Just wanted to let everyone know that I delivered my baby boy Thomas Stephen last Monday August 31st. He was born at 37 wks 2 d, weighed 7 1/2lbs. Unfortunately he had a spontanous (sp) pneumothorax 4 hours from birth and developed pneumonia. He was ventilated for a week, had a catheter put in in his thorax to let the air out, and was sedated for a week. Thank God the worst has passed, he is doing very well, they are weaning him from the oxygen and increasing his feeds little by little. Tomorrow they are doing some renal ultrasounds to determine the cause of his pneumothorax.

This has been very hard for me since I was sure that by delivering at term I would be saved from the NICU and all of the unhappy experiences dealt in the past. I delivered my baby at a different hospital, where I am not allowed to do ANYTHING for him, cant hold him, cant feed him, cant change him, and sometimes they let me touch him.

Monique
Mom to 26.5wk triplets, born 09/14/06
^Nicole^
^Daniel^
Nathalie

Congratulations on the birth of Thomas!! I am so sorry it has been a roller coaster thought. I'm sure you have been a nervous wreck. How are you doing?

Jessica
Mom to Parker, McKenna, ^Hadley^ born 10/9/07 28w5d
little brother Sawyer
and big sister Ashlyn
www.fourplusanangel.com

Ive had better days...so many unpleasant memories, being always on my toes waiting for the other shoe to drop... going in the NICU with my stomach in a not until I see the isollette and the monitor and everything appears to be fine...negotiating with nurses that take care of MY baby...afraid that he will forget me because I cant take care of him.

Today was a bitter sweet day, they removed his umbillical catheter and he has had high blood pressure since. Literature says that a blood clot in the kidney can happen after removing the umbillical catheter and thus elevating the blood pressure, they will find out more tomorrow in his renal ultrasound. If he continues with high blood pressure tonight, they will do an arterial ultrasound too.

On the bright side, today I was able to hold him twice (5 minutes each time) because he is no longer on oxygen, he is weaned completely. They will keep him in observation for 72 hrs due to his high blood pressure and if nothing turns out (praying to God) he will be released on Saturday. I already checked his baby bag twice tonight, cant wait till Saturday (wishing these days go on so fast I wont notice and that his blood pressure behaves).

Monique
Mom to 26.5wk triplets, born 09/14/06
^Nicole^
^Daniel^
Nathalie

Monique- Your post brings back so many memories. I can't imagine how difficult things are right now. I hope that Saturday comes quickly and he is home.

Our NICU experience was the same with the triplets, they didn't let us do anything and it was awful. Thank goodness the hospital we had Sawyer at was completely the opposite, what a difference it can make. I can imagine this is taking a toll on you and if you are like I was after Sawyer your hormones/emotions are all over the place. Just keep trying to tell yourself that things will be better very soon and you will have Thomas home right where he should be.

Thinking of you!

Jessica
Mom to Parker, McKenna, ^Hadley^ born 10/9/07 28w5d
little brother Sawyer
and big sister Ashlyn
www.fourplusanangel.com

Congratulations and welcome baby Thomas! I am so sorry that he has had a tough beginning. I will be thinking of your family and praying for your baby boy to be home soon.
--Cindy

-Cindy
Mother to 24 week triplets;
Brandon
^Ryan^ & ^Jessica^ (7/25/05-8/24/05)
http://lilypie.com>
http://lilypie.com>

Congratulations on the birth of Thomas. I can only imagine how hard it has been for you given your last pregnancy, but I am so glad to hear that Thomas is doing well. I'm sorry that the NICU rules don't allow you to be more involved - that is bizarre. I'll keep you all in my thoughts.

Allison

Mom to:
Madeline 09/2001
Jack, Evan & ^Alex^ 03/02/2008 @ 26 weeks

Congrats, and I'm glad the worst is behind him. That is insane they won't let you do anything for him though, especially now that he's no longer sedated.

Amy

Julia, ^Caitlin^ (stillborn due to encephalocele complications) & Gabrielle
30.2 weeks

Welcome Thomas....

I am so sorry about your NICU experience...I know none of us ever want to visit that place again...I will pray for a speedy recovery and homecomming...Please keep us posted...

www.havingtriplets.blogspot.com
www.thisisourLONGjourney.blogspot.com

Cathi

Our Precious Angels
^Raiden Landon^(B/D 10/17/08) 22wks
^Ryker London^(11/12/08-11/22/08)25w5d
^Gwyneth Bella^(11/12/08-12/1/08)25w5d

Megyn Velynda born 12/08/09 @ 35w 4 day

Monique,

Congratulations on the birth of your son Thomas. I'm sorry that he has been in the NICU and that they haven't allowed you to be more involved. Let us know when he goes home on Saturday! I will be thinking about you and your family.

Dana

Jacob, Olivia, Benjamin
30 weeks 1 day

Congratulations on the birth of your little boy. I am so so sorry you have to go to the NICU. That really sucks! I hope his time there is over ASAP! God bless!

Raquel
Mom to triplet angels: Sophia, Steven Jr. & Xavier b/d 25w4d (11/26/06, & Sweet baby Joseph (11/14/07-11/14/07)
Eliana Grace-God has answered
Born 4/03/09

Just wanted to give an update... Thomas came home a week ago, and is doing very well, he is gaining the weight he lost back, and eating all day long... however, I didnt escape the synagis shots and lockdown during RSV season due to his pneumonia, pneumothorax and being ventilated for a week! ugh! oh well...

Monique
Mom to 26.5wk triplets, born 09/14/06
^Nicole^
^Daniel^
Nathalie

Glad he is home and doing well!

Jessica
Mom to Parker, McKenna, ^Hadley^ born 10/9/07 28w5d
little brother Sawyer
and big sister Ashlyn
www.fourplusanangel.com

So sorry to be late in my wishes for you, but I am extremely happy to here of sweet baby boy's arrival! Congratulations, I am so happy for you. Hugs, Nan

Nan~
In loving memory of my beautiful girls:
^Shelby Lee^, ^Megan Aimee^ and ^Lynne Barbara^,
March 6, 2009, born at 20 weeks, 0 days.
http://rememberingourtripletangels.blogspot.com/
http://forumforgrievingdads.com/