at 2pm after spending the morning sorting out the nursery and our new bedroom. Our house actually now looks worse than ever but we definitely are making progress. Both babies have stayed … Continue reading
Day 36, 32+3, 5 weeks old today! Continue reading
Today had an exciting start as Jane wheeled in the twin cot! William is making his move today and Esther should follow in a couple of days. Luckily I have started washing the bedding already! Continue reading
26th August 2010
Today I woke up at 6.30am to do milk and then phoned the hospital to see how Esther and William were doing. William had a blood transfusion over night as his Haemoglobin had been really low. He managed all his time off CPAP and was only on from 12am – 6am. Well done William! He gained 55 grams overnight so now weighs 1745g which is 3lbs 8ozs. He is still feeding every 2 hours and is up to 26mls for each feed because of his new weight.
Esther gained weight too and is now 3lbs 3ozs or 1475g. She is tolerating her 2 hourly feeds and is up to 22mls per feed in accordance with her weight. She did 7 and a half hours off CPAP and had a good gas.
Today David and I stayed home until 2pm to sort out the house. I was reassured through my phone call that this would be okay and confident that the babies would be fine as Louise was caring for them. Got quite a bit done at home but still have much to do over the coming days.
At 2pm we arrived at the hospital to catch up with our babies through Louise. They have both had a good morning on their Lo Flo oxygen. William was in air for much of the time and Esther was fluctuating between 0.05 and 0.12. They both need a whiff more oxygen when they are being handled. Esther was working hard on her breathing so Louise thought she might not make her 8 hours today. What we don’t want is for her to work so hard that she uses too much energy and does not gain weight.
The best part of today was William having his first go at breastfeeding! I was a bit shocked when Louise first suggested it and I felt terrified. Absolutley panic stricken that I would not know what to do. I became self conscious and worried. Nervous. I asked for a screen to shield me from other people in the room in case I did it wrong!
But … I got William out and put him to the breast and it just felt like the most natural but magical thing in the world. Not that he really did very much. It was the way he looked at me and the warm feeling of his breath on my chest more than anything that made my heart miss a beat with love and adoration for this tiny perfect baby boy that is mine! He did lick around the nipple and had a bit of a nibble and suck but nothing much at all before falling asleep. And I just held him and watched him sleep and it was perfect and I was filled with love for him. Our beautiful baby boy! Such a clever little thing. A clever, sleepy thing!
I can’t wait to get back to the hospital tomorrow and try the feeding again!
http://www.preemie-l.org/bfaq.html
http://www.bliss.org.uk/page.asp?section=580§ionTitle=Breastfeeding+your+premature+baby