A Little Better - May 7th, 2016

I got some sleep last night after the nurse told me to go home and have a glass of wine. I did just that. I came to the hospital nice and refreshed this morning.
I came for your care at 8:30. I started changing your diaper again since your poor butt isn't so red and/or bleeding. After that I had a hair appointment that mom-mom got me for mothers day. I tried SO hard to make it back for your 11:30 care, and I called on the way to the hospital to see if your nurse would wait. She did.
When I got back she told me that you had two episodes while I was gone. Since I wasn't able to do your non-nutritive sucking (NNS), I did your paci-dips. You had an episode while I was doing that and the nurse said that sometimes babies just keep sucking and forget to breathe. I stopped the paci-dips just incase. I continued to hold you for a while until mom-mom came and brought me some lunch. I would forget to eat if people weren't asking me what I wanted all the time.
For your 2:30 care, we did some NNS, and you did great. You latched right on (however - a shallow latch) and did well for a little bit. Then I held you until about 30 minutes before I had to start the process over again.
At your 5:30 care, we again did NNS and you did well again. The nurse was happy that you were calming down and you weren't having any episodes.
The developmental specialist came in while I was pumping and asked me how everything was going and to tell her about how you took 43 ml from me. I told her how I thought you needed a blood transfusion and how I think you would be doing much better with your feeds if you had one. She said that she doesn't think that you getting pale and having all of the episodes are related to you breastfeeding at all and I would have to agree with her. At first I was nervous that that was the case, but looking back, you are still getting pale and having episodes, so I just think a blood transfusion is needed. Since they won't give you one because they want you to make your own blood (which I understand), I think your feedings will suffer a bit. I guess we will see on Monday when we have a speech appointment and your blood work.
You now weigh 5 lbs, 4 oz. By the time you get out of the NICU, you are going to be like 8 lbs! It's crazy! Keep growing buddy!!
Mommy will be there in the morning and daddy will come at some point. We love you and hope you have a great night. We will be there to cuddle you all day!