Cribs! Bottles! Big changes...

Changes are happening fast at the new hospital. They are out of incubators now, into "cribs". They have to stay pretty wrapped up to maintain their temperature without burning too many calories, but it's a step in the right direction. Will is ~ 4 lbs 5 oz, and Liv is ~ 4 lbs 4 oz.

They've also started on bottles. They have a total of 8 feedings a day. Currently they can do 1-2 bottles/day, and nurse 2 times per day, with the remainder being through their feeding tube. I'm hoping within a few more days they'll have the feeding tube out, since they are doing incredibly well with bottles and nursing. Feeding is one of the key criteria to come home, so I'm particularly excited about this! Because of the extra calories required for preemies, they'll go home on half of their feedings from bottles so I can mix in the human milk fortifier into the breast milk.

And, now that Brent is back to being healthy, he's been able to visit them daily. He held them both yesterday...look how small they look copared to him!

Week 3

We made the big move today to the Level 2 NICU at Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton. Will wasn't at all phased by the move, but Liv was a little upset...she didn't like the bumpy ambulance ride, and was off a bit on her eating today, but I'm sure she'll be back to normal in no time. I'm actually the one that had the hardest time with the move! It was our decision to go, and I do believe it was the right one, but I had really gotten attached to the great nurses at St. Elizabeth's - especially the nurse that has been with them the past week, and accompanied us on the ambulance ride. I miss you Marlene!!!

They have both surpassed the 4 lb mark! Weight is not a criteria for going home, but it just feels good to hit a landmark. As of last night, Will was 4 lbs 2.8 oz, and Liv was 4 lbs 1.6 oz.

Because they both seemed so interested in feeding, they had me try nursing, even though it was early. Liv has really gotten the hang of it - I'm "allowed to nurse her for 3 of her 8 feedings per day now. This is impressive, because normally they don't try breastfeeding until 34 weeks gestational age, and she's been doing it since 32 now! Will is catching up - he gets to breastfeed 2 times a day, but only takes in half of his feeding that way. He'll catch up to his sister quickly, I'm sure. I'm guessing within another weeks or so, they might be fully on bottles and breast, but I'm just guessing.

They still have the occasional spells (see previous post for definition), but they are happening less frequently. They still have caffiene, protien, and extra calories added to the breastmilk, something they will have to start decreasing soon - they will need to be off of these before they come home.

There are just a few criteria for getting to bring them home. They must be AT LEAST 35 weeks gestational age (they are currently 33 weeks + 1 day). They have to go 7 days without a spell. And they have to be feeding fully from bottle and breastmilk (no feeding tube). I can't wait to bring them home...hopefuly it's closer to the 35 week mark and not much later.

Quite a few of you have offered to come to the hospital to hang out with me to pass the time, and I've sort of turned you away. Please know that I appreciate it SO SO much! It's shocking to me how quickly time flies by in the NICU, between nursing the both, holding them during their feeding through the feeding tube, diapers, pumping...and then repeat. I have very little, if any, downtime while I'm there, so I'd hate for any of you to come to spend time with me only to have me busy the whole time! Also, there are many of you that have called and emailed, and for the same reasons as above, I'm very, very late in getting back to everyone. Please accept my apologies, and know I love you all!

Here is a pic of the transport incubator for the ambulance ride to the Level 2 NICU. They rode together!

Happy Liv!

Will thinking hard (or pooping)!

Week 2

Liv and Will are doing great! They have both been off CPAP for a full week now, so they are eligible to move to a Level 2 NICU (I'll talk more about this later). They are both off IV, so the only thing they really have now is the feeding tube (plus the monitors). Liv is finally above her birth weight, weighing in at a whopping 3 lbs 9 oz. Will has been a bit up and down this past week, but nothing to worry about. He's now at 3 lbs 10.5 oz. They both are wearing clothes now - my favorites are ones that say "I love Mommy". I've changed many diapers (we have to fold over the newborn size because they are so big on them). Will even tried to pee on me today, but I outsmarted him and caught it before he made a mess!

They both are having occasional "spells", as they call it, where they forget to breathe, and their heart rate drops. This is common with preemies their age, but I still hate to see it. They will usually correct it themselves, but sometimes they forget, and have to be tapped to wake them up so they remember to breathe. They're adding some caffiene to the breast milk to help with the stimulation - something they might be on for weeks. Hey...many adults need that cup of joe to get going in the morning, right?...no different for Will and Liv, I guess!

I hold them both every day at least once (usually more) for an hour or so, typically doing what they call "kangarooing"...this is where they lay on my chest skin-to-skin...it's a very special bonding time for us! They are both starting to "root", but they are still to young for true breast-feeding, because they will not develop a gag reflex for a couple more weeks.

There's a parent's room at the NICU, and I stayed there for the first time last night. It was so great to get to see them throughout the night. It's amazing how attached I've gotten to these little babes, and it gets harder each time I have to leave them to come home. Brent and I are going tomorrow to look at a couple of hospitals that have a Level 2 NICU, since they now qualify. If we can get them closer to home, it will make it much easier to go back and forth, and allow me to spend more time with them, rather than on the road.

Brent is just now over his cold, so he'll finally get to see them again tomorrow afternoon. Poor guy - it's been a week since he's seen them! I can't imagine...

I don't have a lot of pictures to share yet - it's hard to get good pictures when they're in the incubators or when I'm holding them. Now that their daddy can start going again, we'll hopefully start to get some more pictures to share. The picture below is the first time Will and Liv have been reunited since birth! It looks like Liv is turning to Will saying "what the heck happened??".

Liv and Will's - week 1 of life

It's been a busy week! I was discharged from the hospital on Saturday, which was hard to do - I hate being away from the babies! I spend every day with them, and call the NICU at least a couple of times in the night & early morning. It's amazing how much I've seen them change this week. Sadly, Brent is sick with a bad cold, so hasn't been able to see them for a few days. It's killing him to be away, but hopefully he'll get over his cold in the next couple of days and can hold them again soon.


The tubes you see in the previous post pictures are for CPAP. This helps in opening their young lungs so they can breath. They were never on ventillators...always breathing for themselves. CPAP just helps make it easier. For awhile, some extra oxygen was added, but not for long. Liv came off CPAP on Friday (10/9), and Will came off Monday (10/12). It was so great to get these off, because we really couldn't see what they looked like until then! Once they are successfully off CPAP for 7 days, they are no longer considered Level 3 (just require Level 2 NICU after that).

They are too young to breast or bottle feed, so they can only eat through a feeding tube. They started with only IV, and as I was able to pump, they have been increasing their breast milk and decreasing IV. Once they show they can tolerate full feedings of breast milk, they can come off of IV. Liv did this today. Will should lose his IV in the next 3 days or so. After that, the only thing they'll be hooked to is the feeding tube, plus the monitors.

Will is above his birth weight (~3 lbs 12 oz), and Liv is slowly gaining (~3 lb 6.5 oz).

Will had a heart murmur, but it was corrected through treatment. This is common in premies.

They are doing so impressively well. It's still too early to know when they will come home, but we're hoping for another 3-4 weeks. It's all dependent on them learning to eat!

Liv (10/14):


Mom and Liv (10/14):



Will (10/14):



Mom and Will (10/14):

Liv and Will's Arrival - October 6, 2009

Most of you have heard the basic story:

On Monday morning (10/5/09), I could tell something wasn’t quite right, and after speaking to my doctor, was off to our local hospital (Norwood Hospital) to be checked, fully believing that worst case would be bed rest. After a few hours at that hospital, they transferred me to St. Elizabeth’s hospital in Boston, because they were concerned there was a chance I could go into premature labor, and at 10 weeks premature, I needed to be where they had a Level 3 NICU. Brent and I both believed at the time that worst case was an extended stay at the hospital on bed rest. Sleeping was almost impossible Monday night due to my discomfort, but around 4am Tuesday morning, that discomfort turned into serious pain. Within no time, my water broke, and I was in full labor, with contractions coming non-stop (all without pain medication!!!). The babies were not handling the contractions well, and William was not in position to be delivered, so it was a rush to the operating room for a c-section. Moments later, Olivia and William were born!

Olivia Norine Wainwright
(Liv)
10/6/09, 7:23am
3lb 8 oz
16”

William Henry Wainwright
(Will)
10/6/09, 7:25am
3lb 8.5 oz
16.5”

We are all doing well. I think Brent and I are getting over the shock of being parents weeks before we were expecting, and are incredibly happy that they are doing so well. Will and Liv will be in the NICU for a few weeks, but are very strong and making us proud parents already.

Will (10/6/09):

Liv (10/6/09):

Welcome to Liv and Will's Blog!

Hello friends and family! Thank you all for your support and caring during this surprise early arrival of Will and Liv! I know I've been bad at keeping up with everyone, and owe many return phone calls and emails...apologies! I'll try to be better at keeping everyone updated through this blog, pictures included!