Day 13a - Tough Day on the Vents

Day 13 – Sunday, July 30, 2017

AGE: 1 week (26 weeks, 5 days gestation)

Lochlan: Weight is 1 lb 11.1 oz. (Birth weight: 1 lb 10.8 oz.)
                Length  in. (Birth Length 13 in.)
Lex:        Weight is 1 lb 13.6 oz. (Birth weight: 1 lb 10.8 oz.)
                Length is  in. (Birth length: 13 in.)

The PDA (unclosed heart valve) has been pretty hard on both boys. This morning, they were both moved to a different breathing machine that will be easier on their lungs. It is called an oscilator. We cannot do kangaroos care while on this machine so we luckily got some good skin time last night.

Lex started Ibuprofen to encourage the valve to close. Depending on an echocardiogram result for Loch today, he may also start ibuprofen today. They will have to take nutrition and fluids through their PICC lines and cannot take feeds while on ibuprofen. Lex got a PICC line last night and Loch already had one. Ibuprofen has more side effects than Tylenol and is stronger. Lex has responded well to his ibuprofen which is a good sign.

They will both have X-rays today to see how their lungs are expanding.

The hope is the ibuprofen will shrink their heart valves. If it doesn't work, they will likely have surgery to clamp the valve, but we will cross that bridge when/if we need to.

3 PM update 07/30/17

Both boys were moved from the ventilator to the oscillator. Lochlan respond well, Lex did not and has been moved back to his ventilator. Blood gasses have not change much so he is tolerating the ventilator better. Lex was anxious on the oscillator and had a drop in blood pressure. He was given dopamine to raise his blood pressure and a couple doses of morpheme to calm him. He is now on a morpheme drip and is being weaned from the dopamine.