Tube Wean: Take Two

Two weeks ago Baby A's SLT (speech language therapist) and nurse visited. I mentioned that A was taking slightly better volumes of milk. The nurse suggested taking her NG tube out and trying another wean for a week.

I was reluctant. Mostly because I was still quite raw from last time (two months ago) when we tried and epicly failed. I had thought we wouldn't try again till the new year. However, when I thought about it, giving it a go was totally worth it, for Baby A. I needed to put my feelings aside for her.

So out the tube came. And almost instantly (literally) her grizzles went away and she became a smiley, happy baby. Since then people have not stopped commenting on what a happy, social baby she is. She is SO much happier, and that alone is worth it.

My smiley girl

You know you're a parent of a tubie baby when....

• You intimately know about all types of syringes and connections and which you prefer

• You know what a 'french' is

• You know the brands of dozens of kinds of tape, and your childs reaction to each

• You keep litmus paper in your wallet

• Your baby's favourite toy is a syringe

• You constantly have to take the tube out of the baby's hand/mouth

• You get used to the stares you get while feeding out and about

Birth Story Listening Session

Months have gone by since A's birth and NICU stay. She is so healthy and thriving. And yet, at times I still feel like I have not processed all that happened. At the time I just coped. I did what I needed to do to get through every day. Now time has passed, I sometimes look back with feelings of guilt, horror and shock.

Attempted tube wean: A diary

Baby A pulled out her NG feeding tube last weekend and we left it out for about 8 hours and she did alright. So, after a conversation with her nurse, we've decided to take it out to see how she goes.
We will stop this attempt at any time if:

• She takes less than 300ml in 24 hours (thats a baseline amount for hydration.)

• She dramatically loses weight

• She is dehydrated or lethargic

Father's Day Edition: She made him a Dad

We're 8 months into this parenting game, and honestly I am constantly amazed and humbled by what a great dad Matt is.

I remember in the very early days, when he had to lift her up so they could change her sheets in her incubator. He lifted her (such a tiny wee thing) with so much gentleness and awe on his face.