Baby Eagan - NICU Day 51 - Much Better!

This little fighter is kicking butt and taking names! In the past two days, Eagan has just decided that he wants to be better! His ventilator settings are amazing. He is weaning off most of his medications and is ready to go down to radiology for his upper GI scans. Also, he had an eye exam today that he handled beautifully. He does have early stage retinopathy of prematurity, where the blood vessels that supply the retina have not developed yet. These are the very last structures to mature and have barely completed growing when a full-term baby is born. This is one of the many reasons why the full 40 weeks of pregnancy are so very important to a baby. Eagan's eyes will be rechecked in two weeks to determine what the plan of action is to be. I fully expected this as a complication since Eagan's eyes were only given 25 weeks to grow in utero. I am thankful he only shows early ROP at this point and is not severe at this time. Little man is getting so much better and I could not be happier that I am so blessed with the opportunity to actually watch him improve by the hour. From the time I arrived at the hospital this morning to sitting at his bedside now, I have seen him heal by leaps and bounds. He has become much more active and looks ever so much better!

Weight
4 lbs 3 oz

Length
16" 

Breathing
Eagan is on the conventional ventilator. His settings are at 23 breaths per minute. I feel the need to repeat that one, 23 breaths per minute. If everything continues to go in a somewhat normal fashion, Eagan should be off the ventilator and on a nasal cannula in 10 days!!! I cannot verbalize how thrilled I am at the prospects of seeing his whole little face! The ventilator is damaging to his little lungs, but he needs it to help him breath. Knowing it is hurting and helping is hard, so I will be happy to see it go. His oxygen rate has been around 21%. The pressure that the ventilator puts in his lungs is at 24. Also, he still has a bit fluid in his lungs so he is getting Atrovent breathing treatments every six hours.

Vitals
Eagan's blood pressure was actually too high today, so the Dopamine was discontinued!

 

Vein and Artery Access
Eagan has an internal jugular line that was placed in surgery.

The arterial line is in his head.

 

Medications 

An antibiotic, Ancef, is given once a day.

 

Hydrocortisone, for blood pressure and stress response, is up to 3 mg.

His Morphine was previously given every two hours but now his is on the same dose, but as a constant drip.

Caffeine has been started as a diuretic to try to speed up his kidney function.

Lasix, a diuretic, was given after the albumen, this morning, and this afternoon.

Dopamine was discontinued.

 

He is also on Diflucan as a preventative measure.

Eagan also is back on the Synthroid for low thyroid.  

 

Nutrition
Eagan's only sources of nutrition right now are his TPN fluids.

His lipids are being given 3 days a week now.

 

Output

Lots of poop and pee today! When else in life can I be so excited about this?

Transfusions 

Eagan was given Albumen today to try to draw more fluid back into his veins and out of his body.

May 29 - Transfusion #24 

 

Upcoming Tests

Upper GI study on Monday to determine if the duodenum tear is closed and if feedings can be started. Eagan has not had any milk about a month. I am sure he will appreciate a full belly!

 

Another eye exam to check on the severity of his retinopathy of prematurity will be in two weeks.