Eleanor update 2

March 27, 2011:


Yesterday Eleanor passed her first 24 hours with us. She was off the ventilator and had her first feeding. One milliliter of mama milk every three hours. Originally the doc said a mix of 'preemie milk' and mama milk but they decided to just go with mama milk. Emily was able to pump plenty of breastmilk so soon after delivery which is awesome.  It usually takes 2 or 3 days for the milk to come in. Eleanor is still stable in the NICU.

I just got a call from NICU doc this morning. Eleanor is still stable but she was having trouble breathing with the tubes in her nose. The dr said she was "fighting the machine" and due to the fighting she developed a small tear in her lung which was causing oxygen to leak into chest cavity. They had to put her back on ventilator and put a tube in her chest to release the oxygen from her chest. They discovered the tear during a routine x-ray. Doc said this is something they look for and expect with a baby like Eleanor. They gave her medicine for pain and stopped her feedings last night. They will resume her feedings later this afternoon. Usually the tear in the lung will heal in two to three days and she will go back on the oxygen when it heals.  Eleanor is strong just a little too strong for her lung. Day 1 she was moved b/c the lungs had not fully developed.


Emily is recovering slowly and pumping the breastmilk. She is up every two hours pumping for Eleanor. She is off of the morphine and on Percocet for the pain. Her doctor told her she had to walk around because of her Factor V Leiden blood disorder she she will develop a clot after surgery. She will also have to continue with her Lovenox injections for six weeks after the c-section.  She is fighting through the pain and soreness and walking the halls. She will either go home today or Monday depending on what the docs say and how she feels...Em is on the phone she is coming home today! We will go together to visiting hours at the NICU today and tonight (12-2pm and 6-8pm everyday).




Eleanor's NICU is run by Pediatrix.  A group of physicians who run about 300 NICUs.  We are friends with one of the owners, Dr. Perez.  He, and our pediatrician, Dr. Muniz came during visiting hours to see her.  They said she is a VIP.  It makes us feel so good.  She is in the best place with 24 hour care of doctors and nurses! We all have to remember it is day to day with our new angel and there will be highs and lows.

All for now, keep you posted.

love Robert

Eyes Open

Emily, Dr. Perez, Me, Dr. Muniz all visiting Eleanor