One year ago today. Saturday 10th July 2010. I was 25 weeks and 3 days pregnant. With twins. David had invited his Dad round to help us start preparing the house for the arrival of our babies in 15 weeks … Continue reading
8.8.2010
William, for the first time, is doing better than his sister. He is needing less oxygen and is tolerating full feeds well. His long line is out and his last cannula was taken out this morning. He is still having caffeine and some sodium in his milk. He will have an hour off CPAP today hopefully, to give his nose a rest.
Esther is still struggling with her breathing. She is desaturating to quite low levels and doing it quite a lot! It is because she loses the seal on her CPAP by having her mouth open all the time. The nurse today was brilliant, trying different things to improve the situation. She tried different sized prongs and a mask. The mask combined with a dummy has stopped Esther desaturating. She is more relaxed, her heart rate is down and she is breathing easier.
William managed one hour off CPAP today. He seems very relaxed and enjoyed having stories read to him by his Aunty Julie. Hugh came to see the babies too today. I am glad that he got to see them before they fly back to Oz. I have really enjoyed having Julie here and will miss her very much.
Esther is still really struggling, even with her new mask. Her desat levels were down in the 50s. The nurse said that the best thing for her is to be left alone as she is obviously exhausted and needs to sleep to get better. She will not be having any cuddles today.
I decided that the best place for me was home so that both babies could have complete peace and rest to get stronger and grow.
Phoned the hospital at 5.30pm and 10.30pm. Both babies are doing well. Esther was having a better night than last night. She came off CPAP for her cares. William had an hour off and seemed to be doing really well.
I really missed being with the babies today. I sorted out their clothes, muslins and blankets, and made a start on the baby washing.
It was nice to have some time with Julie too. I really wish that she was here to stay.
6.8.2010
Not such a good morning this morning. William has been put on Pressure Assisted CPAP over night. This gives him a push of air 30 times a minute to help him breathe. He was struggling over night which is why this has been done.
Esther also seemed troubled this morning, with oxygen levels down in the 70s and 80s. It is just typical that the one day I plan to go out things feel like they are going wrong. Esther’s breathing was regulated by giving her a dummy to seal the CPAP and stop her losing all her oxygen through her gaping mouth! She sleeps like my Dad, mouth wide open!
William did not manage any time off CPAP last night as he was desaturating whilst still on it! They are going to try him off again today to see if last night was just a blip. This will happen after he has had a blood transfusion which is definitely happening today. It all sounds bad but the doctors are not too worried about him and continue to be pleased with Esther’s progress. She is continuing with the same regime. William is going up to 5mls of milk an hour today and will have his sodium in his milk.
Pictures of some of our first ever cuddles …
William had his cuddle time after Esther. I fell head over heels in love with him during this time. He was looking right at me and making the cutest facial expressions. All the nurses were cooing over him and saying how handsome he is. He is getting a bit chubby now compared to what he has been. He is going to be a beautiful baby boy. Continue reading
Wonderful news! Esther is out of humidity and in a dry cot with a temperature of 34 degrees. She now needs lots of blankets to keep her warm and is allowed out for cuddles but whist on her CPAP not off.
William struggled to do 2 hours off his CPAP today (early am) but will try again this afternoon. His cares are due at 1pm and Esther’s after the doctors. Esther’s milk is going up today to 4mls an hour. She is tolerating her milk well. William is staying on 1ml of milk 2 hourly as his stomach is still distended. He will be reviewed at 2pm and hopefully start 1ml hourly.
Just after the doctors we did Esther’s care. She had a very messy nappy, one of the more negative effects of breastfeeding. After the nappy we did milk and I expressed the most ever, almost 200mls.
When we came back Esther was allowed out for a cuddle. First I held her while David read her a story and took photos. Then we swapped. It was wonderful having her out and it was clear that she enjoyed it too.
While we were focused on Esther, William had his long line removed because his arm was red and puffy. The line had ’tissued’. They will put a new line in this afternoon but for now his fluids will go through a cannula in his hand.
While the doctors continued to work on William I read Esther her first fairy story while she was off the CPAP. We read ‘The Frog Princess’.
William cried and screamed a lot as the doctors worked on him. It was horrible and I had to fight back the tears. I love him so much and hate hearing him cry. Once all the horrible procedures are over William will have his humidity turned off and be like his sister. Both our babies are doing so well but Esther is just that bit stronger than William.
David left the hospital at 11.45am and is coming back at 6pm when William should be off his CPAP. Clare is coming just after 1pm. I am not sure that I will be able to do William’s lunchtime care as it is already 12.50 and the doctors are still all around him.
My scar is still really red and sore. One of the nurses commented on it and asked if I was on antibiotics. I am more welcoming to the idea of antibiotics now that I know I can continue to express milk.
This afternoon I hope to read William his first traditional story, Six Blind Men and an Elephant, if we have some quiet time.
I went to lunch with Clare and Rohan after doing William’s mouth and nappy. I came back to do milk at 2pm. Esther was still off CPAP and doing really well. William’s new line was in and they were waiting for an xray to confirm that it was in the right place. Poor William, another dose of radiation!
Esther is doing so well today, almost 4 hours off CPAP with no oxygen. What a little star! Her next care is due at 4pm when she will also go back on her CPAP.
William’s line now goes through his leg to his heart. Poor little creature! But the procedure is over, again, and he can begin to recover, again. My lovely little man! William was being given lots of medical care this afternoon and so I spent my time with Esther. I sang her songs and read her poems, and she had her eyes open the whole time! She seemed so peaceful but towards the end of her time her breathign looked more laboured, yet her desaturations were fine?!? The doctor came and I asked him about it but he said she was fine and he would expect her to have to work hard at the end of the session.
Both babies are now allowed a toy in their cot. I am going to bring their animal blankies in as soon as I have washed them. I have asked my parents to buy blankets and swaddle robes for each so hopefully they will.
The nurse showed me today how to tuck a baby into a cot, tight on one side and half of the bottom but loose on the other side so they can kick off the covers if they need to and don’t get stuck in the blankets.
The twins had head scans today. Both results were normal. More good news!
Today has been a good day. And Caleb, the little twin, is still here too.
I am looking forward to tomorrow too, morning in the hospital then a break in the afternoon to have lunch and go shopping with Michele. I am going to buy muslins and blankets that can be used as covers at the hospital. Also tonight I am going to wash their swaddling robes so that they can be used for cuddles. It feels so good to be allowed to start giving our babies things. I love them both so much and want to give them everything I can. My beautiful son and daughter. Our family.
We will not see William off his CPAP today as it is not due until 8.00 tonight. We finished the day by changing his nappy before going home.
William has a systolic murmur – a heart murmur. Our poor, dear little boy.
Both babies had cuddles with Mummy today and was just wonderful! Continue reading
A long day at the hospital today. Never sure where to sit, who to watch, which baby to be with … Continue reading
27.7.10 Today had a much more positive start even though David and I overslept by one hour. We arrived at the unit about 9am in time for the doctors’ rounds. Both Esther and William seem to be doing well. The blue … Continue reading