Day 2 Update

Mommy and Daddy have gotten some time with the little man today. We both got to hold him and Daddy got to change a diaper again and take his temp. He has "care" scheduled at 8am, 11am, 2pm, and 5pm, and they are encouraging us to be there and help out so we can get comfortable. He is just sooo small and I am still recovering.

But he is one tough little guy. He has increased his feedings from 10cc to 30cc, so he is just making great progress. He also has not lost any weight unlike most newborns. He is doing so well that they are probably going to move him to the intermediate or stepdown nursery next week. This means he will be out of NICU, but not in the full term nursery.

The nurses in the NICU are fantastic. Our favorite so far is Jan. She is just amazing. She looks like a Grama and has 30 years of exeprience with the little ones.

We will keep you up on the latest...keep checking the blog.

Pictures...

Here are some pics of baby Gunner...


Daddy and Greyson checking out baby Gunner

Gunner and Daddy's Hand

Big Brother gives Little Brother a smooch

Here is my brave little warrior...kicking NICU butt

Baby Update!!!

Well, I am sitting watching some mindless tv, next thing you know, I'm having a baby. Yes, that is right, Gunner Martin Young has made his appearance. Here are the stats:

Born: 6/5/09 at 5:05pm

Weight: 4lb 0.6oz

Length: 17.5 in

He is doing fantastic. He breathed "room air" from moment one, had a little oxygen, but no longer needs it. He is being monitored for oxygen levels, temperature, and has an IV due to the fact that I was ruptured for so long, just to prevent infection. He does have a feeding tube, but it is because he is only 33 weeks, but they want to intro him to breastfeeding asap. He is already taking colostrum/milk, started that on day 2. He is a little champ, or warrior, hence the name Gunner, which means "bold warrior"...

I only have 2 pics, in which I look quite drugged, but really I am not, as the pain I was feeling would dictate...but then I got the drug pump. That was some good stuff.

Made it to 33 weeks...here's what's happening with Pumkin

Week Thirty Three: Lanugo is disappearing (this is not Pumkin, but another 33 week old)

• You are 33 weeks pregnant. (fetal age 31 weeks)
• The baby is now 4.4 pounds (2 kg) and around 17.5 inches (44cm) in length.
• The diameter of the head is about 8.5cm.
• The baby fuzz, lanugo, is disappearing.
• Your baby drinks about a pint of amniotic fluid a day
• You may gain a pound a week (500g) for the rest of your pregnancy.
• Half of your weight gain will go directly to your baby.

The baby is using it's lungs to practice breathing by inhaling amniotic fluid. Your baby is drinking about a pint of amniotic fluid a day now and urinating the same amount. The early baby fuzz, lanugo, is disappearing now and being replaced by actual hair. The nails of your baby are now long enough to reach to the tip of the fingers or beyond and may need trimming as soon as they are born. They may scratch their face even before birth.

You may gain a pound a week for the rest of your pregnancy. Do not stop eating or start skipping meals as your weight increases. Both you and your baby need the calories and nutrition you receive from a healthy diet. Calcium intake is extremely important during pregnancy because the baby will draw calcium from the mother to make and harden bone. This can greatly weaken her own bones and teeth because the developing fetus will take minerals from the mother's skeletal structure as needed.

Ahh a day of mixed emotions, venting felt good

So those of you who have had a baby before know that you have to pee a lot. This urge does not stop at night. I make about 4 trips to the bathroom each night. Each one of these requires assistance because I have to wear these massaging leg wraps that are impossible to get off for me. So I have to call the nurse.

This morning, I was questioned by the day nurse about needing to go a lot. I was pretty upset due to my already hormonally emotional state. Basically, from my discussions with people today I know this was inappropriate conduct. So, now I get to cherry pick my nurses for the rest of my stay. Which is a blessing in disguise. One of my two fave nurses is here this weekend and then next week I will get the other one, so it will hopefully make time go a little faster. What a difference a good nurse makes.

I got some boost nutrition drinks that have 250 calories in them, so I will be drinking one of those before bed along with some nuts to raise my calorie intake. Still
working on gaining...

I got to talk to the Social Worker today, she is going to arrange a tour of the NICU for Brian and I so we can see what to expect. They say each baby has a private room with 3 walls and a curtian so the nurses can hear and get in quickly if needed. There is a low nurse to baby ratio, which is good. Parents are welcome to stay there 24 hours a day if they want to. She also said our baby will be one of the biggest there. They have a lot of babies right now that were born at 24 - 27 weeks.

Baby is doing well. Moving up a storm, from side to side making my belly look like alien...I think that is a good sign of growth. Pumkin has had the hiccups about 4 times today, which is the norm.

Here is a blurb on the hiccups situation: "There has not been an overwhelming amount of research on fetal hiccupping in the womb, although there is some speculation as to why it happens. First of all, only more mature fetuses hiccup in the womb because their central nervous system is adequately developed in order to allow this to happen. It is believed that the fetus breathes in amniotic fluid or drinks it. When this happens and the amniotic fluid enters and exists the fetus lungs then the diaphragm contracts and hiccups results. Fetal hiccups appear to be extremely normal and almost all moms will feel the babies hiccups at least once if not on a regular basis. "

This I take as something good, it is saying a) nervous system is mature and b) there is enough AF to breathe in or drink.

Counting down, in the single digits now

Bedrest is coming to an end...ahhhh. But not too soon, I have a week left to bake Pumkin. We have a c-section scheduled at 34 weeks and then depending on what the baby needs, to the NICU baby will go. Hopefully, for not too long.

On a bad note, we got the bill from Spectrum of course that sucks...not fun. And of course, there will be one from Bronson and then the baby's bill from Bronson...yikes. This will be a tight year. But that is the last thing on my mind right now. I just need to keep baby in as long as possible and hope and pray for the best.

It's getting better....10 more days at the most

So today I met with "my" doctor, the doctor that gets test results right when talking to me, will be delivering the baby (because I am going to make it to 34 weeks and he is going to perform the c-section), and is the one that I was referred to due to his excellent reputation and patient skills.

It truly put my mind at ease. He has made appointments for me today to meet with a neonatologist from downstairs to further ease my mind about what baby will be like at 32.5, 33, and 34 weeks. So hopefully, he/she will come while Brian is visiting.

I will also be meeting with a dietician. I am having a heck of a time gaining weight. They are not concerned, because the "baby will get what it needs first" but I am and them are hoping that I will be gaining more so that the baby does as well.