Today marks our first 10 days in NICU and as of last night all three girls are back up to their birth weights.

All three are now on 3ml of continual feeds and are getting solely breastmilk and TPN.

I've been self banned from visits the last couple of days because I felt a cold coming on, it seems to have passed now without turning into an actual cold, but I'm giving myself another day before going back in.

We've passed a couple of the milestones (head u/s, respiratory independence, PDA doesn't appear to be an issue and they seem to be pooping ok). My question is, what are the next milestones we should be looking for?

Ryan & Megan
GGG Born 8/9/10 28 weeks 5 days
Lily Ann 2lbs 12oz. 54 days in NICU
Emma Grace 2lbs 6oz. 55 days in NICU
Abigail Rose 2lbs 7oz. 55 days in NICU
http://thesmithfamilytriplets.blogspot.com/

That's great that they are doing so well!

If the babies are any type of breathing assistance, then getting them off that would be the next big milestone. Also getting them out from under the bili lights (sorry, I can't remember what their gestational age or what type of issues they had when they were born, so those two may not apply!). Also getting them out of the incubator and into an open crib is another big one; it shows the ability to be able to regulate their body temperature.

At around 34 weeks (that's what it was in my NICU) you should be able to start trying to breastfeed. At my hospital they called it "non-nutritive sucking". The intention isn't to actually feed the babies - they'll still be getting fed through the NG tube - but instead to get them practice sucking; kind of the first step in breastfeeding. If you don't plan to breastfeed, then you should be able to start feeding them from a bottle, again more as practice; my girls would fall asleep trying to drink 1/8 of their feed.

And of course, keep gaining weight.

Will they get another head ultrasound before discharge? My girls got one the day before.



Amy

Mom to Julia, ^Caitlin^ & Gabrielle



http://onealaskanmom.wordpress.com

Some other milestones besides breathing assitance will be their eyes. If they have not been checked yet they wills tart checking for ROP. The checking is not a big deal, only hard to watch. If they suspect ROP then they will be checked more often. If it progresses surgery may be necessary.

Other than that, it will be learning how to eat, swallow and breathe.

hang in there!!
Suzan

g/g/b August 21, 2005
my miracle 24 weekers!!!!

It's not really a milestone, but they will check their hearing before they leave as well.

I don't know how your NICU works, but mine did not tell me what time any of the tests were going to happen. I only knew days if they happened to note it in the chart. So I never got to see their eye exam for ROP (Suzann's post made me think of this), wasn't present for their hearing tests - in fact, when they were about 7 days old I showed up to find one of them getting a CT of her lung when I hadn't even known there was an issue.

So if you want to be present for any of the procedures, make sure to ask your primary nurse if you have one, to let you know of the times. Sometimes they don't even know - it's whenever the specialist can make it - but at minimum they can tell you the day, and then you can try to plan accordingly.

Amy

Mom to Julia, ^Caitlin^ & Gabrielle



http://onealaskanmom.wordpress.com

Perfect timing on that post...just found out that Abby and Emma just got chest x-rays. The Dr. is slightly concerned that they are still having fairly frequent HR spells...all self correcting or super mild stimulation. She thinks it's either the PICC line iritating them or an air sac of one type or another. They are going to give us the results when we go in tonight.

They are both really close to having their TPN cut and PICC lines removed anyway so if it's that, it should be resolved soon.

Ryan & Megan
GGG Born 8/9/10 28 weeks 5 days
Lily Ann 2lbs 12oz. 54 days in NICU
Emma Grace 2lbs 6oz. 55 days in NICU
Abigail Rose 2lbs 7oz. 55 days in NICU
http://thesmithfamilytriplets.blogspot.com/

A little late but wanted to say Congratulations! Our NICU told us to expect a homecoming around our due date. We were able to come home a little early (all 3 came home same time/day) but we didn't know until about 4 days prior. We were born at 29 weeks and stayed in for over 2 months but everyone has a different experience and my story will be very different from yours. I talk to other triplet moms and we have so much in common (# weeks delivered, trio weights, ect) but our NICU stories are soo different.

Big milestones for us included the removal of PICC lines, closure of PDAs, maintaining body temp and moving to open crib, starting non-nutritive which really turns into nutritive-there is no way for you to control that one..

I just read your blog- we have 3 girls too and live in OC. Let me know if you have any specific questions.

Thanks GGGTrip. Are you in any of the OC multiples groups? My wife is looking at joining one.

Ryan & Megan
GGG Born 8/9/10 28 weeks 5 days
Lily Ann 2lbs 12oz. 54 days in NICU
Emma Grace 2lbs 6oz. 55 days in NICU
Abigail Rose 2lbs 7oz. 55 days in NICU
http://thesmithfamilytriplets.blogspot.com/

We are on the nicu ride for over 10 weeks now. Our bbg trips were born on June 18th at 28 weeks and 2 days. David has been home for 2 weeks, Aaron will hopefully come home tomm, and our lovely daughter Elle is taking her sweet time, she knows that she is the princess! Its been a long ride so far but hopefully all will be ok. Feel free to ask me any questions or even if you just want to chat.
Brenda

Yes, we are members of the OC Multiples Group and the Saddleback-South OC HOM group too. Both are great resources!