Baby Eagan - NICU Day 1

Eagan was born at 25 weeks gestation on April 11. He is doing absolutely amazing and such a little fighter! During my c-section, I was able to see Eagan for a brief moment before he was whisked away to the NICU. He is now in his own room until he is a little more stable.

Here is a run-down of his current status:

Weight
1 lb 14 oz

Length
12.5"


Breathing
A ventilator is helping Eagan breath so he is not using his energy and burning excess calories. The ventilator is currently on a low setting with "room air"  going through it. This means the air has the same oxygen level that we breathe in.

Eagan was given a protein called surfactant to help prevent his lungs from collapsing and making it easier for them to expand.

His lungs were not well expanded on his first chest x-ray, but given how well he is breathing,  the doctor expects a large improvement by Eagan's next x-ray.

Vein Access
An umbilical arterial line was placed just like it was an umbilical cord. This gives doctors easy access to check blood pressures, take blood, and administer medications without sticking Eagan with needles.

An umbilical vein line was also placed, but is not precisely where it needs to be. Tomorrow, a PICC line (peripherally inserted central catheter) will be placed as another method to give Eagan IV fluids and medications.

Medications
Eagan is getting two antibiotics for the next 48 hours, Ampicillin and Gentamicin. These are needed because the amniotic sac was ruptured for so long, which could cause an infection.

His blood pressure is running low currently so he is getting a medication called Dopamine to help raise his pressure.

Nutrition
I am pumping breastmilk for Eagan. He will be getting tiny amounts on a swab in his mouth. Currently, he is getting vitamins through his umbilical catheter. In a few days, he will start lipids and eventually breastmilk. 

Jaundice
Eagan is jaundiced, as almost all premature babies are. Starting tomorrow morning, he will sleep under bilirubin lights to help reduce his levels.


Thank you for all your love, support and prayers. Eagan's birth story is coming soon!

After you have a preemie...

Cold and flu season is the scariest part of the year.

Newborn clothes look huge.

Seeing full term pregnant women at the grocery store makes you wish you could have been that big.
Hearing women complain about "being uncomfortable at 36 weeks" makes you cringe. You would have given your left arm just to make it that far.

You found out what it feels like to leave your heart at a hospital because that's what it feels like when you walk out without your baby, day after day.

People don't know whether to tell you congratulations or I'm sorry and you honestly don't know which one you want to hear.

You look at a teeny, tiny baby with tubes and wires and wonder what you could have done to keep her in longer.

Your baby finally comes home from the NICU but you aren't sure she is ready to be home.

You cry over spilled breastmilk.

You have gotten a call at 3 am that your baby forgot to breathe for 60 seconds. The call only happened once but you relive it in your nightmares.

Your baby's biggest milestone - getting to sleep in a normal crib.

Jaundice is scary in a full term baby. When your preemie has it, you barely notice because there are so many bigger issues.

You take hundreds of photographs of your baby getting their first bottle, at 3 weeks old.

All your dreams of a natural delivery disappear and all you care about it getting your baby here safely.

Your only real delivery room memory is the silence that comes over every doctor, nurse, and family member as the baby will be born. They are all waiting to see if she will cry.

Most women deliver with a few family members, a midwife or doctor, and a nurse or two. You deliver with 4 doctors, about 10 nurses, a respiratory team, a NICU transport team and your family sits in the corner just watching the chaos.

You have watched a miracle grow.